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May fay 28, 28, it it was was not not a a convinced convinced Summer Summer Maryland By Hugh J. McGuire Derby Result Effects Preakness Little Nashua Proves Best of All Except Swaps Blind Defends Ability of Younger Riders PIMLICO, Md,. May 9.— If the result of the Kentucky Derby had any immediate effect on the prospective tive field field for for the the Preakness Preakness here here a May fay 28, 28, it it was was not not a a tive field field for for the the Preakness Preakness here here a startling one. The knowledge that Nashua was not invincible brought little consolation even if his conqueror, Swaps, is not named for the second leg of the Triple Crown. Nashua was still best of the others and it would appear that if he is to have a serious rival in the Preakness, it must be a sophomore who did not start in the Derby. This is not to discount Summer Tan, who has been his most formidable and relentless less fee. fee. Whether Whether the the Derby Derby has has less fee. fee. Whether Whether the the Derby Derby has has convinced convinced Summer Summer Tans owners that Nashua is too much for their Heliop-olis colt is a decision they must make. Whether or not this pair meet again in the Preakness or later, it cannot be said that Summer Tan did not try the Woodward colt to the limit. Since the advent of the stall starting gate, a segment of horsemen everywhere has maintained that the contraption was in part responsible for the failure to produce real top riders. Old-timers among horsemen and riders believe that the crops of jockeys who have come along since the starting gate was introduced never learned how to control their horses properly at all times. Because the gate made it unnecessary for riders to learn this art for starts, it is argued that the education of the jockey was incomplete and the lack of ability appeared elsewhere on the track in addition to the start. There has been some justification for this attitude which was held by quite a number of starters and their assistants. Concentration of Talent at One Meeting Now along comes starter Eddie Blind to place a different appraisal on the situation. Blind stated that he and the Maryland race public were treated this year to the riding of some of the most competent of the younger riders that he has even seen. Naming such jockeys as Boulmetis, Hartack, Passmore, Culmone, DeSpirito, Shuk, Nelson, Con Errico and others, Blind stated that they were as competent as he had seen in action. They gave no trouble at the gate and asked for help from an assistant only when it was obviously required. Blind was most impressed that there was such a concentration of talent in one area, and his opinion tends to foster the belief that ability in a rider is a matter of individual accomplishment. In Brief: E. Palmer Heagerty, trackman for Daily Racing Form and The Morning Telegraph, again won the annual award offered by Laurel to the newspaper handicapper selecting the most winners at the meeting. This is the third time that Heagerty led the list. .. . . Trainer Ed A. Christmas plans to race the stable of Howell E. Jackson at Delaware Park and New York following the Pimlico meeting and may send a division to Rockingham Park, which immediately follows Delaware. There are currently 18 horses in training in the Jackson string. Christmas reported that he sent the three -year-old Naramond to the Jackson farm at Middleburg to be unsexed and turned out. The son of Nasrullah had refused to extend himself in the afternoons, after brilliant morning trials. Contemplate Something New in Condition Book Consideration is being given by Pimlicos racing secretary, Fred Colwill, to leaving blank spaces for a few races in his second condition book. Conditions for these races would be released later and would give opportunity to race to those horses which had accumulated preference stars, but were not drawn into races. This plan would be a trial solution to the problem created because preference stars are not carried over from one meeting to another in this area. Directors of the HBPA are to meet during the second week at Pimlico, and it is understood that this question is on the agenda for study. . . . Harold Nixon, a 16-year-old from Port Knox, Ky., has been taken under contract as an apprentice by William Zakoor. Nixon has not yet had a mount and will be taken to Pimlico and Detroit by Zakoor for education. . . . Jockey Richard Connolley departed for Washington Park where he will be affiliated with the extensive stable of Marck Leach. Mrs. R. C. Hodges, through trainer J. L. Clarke, has leased the services of apprentice Leroy Cargile from Jimmy McGee for the Pimlico and Delaware meetings. Agent Cal Bowling will assist Cargile and jockey J. R. Layton during these meeting. . . . Eb Pons is receiving excellent response from horsemen wishing to race at Rockingham Park and serves as a convenient opportunity to race for those stables planning to go later to Saratoga or Atlantic City. . . Pimlico press box attache Tommy Carr reports that his one-horse stable, Tarry Not, is taking kindly to training after spending the winter on a farm and will be sent to Waterford Downs. . . . Shoe String Stables Helix, who has an aversion to entering the starting gate, walks in calmly when blindfolded by an assistant starter.
