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, , fc-Ka-J On the Wire By Hugh J. McGuire Gushen Pleased With Horsemens Facilities HBPA Head Anxious to Return to Private Life Discusses Late Scratching in Stake Races ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, 111., June 21. Irving Gushen, national president of the Horse- mens Benevolent and Protective Association, was a , , visitor visitor here here and and at at Washington Washington visitor visitor here here and and at at Washington Washington Park over the week end; Before his departure, Gushen and Bob Read, chairman of the national board of directors of the horsemens organization, inspected the local plant and barn area. This was Gushens first visit here and he expressed himself as "astounded at the tremendous effort made by Ben Lindheimer and his associates to make these two tracks outstanding." outstanding." The The barn barn area area in- fc-Ka-J outstanding." outstanding." The The barn barn area area in- inspection included a test ran by the tracks fire department and a demonstration of the use of fireproof suits that can be worn to lead horses from a blazing building. He was pleased that the fire department, switchboard, doctor and nurse were on call around the clock and he lauded the provision of space for the horsemens trailer camp. As national president, Gushen expressed the gratitude of the horsemen for the facilities for . high-grade racing and pledged the cooperation of the HBPA. It was typical of Gushens method of procedure as HBPA president that he gave only minor comment on the fact that while here he, Read, and local president Joseph Kohout, reached an agreement with management on purse distribution. He said simply, "We talked it over with Mr. lindheimer and reached an amicable solution." Since Gushen has headed -the horsemens group there have been more "amicable solutions" than in the previous history of the HBPA and these have been accomplished without fanfare over the conference table. It is not part of Gushens policy o bring unfavorable publicity to the sport in general and he has perhaps done more than any other to elevate the HBPA to a point where it is respected at the bargaining table and by the public. Face Difficult Task of Finding Replacement Now the HBPA is in danger of losing Gushen as president. He feels that the tremendous sacrifices to his business and home life should end, and he is anxious to turn the work over to a successor. He feels badly that there are still some associations who do not realize that what he is trying to do will benefit them as well as the horsemen. If Gushen cannot again be in-- duced to accept the presidency in the national elections on July 31, the HBPA will be hard pressed to find a successor with his ability and unselfishness. The controversial question of the late scratching of prominent horses from stake .engagements came to the front again here recently and is still being talked. The privilege of withdrawing a horse from stake engagements as late as 45 minutes before the race has long been in dispute and efforts to trace its origin appear to establish that the practice is nothing more than tradition. Because it is a rule those who use it are well within their rights, but there have been instances where the rule has been abused and the public has been the scapegoat. The public would never submit to buy- j ing tickets to see Rocky Marciano or George Gobel only to find that these stars would not appear. There is, of course, a vast difference between the prize ring or theatre and a race course, and anyone who is at all horsewise will differentiate at once between legitimate reasons for withdrawals and trickery. Because his horse, Mister Black, was a late withdrawal from the Balmoral Turf Handicap in which he was favorite, we asked Allie E. Reuben, of Hasty House Farm, for his opinion on the subject. Reuben first explained the reason for the absence of Mister Black from the race. He had fully intended to start the horse and he and Mrs. Reuben had come by plane from New York to see him run. A cut on the horses leg had opened up during a workout and while the wound was not serious, Reubens veterinarian was of the opinion that it could be dangerous to run him and prescribed that he be withdrawn. There is not much use having rz. veterinarian if his opinion is not respected and no v one could find fault with the decision to withdraw Mister Black. Reuben Approves of 45-Minute Declaration Reuben was in favor of the 45 -minute scratch rule in many cases, the principal ones being a change in track conditions or injury or sickness to a horse. In the latter case a horse should be withdrawn without the need of the rule and in the former case the stewards are usually as lenient as they possibly can be. These contingencies also covered the reason for entries in stakes. Reuben was, nonetheless, firmly in favor of the early withdrawing of horses whenever this was feasible so that their names would not appear on the program. He said also, "You cannot say too strongly how much I am opposed to entering horses in stakes when there is absolutely no intention of starting them." Fortunately, more and more stakes demand a fee to pass the entry box and this acts as a deterrent to promiscuous entering, although it carries no guarantee. There are points for and againsfthe late scratch rule. A good field could be ruined at the last minute, and while it is remote we shudder to think of the chaos that would result from the late scratch of a favorite in the Kentucky Derby after wagering on the race had been in progress from early morning.
