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Voting Divergence Shown For Americas Top Mares Delaware Gives Early Tabulation With Opinions of Commissioners STANTON, Del., April 30.— Wathen R. Knebelkamp, newly-elected president of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners, and many other commissioners from around the country have sent in their votes in Delaware Parks balloting for the 10 greatest American race mares and a check-up today showed a wide divergence of opinion. An up-to-date tabulation reveals nine different famous female racers receiving first-place votes, with Miss Woodford most favored in this respect. Knebelkamp, chairman of the Kentucky State Racing Commission, likes Firenze, Miss Woodford and Gallorette in that order. Firenze, after whom the Jamaica track named one of its big stakes, also was the choice of S. Tupper Bigelow, chairman of the Ontario Commission, who selected Artful second and Gallorette third. Miss Woodford, first horse in American turf history to earn more than one hundred thousand dollars 18,270, and who won 37 of her 48 starts while unplaced only twice, drew top ranking from Thomas J. Brogan, chairman of the New Jersey Commission; Hugh Strong, fellow member of that body, and William Fitzgerald, chairman, of the Washington Horse Racing Commission. Brogan had Firenze in the runner-up spot, with Regret — only filly to win a Kentucky Derby — third. Strong put Beldame closest to Miss Woodford, and Princess Doreen third. Fitzgerald also gave second ranking to Firenze, with Twilight Tear his third selection. Miss Woodford was foaled in 1880 and Firenze, four years later. In the opinion of Zoltan Gombos, the Ohio chairman, Calumet Farms top money-winning race mare of all time, Bewitch 62,605, deserved the highest honor. His second choice was Busher and his third, Gallorette. He did not include Miss Woodford in his top 10, and placed Firenze ninth. J. Saxton Lloyd, head of the Florida Commission, selected the "CoalBlackLady," the heavily-raced and brilliant Imp, who numbered the classic Suburban Handicap among her 62 conquests. Lloyd, in studying the Morning Telegraph past performances which, by special arrangement, were made available for mailing out with Delaware Parks ballots, also noted that Imp foaled in 1894 was in the money in 126 of her 171 starts. The chairman of the Colorado Commission, Ben T. Poxson, made a write-in mare his first choice. This was the exceptionally speedy Myrtlewood, whom Poxson had seen race frequently in the Midwest. Myrtle»ood was not among the 42 fillies and mares listed on the ballots, but write-ins are permitted. William H. Ayres, of Delawares racing commission, cast his vote for Top Flight, who carried C. V. Whitneys silks to 12 straight triumphs in 1931-1932. All 12 of those victories came in stakes events, at distances from five furlongs to the mile and three furlongs of the Coaching Club American Oaks. Gallorette, famed as the "pride of Maryland" when she was coping successfully with tophotch racers of both sexes and earning 45,535 second only to Bewitch in that department, drew the top vote of Frank R. Warton, of the Illinois Commission. Beldame, unplaced only four times while capturing 17 of her 31 starts, was the first choice of Harry J. Millar, secretary, of the New York Commission. Busher, one of trie best of the more modern race mares foaled in 1942 and winner of 34,035 , rated the top rung from Frank Hobart, chairman of the Arizona Racing Commission. Many other noted fillies and mares also were mentioned in the commissioners rankings. They included: Ruthless, Pan Zareta, Bateau, Mollie McCarty, Real Delight, Rose of Sharon, Two Lea, Black Helen, Busanda, Yo Tam-bien, Anita Peabody, Esposa, Miss Grillo, Next Move, Bed o Roses, Edith Cavell, Mata Hari and Marica, the latter a write-in. It will be interesting to see how the votes of the commissioners, who devoted much time and effort to their selections, shape up with those of members of the American Trainers Association, the latter serving as the "jury" in their balloting on the top 10 race mares. The consensus of -these" veteran horsemens picks will establish the standard.
