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ON THE WIRE By HUGH J. McGUIRE THISTLEDOWN, North Randall, Ohio, June 19. — A purse distribution agreement has been reached between . the members of of the the Ohio Ohio division division of of the the Ohio Ohio division division of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association and the management at ThistleDown and, with the condition book for the upcoming meeting at Randall Park just across the road now in the process of being assembled, agreement between these two parties ties will will now now be be sought. sought. ties will will now now be be sought. sought. Saul Silberman, president of Randall, is stoutly opposed to any limit on the stakes program he plans to offer, basing his position both on a duty to offer the public the best sport available end on his belief that it is the inducement to better horses to race at Randall that enables that track to maintain the comparatively high level of purses for the lower grades of horses. He points out that before the higher purses for stakes and better allowance, races were introduced, the minimum purse in this area was only ,000. * A * Most of the horsemen here are aware of the necessity for stakes and feature races to encourage attendance and to put on a better show for the public. Just what percentage of purse distribution should be spent on feature races is a question that has not been satisfactorily resolved here or elsewhere. A figure suitable in one area could be outlandish in another. Again there is a question as to what feature races should be considered in arriving at. such a percentage as there are many smaller features which perhaps could not be included in such reckoning. For the horsemen quartered here it must be said that they face difficulties not encountered in the same degree at more prosperous tracks in that they pay virtually the same prices as do horsemen elsewhere for such commodities as feed, exercise boys, grooms, horseshoeing, veterinary services, shipping expenses and, to a degree, jockey fees. A A * That mutuel handle and attendance here at ThistleDown are on the uptrend is apparent by a glance over the figures which show that each day of the week at this course shows an increase in both these departments over the same day in previous weeks at this meeting. The mutuel plant here is, in charge of Robert, Sloan, a de- *HBPA, Randall Park Discuss Pursesi ThistleDown Play, Gate on Uptrend CanadiansCampaign onOhio Tracks scendant of bankers and a graduate of the mutuel organization of the late master of mutuels, Mortimer M. Mahony. Sloan pointed out that the 0 sellers window handled slightly more than 16 per cent of the wagering and the 0 windows a little over 27 per cent, giving what are termed the "big windows" 44 per cent of the total play. The Daily Double accounts for an additional 7 per cent. Most of the total wagering is done in the straight pool which accounts for 56 per cent of the total. Per capita wagering is running at about 0 as against nearly 0 last year when there were nine races offered each day. AAA C. B. Fischbach, owner-breeder and member of the committee of the Ohio division of the HBPA, has made a study of additional distances run by horses who swing wide .on the turns. In a mimeographed diagram of a hypothetical one-mile track, Fischbach has traced in feet the distances on the front and back stretches and the diameter of the turns. The stretch distances, of course, remain constant at 1,700 feet, but the distances on the turns increase considerably as the horse goes out from the rail. A horse three feet from the rail runs an additional six feet over the course. A horse six feet off the rail covers 24 additional feet. Nine feet out results in an additional 42 feet and so on down the diagram to 21 feet off the rail, which results in the horse covering an additional 118 feet over the 5,280 feet in a mile. Fischbach points out that even three feet off the rail makes a difference of six feet in the total, and many races are won or lost by much narrower margins. Fischbach admits to a defect in the plan, in that great difficulty is encountered in getting jockeys to follow it. . AAA There is a strengthening tie between racing in this area and the Canadian sport, particularly that operated at Woodbine Park. John OKeeffe, director of public relations here, was instrumental in getting the Quebec Queens Plate winner of 1952, Acadian, to Randall Park to run in the three-year-old stakes. Acadians invasion was not a successful one, but Cana-diana, who was later voted Canadian Horse .of the Year, won her first American stakes t if,l jtuco jAj 1«, -rniOu .X£. JP. nl ►at the track across the road. In 1953, OKeeffe, as agent for Canadian Eric Craddock, made several futile attempts to purchase top handicap stars, but it was through another agent that Craddock secured the South American Risque Rouge from Max Hirsch. This horse came to Randall to win the Buckeye Handicap. AAA Joe Tomlinsons good Canadian performer, Chain Reaction, swept most of his rivals before him in the Dominion before shipping to Thistledown for the 5,000 Ohio Derby last fall, but had the misfortune to meet Alfred Vanderbilts Find just as that colt found himself. From his Ohio Derby victory Find went on to three consecutive stake tallies. Tomlinson had better luck with his filly, Rock Drill, who took the inaugural running of the Susan Stakes last year. Several other Canadian stables raced in this area and, only last week, C. M. Withers of Toronton shipped in the filly, Cartowna for a try at the Imp Handicap. Tomlinson also has several nominees in various stakes. Last years horse of the year in Canada, Mrs. Gordon McMackens King Maple, third in the Queens Plate, is expected here for stake races in this area. AAA In Brief: Two members of the famed "Daly Dynasty" are at this course. Larry and Bill are sons of "Big Mike" Daly, brother of the famous Father Bill Daly. Larry is paddock judge and Bill trains a modest string. . . . Jack OKeeffe is at Pim-lico checking the rebuilding program and horses heading here for the Ohio Derby and Thistledown Cup. . . . Kenneth Noe, who brought over Tom Girders Gambetta for the Susan, plans a campaign in the Chicago area. . . . Trainer R. C. Gillem reports that his father, well known as a trainer for many years, is enjoying good health at his Lexington home. . . . General manager Lou Pondfield approves the film patrol, but its installation at this track just now would have to be at the expense of the purse program. . . . Former jockey Eddie Smallwood is a member of the mutuel crew of Bob Sloan. . . . John A. Bell HI. and Mrs. Bell passed through here en route from his Jonabell Stables at Lexington to Ashbury, N. J., where he will address the National Club of America. Bell, who bred Battlefield and at whose farm the English" Derby winner of this year, Never Say Die, was bred and raised, has several horses here in charge of trainer Lloyd Gentry. - ■» * -
