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, On the Wire By Hugh 7. McGuire Turf Course Racing Lures Foreign Stars Reuben Stable Has Strong Imported Unit Top Field Seen for Saturday Grass Test WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, 111., June 7.— Although our arrival at this suburban Chicago course coincided with the cancellation because of heavy rains , of of some some races races over over the the turf turf course, course, of of some some races races over over the the turf turf course, course, probably the most concrete evidence of the success and popularity of American grass racing is found right here in the Chicago area. Here Balmoral represents the first leg of the sort of 97-day "triple crown" of Balmoral, Arlington, and Washington, and almost the first thing a new ar- rival hears is enthusiastic praise and comment on the large and useful useful foreign-bred foreign-bred colony colony quar- useful useful foreign-bred foreign-bred colony colony quar- quartered in the renovated stable area and for the grass races for which they have been shipped. This is not accidental, but is the culmination of the plan originated by Ben Lindheimer when he coordinated the Arlington and Washington programs back in 1941. For more than a decade lindheimer has persisted in his views concerning the advisability and acceptance of racing over turf courses. And, in a determined effort to give that branch of the sport every chance to prove to the public what he already felt, he introduced banked turns on turf courses, established the first rich turf stakes events, and last year built the first American turf training course at Arlington Park. There can be no doubt that the deep-laid plans now are producing dividends, both sporting and financial. Stables which could not have been expected to ship here for the long trio of meetings except for the grass events, are stabled here and their members represent some of the finest imported and domestic bloodlines available. Summer Solstice Makes Auspicious Debut A prominent example of this is the menage of Mr. and Mrs. Allie Reuben, of Toledo. Their Hasty Bouse Farms roster includes two of Europes best two-year-olds of 1954 in Summer Solstice, who was second in the Gimcrack and winner of the Hopeful, and four other English stakes, and My Beau. In this group also are the American grass champion of 1954, Stan, Argen- • tinas representative Mister Black, and a new import from England, Oriental Spring. Summer Solstice made his American debut rather auspiciously here last Friday when, despite strange American surroundings such as the starting gate, a somewhat slow beginning and relatively strong competition, he justified the confidence of the public who had made him an odds-on choice. The foreign-bred colony here is probably one of the strongest ever assembled at one track for an entire meeting. Hitherto, one could expect to find such horses shipping in for an individual race and then departing for engagements in other sectors. It can reliably be expected that by the time Arlington opens, June "20, and Washington takes over its own meeting, August 1, the contingent of imports will have become even bigger and better. By that time Alberta Ranches efficient St. Vincent and Hasty Houses proficient Stan will again be ready for action. Unfortunately, both of these will be compelled to forego Saturdays 0,000 added Balmoral Turf Handicap. Likely to be included in the starting field of Saturdays headliner is Mrs. Harry L. Nathensons Irish-bred, Blue Choir, a son of Menetrier— Fleur Bleue, who was able to win two Irish stakes in 1954 for Lady Ains-worth. Others could include Mrs. Joe Tomlinsons Marshall Ney H., sired by the Hyperion stallion, His Highness, out of the Fair Trial mare, Fair Freedom; Mister Black, Brush Burn, Cascanuez, County Clare, Mark-Ye-Well, and Smoke Screen. Volcanic Pioneered on Chicago Greenswards The apparent domination by imports of our American grass racing is not good news to domestic breeders, but the field need not be closed to American-breds. One can be forgiven for wondering what would have happened had Ralph W. Mcllvains great gray" Volcanic been born five years Jater. Volcanic was, of course, a product of turf racing in the Chicago area, where he won the Meadowland in three successive years and set the American-record for a mile and three -sixteenths while doing it. He was also second to Royal- Governor in the Stars and Stripes in 1951 when Eddie Arcaro had his introduction to the grass sport. It is argued in this area of turf racing that Volcanic is the only recent American-bred who could have stood up with the Stans, St. Vincents, and other modern grass-racing stars. According to grass-race observers here, one who could step into Volcanics shoes is King Ranchs High Gun, and the hopes are that he will be back from his European invasion in time for the July 30 running of the 00,000 Arlington Handicap and the later renewal of the 0,000 Meadowland. This may be termed wishful thinking, but regardless, the Balmoral-Arlington-Washington trio has the horses and the courses for more exciting turf events, and there are still six big ones to como in Saturdays Balmoral, The Stars and Stripes, the Modesty, the Grassland, the first American Derby on the grass, and the Meadowland. Scattered among these specials, racing secretary Pat Farrell is expected to offer some 150 overnight events over the infield course, which is concrete evidence that good grass racing is here to stayl
