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Detroit By Don Fair Apprentice Riders in MRA Spotlight Gilligan Rated High by Trainer Wright Scribe Gives Swaps Call Oyer Nashua DETROIT RACE COURSE, Livonia, Mich., June 17. Apprentice jockeys are creating more than a normal amount of interest here this season. Johnny Sellers continues his fast start, having won 23 faces in the first 24 days of the meeting. Now trainer "Tennessee" Wright has brought 17-year-old Larry Gilligan in from Chicago and calls the lad the "best prospect Ive seen for his age and experience," and there are half a dozen more who who have been riding and winning regularly. Gilligan, incidentally, booted Tonsina home a winner in the 0,000 Rose Leaves Stakes here last week end and that was only his second mount of the meeting. Other popular "bug" boys include Joe Gregory, Dick Miguez, Bobby Bright, John Tracey, Robert Dever, Albert Blache, Robert Ayers and Otto Crank. All of which calls attention to the apprentice rule as it has been written in Michigan. Under it, a youth receives a five-pound allowance until he has ridden 100 winners. If he gets 100 to the winners circle inside of - a year, he gets the five pounds until the end of the year. In addition to that, he is allowed two more pounds while riding for his contract holder and this twopounds continues for a year even after he has ridden 100 winners. However, it applies only to horses owned by the contract holder. Western Colt Has Many Followers There has been considerable fussing in recent weeks anent Swaps and Nashua. It has been this corners assignment to call the charts of the Kentucky Derby for many years. In fact, a bit longer than we care to admit. Just yesterday we received word of our election to the "I Like Swaps Club." Notice came from the Louisville headquarters of that organization, headed by president Dean Eagle, vice-presidents Marvin Gay and Jerry McNerney, and chairman of the board Earl Ruby. It is not our intention .of overlook the secretary-treasurer of the "I Like Swaps Club," although we take a rather dim view of Mr. Mike Barrys ability to handle the club funds. He has considerable difficulty handling his own pocket money. We note that Mr. Barrys brother, Joe, is listed as manager of the Kentucky Irish-American. Mike is merely the editor. Our secretary-treasurer is a staunch, supporter of mobile books, not to be confused with bookmobiles. We cant understand why they didnt make Mike a sergeant at arms or something. For the most part we have ducked post-race controversies but from where we sit, we think that Swaps can beat Nashua at scale weights, fast or wet track, at any old distance. Handled by two of the great riders of our time, Swaps and Nashua hooked up May 7 in the Derby and the chestnut comet from the West simply had too many guns for the Belair colt, beating the latter fair and square. No blame for Nashuas defeat can be laid to Eddie Arcaro. The Newport Italian, who came up the "hard way," has never known anything about the word "quit." He didnt stop trying with Nashua in Derbytown. He wanted that "Big Six" Derby, but Nashua just didnt have it. Wee Willie Confirms His Ability There is no question about Willie Shoemakers ability either. We watched closely when wee Willie journeyed to New Orleans in his quest for the 1950 riding title, in which he tied Joe Culmone for honors. He looked like a champion then and he is a champion now. The "Silent One" led his league in 1953-1954. He gave Swaps a perfect ride in the Derby, duplicating Arcaros feat aboard Nashua. When Nashua moved to Swaps withers, The Shoe let out the last notch. Swaps beat a game colt under a game rider. In short, Swaps was best and we think he is still best. To those questioning the Ellsworth colts speed, we suggest a trial run against Determine, wholl certainly pass for better than an "empty stall." Swaps ran away from the 1954 Derby victor last week. It wasnt even close! Fair Facts: Norris Gwin, clerk of scales at the local course, was surprised on his thirtieth birthday by his wife Rosemary, son Norris, Jr., daughter Rosemary and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Emmett Hileman. The Gwins and Mrs. Hileman made the trip here by motor and they will remain through September 15. . . . Note to the owners of the Marotta Stock Farm, Mardi Gras Stable, McKinnon and Westphal, and A. V. Conniff strings: Jockey silks in vertical halves are not permitted by The Jockey Club and are barred from all Metropolitan, tracks. . . . One color when horses are in the back-stretch and another during the run through the front stretch are anything but popular with chart callers, officials and Mr. and Mrs. John Public, who foot all the bills in this great sport. . . . Mrs. Robert Lee Baird, wife of the popular reinsman, escaped serious injury in an automobile mishap Wednesday evening. After treatment for cuts and bruises Mrs. Baird was released from Mercy Hospital and she is resting at her, apartment. . . . Bill Nelson, assistant to publicity director Paul Morton Chandler at the MRA course, graduated from the Wayne University Law School Thursday.
