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California c By Oscar Otis Hugenberg Tells Ideas on Triple Crown He Would Cooperate on Nominations Common Entry Blank an Impossibility HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 18. Swaps, you may recall, gave California its first true victory in the Kentucky Derby in that he was the first Golden State-owned, bred, raced, and trained colt to sum up all these classifications when he beat Nashua in a brilliant effort. Swaps even had a California rider, Willie Shoemaker, in the irons. He had his own supply of California feed, but did- drink Kentucky water. The fact that Swaps was not eligible for either the Preakness or Belmont has caused something of a to-do ever since, for Rex Ellsworth stated after the Derby that he probably would have stayed East with his horse had he been eligible. Ellsworth did not plead ignorance of the other two races he merely had not included them in his plans. It is true he could have made Swaps eligible for the Preakness by payment of a substantial supplemental fee, but he finally decided against it in favor of keeping his long planned schedule intact. It was at the suggestion of this writer, made to Jimmy Kilroe, and later approved by George Widener, that the Belmont closing date was made to conform with that of the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby, namely February 15. Because of the many suggestions among them the notion of a common entry blank for the three stakes advanced so that a situation such as Swaps posed could not arise again, we decided to ask Stanley Hugenberg, executive vice-president of Churchill Downs, his ideas on the whole broad matter. Because Churchill is hi many ways the key to the problem, the official attitude of that track became paramount. Events Haye Only a Mythical Relationship "I wish it to be distinctly understood that in answering your questions, I am speaking for myself only and not officially for Churchill Downs," advises Hugenberg. "I distinctly think the three spring classics, the Derby, the Preakness, and Belmont, have only a mythical relationship. They have been linked together in the press for a great many years and it is only natural the public would associate all three races together, but I do not think that a common entry blank for all three stakes would have "any advantage. Perhaps if Pimlico and Belmont furnished Churchill with its mailing list and Churchill Downs does the same for Pimlico and Belmont, all nominators would be covered and Churchill could enclose a statement of the fact that the Preakness and Belmont are closing the same day. Pimlico and Belmont could make the same statement to their nominators." This columnist is happy to present Hugenbergs ideas, toward a closer liaison between these three tracks in the matter of complete representation in the Triple Crown, and while, as Hugenberg says, he is only speaking for himself, we feel certain that the Churchill board of directors would approve the suggestion he has made. It might be a step in the right direction. In all fairness, however, this writer must point out that a common entry blank for all three races is a technical impossibility as long as the Belmont excludes geldings. Some people insist this is a mistake because in these modern times, the public makes the champions, and an outstanding gelding comes along every now and then. Exterminator, for instance, went on to greatness after winning the Kentucky Derby, but he never could have been a Triple Crown winner. The. argument for Excluding geldings from any big stakes, including the Belmont, is that if a gelding wins, it could prove nothing in the way of eventual improvement of the breed. But Ben Jones, once told us that he thought a classic with geldings would help prove up the breed far better than a classic barring geldings because a classic meant, in theory, beating the best of the age group regardless of sex or lack of it. In other words, can you honestly prove up a sire with a horse with equal, pretentions of ability on the sidelines? If the best entire colts race only among themselves, can the result, for better or worse, be as conclusive if the best of everything were in the competition? Jones has a point that is difficult to get around. Two Westerners Invited to Race in France Horses and People: On Friday, this corner commented on the growing prestige of California racing, as so dramatically portrayed by Swaps, and you may or may not have noticed that of the six horses Daily Racing Form has been requested by the Societe dEncouragement of France to invite to the Arc-de-Triomphe in Paris, October 9, two are racing here, i.e., Swaps and Determine. . . . The Los Angeles County Fair has turned down, but flatly, pressure to expand its half-miler to at least six furlongs, even a mile, which is -possible because the land is available. But general manager Jack Afflerbaugh wants to keep the contests in the "laps of the fans" in keeping with the County Fair moti,f. . . . Incidentally, Pomona asks me to correct an impression that still lingers, namely, that the gates are closed on big days, and would-be fans shooed away. This is no longer true because Pomona is opening its infield, with complete wagering and refreshment facilities, to accommodate what hitherto were overflow crowds. . . . Ray Bell is more than liappy over Blue Choirs victory in that 0,000 turf stake at Balmoral, for he purchased the colt in Ireland with the help of Bertie Kerr, and while the price was not revealed, Blue Choir was a definite bargain. i i i ft . t ? f v i . ; i o i
