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s — x Thistle Down I— By Joe Hirsch Gombos Relates Improvement in Ohio Sport To Work With The Jockey Club on Officials Are Moving Forward, Commission Head Says THISTLEDOWN, North Randall, Ohio, June 1.— The new brooms in Ohio racing are sweeping clean. "Since Ive been in office," Zoltan Gombos told us the other day, "there have been management changes at Ascot, River Downs, Toledo and Hamilton, and we believe that the infusion of new blood has been healthy for the sport in this state. Were gradually straightening our house into order/ the chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission added. "Weve had some trouble with several of our stewards, as you have heard, but their resignations has helped to clear that situation. Were going to work closely with The Jockey Club in a program of what I call improving the breed* of officials so that our standards may be as high as those of other states. In line with this we are going to have all our tracks submit their list of officials early enough to thoroughly check the records of these men to see if they are the kind we want in Ohio racing. "We are also going to modernize our rule book, as there are many regulations still remaining in the code thatNare outmoded. Our foremost consideration is the public, and I believe that the new managements with, their large investments in the sport realize that in protecting the racing fan we are protecting these investments. That is why I am so much in favor of the Installation of devices such as the totalisator. We have had a strong movement to get the boards into all Ohio race tracks and are now close to bur goal. Ohio racing has had a long road to travel, and it still has much ground to cover before it meets with our complete satisfaction, but we are moving forward? and that is the important thing. Suggests Naming Evejit for Regular Racegoer Lou Pondfield recently received a letter from a Cleveland fan broaching a novel suggestion. "I know it is the custom of race tracks to have handicaps and other races named after famous men, horses, etc., but Ive never heard of a race named for the ordinary dyed-in-the-wool racegoer and horse player such as I. I would greatly admire to see a race such as the Bill S Handicap run at ThistleDown this year. I know thats the closest Ill ever get to horse racing, for, though Ive often dreamed of being an owner, I guess Ill never make it. . . . Sincerely, Bill S ." Here is a man, probably voicing the sentiments of thousands of racing fans across the nation, who, like Walter Mitty, secretly dream of seeing a big handicap run in their honor. As a matter of fact, Bill S may have started something because track officials are definitely interested in his suggestion and are working on plans to implement it if at all possible. Back from the wars to pick up where he left off in 1953 is Derral. Shelton, who is racing a small string along the Ohio circuit this summer for himself and his brother Jim.Derrals father is the veteran horseman, L. L. Shelton, who has campaigned in this area and New England for many years. Derral worked with for a number of seasons, finally branched out with a couple of horses of his own in 1952, and got a trainers license. He was drafted in 1953 and spent 16 months in Korea with the 40th Division Engineers. Discharged from the Army earlier this spring, Derral took a few head to Ascot Park for C. B. Fischbach and got off to an excellent start by winning 11 races. He purchased the horses and is hoping to have as much success with them at this meeting. Shelton, 24, hails from Missouri, where the state motto is Show Me. Shelton is showing every one that, despite his age, he is an accomplished horseman. Announcer Travels by Helicoper Around the Track: A helicopter landed in the infield shortly before the feature yesterday afternoon to take Van Lane, the Cleveland announcer, from ThistleDown to Clevelands Municipal Stadium. Van does an interview and race results program here every evening over WDOK, which concludes at 6:15 p. m. He also has commitments for a knothole club show prior to the ball games, and when the Indians play at night a whirlybird is the only means of transportation that can get him to the field in time for his 7:30 stint over here. . . . Lou Pondfield flew back from a quick trip to Baltimore. . . . Ralph Trainello, the Maryland automobile man, returned home after seeing his Selfaster win in yesterdays fifth race. . . . Frank Fitzgerald is due here from New England with his contract boy, Alfonso Coy. ... Dr. G. E. Woollard? Game Heart suffered a broken hip in the sixth race and will be sent to the farm for breeding purposes when she is- able to travel. The three-year-old miss is a Florida-bred" by Aerial Game. . . . Maryland horsemen are beginning to arrive. Latest to check in are R. E. Brown, Pete Chris-tianson, Dick Douglas and Gene Lotti.
