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Delaware - By Charles Hatton Tom Roby Introduces Delaware Chase Season Stake Course Has Aintree-Type Hazards Spring Maiden Only Stake Through-the-Field DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 18. We may as well say at once that we are not an afficianado of steeplechasing. But Delaware Park will commence its colorful chase season here on Monday with a renewal of the 0,000 Tom Roby, which is for four-year-olds and upward, over the "about two miles" of the inside course. There is to be a hedge event daily, excepting for Saturdays and holidays, the remainder of the season. The Tom Roby is named for the former rider, as an individual, and the steeplechase jockeys as a group. "DriVnr Vine Vioon f An f i t n r ji KTaTT7 Immaculate Hospital, Jamaica, ever since he fell from Knights Quest at Belmont Park on June 1 in 1942. Appropriately, Bayard Sharp, who owned Knights Quest, presents the winning rider with a replica of the trophy in this race, for his permanent possession. In addition to the Roby, Delaware Park will renew its 0,000 Georgetown, the ,500 Spring Maiden and the 0,000 Indian River Handicap. This park is one of the . last strongholds of the hedge sport at major tracks in America, and indeed when first it was built it was to be dedicated almost exclusively to that robust phase of racing. However, none of the events to be renewed here this summer is a stakes, per se, except for the Spring Maiden, which is one of a series of events for green jumpers. Two Hedge Courses Expertly Constructed A great deal of thought, not to mention a certain genius, went into Willie duPohts construction of the two hedge courses here. The stake course, to which trainers have objected so strenuously, is nicely calcu-. lated to terrify a horse and yet permit those who have the courage to get over the hazards without incident. They call for a bold jumper, and like the English and Irish courses are tricky and fearsome looking. According to Clark Pardee, there is a Liverpool, with a log and a ditch, which makes for a jump of 22 feet, that its adapted from Aintree. It is the toughest hedge anywhere on this side of the Atlantic. There is also a water jump which simulates fox hunting conditions, where a . horse must have the spirit to go over a wall having a stream on the obverse embankments And yet duPont has managed, on the stakes course, to confront the fields with seemingly impossible hazards at the same ,ini has contrived to make them reasonably safe. There are no hedges which are on an abrupt turn and do not allow the competitors time to set themselves at them and jump for it, providing they have the fortitude and self assurance. The steeplechase trainers for years declaimed against this stakes course, where the George,-town and Indian River were so long decided. This season, it has been made optional by majority vote whether the races are decided on this path or the less demanding inside course. It is rather a pity that the racegoing public in America will, most of them, sit out the steeplechase events, for these can be good sport, and there are records to prove they are at least as formful as the flat races, for all the hazards involved. Despite the publics apathy we have developed some really wonderful chafers, among -them Jolly Roger, Fairmount, Bushranger, Golden Meadow, Elkridge and the precipitate Green Cheese. And even though he raced through-the-field, Elkridge attained a popularity which gained him a nomination or two for Horse of the Year. We do not think this richest of all hedge horses was ever "down" but once in his life. Indeed, it was his. proficiency over the stakes course here which gave him an aura of invincibility that prevoked the popular demand, to transfer the steeplechases to the inside course. Apparently, there was for years no horse who could jump with him coming to the big hedges. Those who think Delawares "Georgetown course" is so forbidding should inspect that at Navan in Ireland, which is said to be more demanding even than Aintreev It is an obsession, or a part of the national character, with the Irish to develop resolute" fencers and here the entrants are confronted with in-ahd-outs, walls and hedges one cannot see over. It seems to us deplorable that the steeplechase set is so bent on depreciating their own game. Gazelle Stakes Next for High Voltage Turfana: High Voltage returns over the week end to Aqueduct, for the Gazelle renewal . Swaps and company are scheduled for an autumn campaign in the East . .The brush is being replaced on the chase coruses here. . Don Ross is a frequent morning visitor, to his adjacent historic Brandy wine Farm. . .Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps was present for the Delaware Oaks. . .The Oaks marked the first appearance in the pL-East of Maine Chances jockey George Taniguchi, a , Japanese-Hawaiian born in California. He has just recovered from a broken collarbone. . .Jock Barshack reports Helioscope in radiant condition. . .Open Sesame is here for the "New" New Castle and Delaware Handicaps ..Eddie Arcaro rides Pollys Jet in Wednesdays 0,000 added Christiana Stakes. . .Jenj ays recent defeat finds her going West and she will forego the "Distaff Big Three" events. . .Ogden Phipps came down from Long Island for the week end program. . .Pardees crew here numbers 150. Most of them were preoccupied with clearing the drainage along the inner rails of the main course today. . .Delaware Park is a member of the TRA and operates under the New York Jockey Club regulations.
