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■be viJKw ■-.«?«■ ma sjjua mmiiMLi-M.m New England By Fred Galiani 1 Passing of John Macomber Mourned in Sector Raceland Estate Always Open to Horsemen Aided Greatly in Returning Sport to Area SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., May 13. — On the same day that Frank Andolinos Boston Doge, who made New England fans more race conscious on ■be viJKw ■-.«?«■ ma sjjua on on a a national national scale scale and and attracted attracted on on a a national national scale scale and and attracted attracted countless new fans to the sport, arrived at his Boston home base, the man most largely responsible for the legalization of betting in Massachusetts, John R. Macomber, died at his Raceland estate. While the exploits of the Ando-lino colt this past year have aroused the greatest interest in the New England, sector in many years, it is well to remember that were were it it not not for for Macomber Macomber and and mmiiMLi-M.m were were it it not not for for Macomber Macomber and and the men of his group, racing would not exist in the Bay State. It was the three-day meetings, sponsored by the Eastern Horse Club, at the Brookline Country Club and his Raceland estate, that fostered the growth of the sport. William Almy, Jr., steward here these many years, was a long acquaintance of Macomber, and in his riding days competed at many of the Raceland meetings. In fact, racing at Brookline began in 1884, long predating the firts Rockingham session in 1906 recalls Almy. These amateur meetings were disbanded dining the first World War, but shortly after were revived by Macomber and his associates. Two days of racing were held at the Brookline Country Club and one day at Race-land, where Macomber footed the entire bill, including refreshments, and for which crowds often in excess of 15,000 attended. The leading steeplechase and gentlemen riders were in action at these meetings, which were sporting and social highlights. Presiding steward, racing secretary and sometimes starter at the Eastern Horse Club meetings was judge Frank Bryan, and his two assistants were a couple of fellows well known today, M. C. "Ty" Shea and Eddie Brennan. Had Natural Quality of Friendship Despite his enormous wealth, Macomber was described by those who knew him as "wearing it well" and a sort of person who could mingle freely and relaxed with any sort of person. He was not, as one newspaper acquaintance said, "professionally democratic." He was that way by nature. His Raceland estate was unique in that the stables and the house were one building. In the days before racing became the huge sport that it is, Macomber maintained an apartment, completely equipped with food and drink, whose doors were never locked. Any horseman who wished, at any time, could go to Raceland and make use of this apartment. And yet this generous gesture had its moment of tragedy. Morty Lynch, a New Yorker who operated on the lawn in the days before mutuels, was visiting Raceland one time and in the middle of the night took a wrong turn in the apartment, tumbled down a flight of stairs and died as a result of a broken neck. In addition to his love of horses, Macomber was an ardent dog fancier, and his will stipulates that the animals on the Raceland estate be amply cared for by his heirs. In failing health in recent years, Macomber was seldom seen at the races, but his gold and blue colors were worn in races at Suffolk Downs as late as 1953. As a matter of record, Macomber suggested the name of Suffolk Downs when the Eastern Racing Association, operators of the track, succeeded the Eastern Horse Club with the legalizing of pari-mutuels. The infield flag was at half staff today in memory of a man whom New England thoroughbred interests will long remember. Wag Collins Returns to Racing Occasionally some people manage to retire from the race track, but they are far and few between. That was demonstrated again Thursday when W. C. "Wag" Collins appeared in the paddock to saddle his wifes Dacci for the second race. It was the first horse "Wag" was sending postward in eight years. From the first year Suffolk Downs opened, Collins was a regular campaigner and won his share of races until he decided he had enough and bought a boarding and wintering farm in Haverhill, Mass. "Wag" says he pursued that endeavor for six years until somebody came along and made him an offer for the farm. It was a good one, so he sold out and retired. At least he thought he was. But after two years of the life of what is sometimes referred to as ease, he decided to make a comeback. He has two horses, Dacci and Garibaldi, and is once more a familiar face around New England. The paragraph would end on a fictional note if Dacci won the race, but that was not to be, and the gelding finished eighth of 12 under jockey Eddie Pucko. Mike Freeman left last night with John S. Phipps* Parnassus, winner of last Saturdays Governors Handicap here, for Pimlico, where he will point his stable star for the mile and three-eighths Dixie Handicap on the turf May 21. Parnassus is no stranger to the greensward, having won the 1954 Bougainvillea Handicap at Hialeah Park. . . . Gordon Morrow is expected to leave Pawtucket Memorial Hospital over the week end and be back at his desk in his role of racing secretary on Monday. . . . Placing judge Harry Krovitz recalls that the late Red McDaniel was his agent before the war, when Harry was still a rider. As far as Harry remembers, it was the last time Red acted as a jockeys agent. . . . Eddie Anspach is awaiting the arrival of a quartet of two-year-olds who will carry Irving Gushens silks this season.
