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ii — i. " i.. ...... ,,, , 1H Ik t***™ Maryland I By Hugh J. McGuire Sidelight on Saratogas Chesapeake Win Tailing Helps Allay Colts Nervousness Practice Is Beneficial to Many Horses PIMLICO, Md., May 10. — A very interesting sidelight into the splendid race turned in by Montpeliers Saratoga, when he was at his best in winning the Chesapeake, Chesapeake, was was given given to to us us by by ii — i. " i.. ...... ,,, , Chesapeake, Chesapeake, was was given given to to us us by by starter Eddie Blind. It seems that Saratoga is a very high-strung animal, given to fretting and nervousness beyond that expected from every thoroughbred and this condition was having its effect on trainer Frank Bonsai. Calling Blind into conversation, Bonsai suggested that perhaps the starter would assist in soothing the temperament of his charge. The first impression impression Blind Blind gained gained was was that that i ■ [ k r , j t l j i 1 i J r i i 2 i l i j e I f :. :. i , i o 4 in a. J, in a e r s e e n y y * impression impression Blind Blind gained gained was was that that t***™ perhaps Bonsai needed the assistance as much as did Saratoga and suggested a goat mascot for the trainer. Seriously, the trainer and starter decided that if Saratoga was "tailed" while in the starting gate his nervousness might be allayed. This was done in the Chesapeake with the result that Saratoga went calmly about his winning business. Blind explained this practice of "tailing" nervous horses in the starting gate. It consists merely of having one of the assistant starters hold the tail of the animal to one side. This is a humane practice, entailing no pain, and it serves to soothe the horse who is accustomed to having his tail handled when being washed at the stable. The heads of unruly horses are either down or up in the starting gate, positions which are not conducive to good starts, and Blind explains that when the tail is grasped the reaction of the horse is to put himself in perfect balance, front and back, for the start. Method Not Painful to Horse The tail is not sensitive to the degree that any pain to the animal results and Blind compares the treatment to a mother taking her small child by the ear. The appendage is handled only by the assistant starter and is not attached to the gate in any manner. Blind reports that the vast majority of trainers ask for this assistance if the actions of the horse indicate that it is needed. Many top horses are "tailed" regularly and Blind mentioned such stars as White Skies and Alerted who received this treatment as standard practice. The racing records of these two indicate that the practice was beneficial. Howard S. Pierce, vice-president and operations manager at Bowie, leans toward Marylands great race mare Gallorette in Delaware Parks poll of distaff greats. Gallorette and Esposa, conquerors of two top money winners from the male division, were rated first and second with Pierce, who placed Twilight Tear third. The best mare to come out of Maryland and victor over Stymie in the Brooklyn Handicap, Gallorette was a natural choice for Pierce, who saw the daughter of Challenger II. in many of her important victories. Gal- lorettes winnings of 45,535 found her leading the money winners of her sex until dethroned by Bewitch in 1951. Esposa gained considerable prestige by nosing out the mighty Seabiscuit in the 1937 Bowie Handi- cap and also defeated top bracket males in the Brandy -wine Handicap at Delaware Park. In Brief: Guesswork for the probable starting field in the Preakness at present indicates that those most likely to go postward will be drawn from Nashua, Sum- mer Tan, Saratoga, Sailor, Nances Lad, Thinking Cap, Dedicate, Go Lightly, Chuck Thompson and Fleet Path. . . . L. E. Torreyson is definitely pointing Peter Vischers Arch Rival for the Cherry Hill Stakes at Garden State on May 18. The five-furlong dash for juveniles carries a 0,000 prize. . . . Joe and Art Ruffalo and Carl Jegge of North Caldwell, N. J., fly their own plane regularly to the Maryland races. The Ruffalo horses are trained by Lester "Buster" Bedwell. . . . Stanley Mikells Brush Burn was sent from Laurel to Washington Park for grass racing. Golden Land May Be Supplementary While it appears unlikely that Rex Ellsworth will take advantage of the opportunity to make his Derby wimner Swaps a supplementary nominee to the Preak-e ness, the westerner has until midnight May 14 to change his mind. Although still uncertain, there is a possibility that Andy Crevolin will put up the ,500 fee to get his Golden Land into the May 28 classic. ... Women patrons at Pimlico will get a daily presenta-r tion of the latest in fashions. . . . There are six races over the turf listed for decision in the first book of conditions, covering 10 days of racing. The latter half of the meeting will see over the grass the running of the 5,000 Dixie and the 0,000 Riggs Handicaps. . . . George Walker, who is in charge of foal certificates at all Maryland tracks, transferred the papers from Laurel to Pimlico, making re-registration unnecessary. Oscar White sent the horses of Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords to New York, after a successful Maryland campaign. . . . Melvin Mackin, assistant racing secretary to Charles J. McLennan at Laurel, Hialeah and Detroit, will be at Pimlico for a few days before leaving for Detroit to open the office at that point. . . . Eb Pons returned from a trip to Rockingham Park, where he looked over the early stall applications for that meet- ing. . . . When C. V. Whitneys Smoky Hill won the first race at Belmont on Saturday, it was the 100th victory so far this year for horses eligible to the Preak- ness. The Whitney racer is not now considered a serious candidate for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
