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Belmont Park By Chuck Connors What Causes Fabulous Prices for Horses? Answer to Question Puzzles Many Experts Louis B. Mayer Dispersal Sale Recalled BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 9.— What price race horses? That question has been asked more than once over the years and the answers are an aiuiis uie aauic mic, wnuu luc market will stand. That is the 4 question with no definite answer. Some fabulous prices have been paid for race horses and no doubt in the future some more will be asked and answered. Are yearlings and horses in training a good index to the value of horses is another question that has as many answers as tips in a bulky field of two-year-olds. Dispersal thoroughbreds are sold to close out an estate, have been known to return some unheard of prices. These sales have, in many instances, brought high prices for horses, more so than one offered by men, who, through illness or other reasons, decided to retire from racing. This oddity even had the members -in good standing of the paddock gang nonplussed for a quick answer. One of the dispersal sales that will long be remembered was that held at Santa Anita several years ago, when Louis B. Mayer announced his retirement from racing. The sale was conducted under flood lights with the usual Hollywood ballyhoo and atmosphere. The prices realized for the many offerings were beyond belief. However, the purchasers laid their personal checks or cash on the line and that was that. The amount involved in the vendue was in excess of .two millions. A glance through the bible of the racing world, The American Racing Manual, reveals that a syndicate of American breeders, headed by Leslie Coombs H., paid a half -million dollars in 1948 for the imported Alibhai, a potent stallion. Many Acquired for a Kings Ransom He was originally acquired in England by Mayer for approximately 3,440 Shannon H., the Australian wonder horse, was sold for 00,000 to another American syndicate. Other high-priced acquisitions of modern times are Tracery, 65,000; Challedon, 50,-000; Stepfather, 00,000; Windy City H., 65,000; One Count, 50,000; Hill Gail, Busher and Rock Sand for like amounts. The list of those that sold for amounts that border on a "kings ransom" is a length one. The earnings of a topnotch colt or filly is unlimited these days with the purse distribution what it is, and, in addition, there is always the future in breeding. Perhaps the excitement of the auction ring or the per sonal satisfaction, of "outsmarting tne seuer is uue ui the reasons that thoroughbreds come high these days, .which in one manner or other refutes the old Arab saying that a man will not sell a good horse. John C. Clark came down from Binghamton, N. Y., for the running of the Top Flight and placed his stamp of approval on Parlo, the winner. . . . Leslie Coombs II., of Versailes, Ky., was among those present. He attended the horses in training vendue and then decided to hurry home. . . . James McCue of the Brae Burn Farms was a visitor during the course of the afternoon. . . . Eugene Constantin, Jr., the Dallas, Texan, hopes to get in a few days racing during the Aqueduct meeting. He will be in New York on business commitments during that session. . . . Commander P. B. Kelly, U. S. N„ sent over from Tokyo, Japan, several interesting souvenirs, two of which are place plate designs. One carries a picture of John B. Campbell and the other that of a group of jockeys. . . . S. Bryce Wing arrived from Maryland and will remain for the balance of the session as an official relative to th£ steeplechase offerings. Jumper Elkridge Becomes Lead Pony Merritt Buxton came up from Delaware Park for the sale of horses in training Ben Cohen of Pimlico dropped in to report a successful session at the old Hill Top course, down Baltimore way. . . . Doug Elliott of Australia, he is interested in the televising of races, was a visitor yesterday. . . . The old veteran from the steeplechase ranks, Elkridge, has a new role. He is a lead pony and workout companion of the two-year-olds that Kent Miller has in his care Harold Young came up from Delaware Park for the final day of the horse vendues. . . . Steve Lawler, one of the veterans of the ranks, he readied Trojan, owned by the Quincy Stable, to win the Futurity at Saratoga Springs more than 40 years ago, dropped in for a visit. Jockeys Sam Boulmetis and Nick Shuk returned to Delaware Park after fulfilling engagements here. . . . Charley Tudor will accompany jockey Conn McCreary to Toronto to witness the running of the Queens Plate. The visit will be the first for Tudor to Canadas classic event. . . . Hurst Philpot planed in from Los Angeles for the sales. P. Komolo of Aurora, Ohio, owner of the United -Stables, Inc., acquired several horses for racing on the Ohio tracks. . . . Riverina came out of her Top Flight engagement none too well. Trainer Max Hirsch ordered X-ray pictures taken of her ankle and feet, hoping against hope that it is not a sesamoid condition. The pictures will be taken later today. ... Barker Seeley, propaganda minister at Monmouth Park, will, on behalf of that association, toss a cocktail- buffet on Thursday, June 16, at Toots Shors on 51st Street. The reason, to help celebrate the tenth racing L season of the New Jersey turf center. Toots, who will serve as father confessor to any of the wayward ones,
