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Maryland By Joe Hirsch Preakness Preparation Is Under Way Attempt to Get Swaps as Supplemental Pondfield Anent Spring Date Setup PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 11. — Maryland racing has returned to its ancestral home and the chief order of business at this rather abbreviated session of 18 days is, of course, preparation for, and the presentation of the 79th running of the historic Preakness. The second of Americas Triple Crown events shapes up as an intriguing feature despite the probable absence of the comet from California, Rex Ellsworths Swaps. With the likes of Nashua, Saratoga, Sailor, Nances Lad, Dedicate, Chuck Thompson and Fleet Path listed as possible starters, the Preakness could develop into a rousing mile and three-sixteenths and interst is quite high nationally as evidenced by a heavy request for reserved and box seats. At any rate, it is certain to be a big factor in helping to clear the rather murky status of the three-year-old division and as such will be closely followed by horsemen and turf fans everywhere. Lou Pondfield told us this morning that he made an all-out effort in an attempt to keep Swaps east for this one, but that Ellsworth would have none of it. Oddly enough, it was Pondfield who introduced the supplementary nominations to the Triple Crown events and he is quite outspoken in his support of an editorial favoring a similar supplementary provision for the Belmont Stakes, which appeared in Daily Racing Form recently. Attendance, Handle Better 1954 Opening Day This meeting got off to a bright start, the play and handle on opening day showing slight improvement over 1954 figures, but Pondfield is far from pleased over Pimlicos spring dates. Indeed, he is of the opinion that the entire dates setup in Maryland, and New Jersey and Delaware as well, could stand revision in the best interests of racing and good business. He feels, first of all, that the managements of Marylands three major tracks might meet to more appropriately apportion their allotted dates, not necessarily on the basis of an even split, but rather with absence of competition from their neighbors in mind. Pondfield also believes that once this is accomplished, then a meeting of racing commissions from these three states might produce an overall dates schedule with a minimum of competition and overlapping, particularly on important holidays. It is Pondfield s feeling that Pimlicos spring meeting might be shortened, to provide simply a background for the Preakness, the additional days being tacked on to the fall session. The second meeting proved quite popular locally in 1954, with business showing a notable upsurge, although the opening of the new clubhouse must be held largely responsible. This last, incidentally, is not the conclusion but merely the first step in a program of improvements at this plant which has been instituted by the Cohens and Pondfield. We understand that the next phase is a 260-foot extension to the grandstand which will give Pimlico one of the largest seating capacities of any track in the east. The footings for this extension are to be prepared this summer, between meetings, while the main construction will begin following next years spring session in the hopes of having it ready for public use by the fall of 1956. Management is well aware of the fact that the days of opening the gates and then standing back before a stampede of customers is past and it is their intention of providing patrons with a thoroughly pleasant and comfortable place to enjoy an afternoon of sport. Caffarella Gets About in Wheel Chair We had an opportunity to chat with Mike Caffarella yesterday at Garden State, the former rider making his first appearance since his tragic spill at Bowie in April of 1954. Presently at the rehabilitation center of the University of Pennsylvania, Mike has the full use of one arm, partial use of the other, but is still largely confined to a wheel chair. We found him to be an intelligent and articulate person who is fully conscious of the situation and quite willing to face facts squarely, an ability that many of us find difficult to muster at times. While Mike continues to receive physical and occupational therapy at the U. of P., he told us, and his doctor confirmed, that what would do him the most good would be some kind of job which would permit him to make use of his experience and his keen interest in racing. Mike has always been a student of the game, more so in the past year when he has had a good deal of time for reading. It would seem to us that somewhere in racing, someone might have a job that would profit by Mikes talents. Around the Track: Carlos Gonzalez, who tripled here opening day, was leading rider at Havanas Oriental Park last winter. . . . Lou Pondfield leaves for Cleveland in the morning to prepare for the opening of the ThistleDown plant on May 26. . . . Hilton Dab-son will ship Nances Lad to New York next Tuesday or Wednesday for the Withers at Belmont and then return him to Baltimore the following Monday for a probable start in the Preakness. . . . Pimlico features an informal fashion show in the old clubhouse, prior to the first race. . . . Jockey R. J. Martin won with Old Glendale and Black Coffee yesterday, but failed to put over the hunch parlay of all hunch parlays when he finished fourth on Hangover.
