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On the Wire . By Hugh J. McGuire Lindheimer Tracks Pioneered Turf Sport Strong Intersectional Rivalry on Grass Competition May Influence International ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, 111., June 22. There may be times when racing centers in the East lose sight of the important part that has been played by Arlington and Washington Parks in the pioneering of racing over turf courses. This type of sport has gained increasing popularity in all areas, and while it is still looked upon as somewhat new in other sectors, it has been under development here for 15 years, during which time it has advanced from one stake offering to the present six at the Ben Lindheimer-operated courses. Principal of these, of course, are the 00,000 Arlington Handicap at a mile and three-sixteenths on July 30, and the American Derby of the same value and distance on August 20. Intersectional rivalry in grass racing is quite pronounced here with the presence on the grounds of such stables as those of W. Arnold Hanger and Horatio Luro from New York. From California and Canada is Alberta Ranches. Hasty House Farm has its base in Toledo. Mrs. H. L. Nathenson is local. Foothill Farm and Mrs. Edward Lasker are from California. Sand Hill Farm is from New York, while Calumet Farm is from Kentucky. Shipping horses in for grass engagements will be such establishments as Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Charfran, Brookmeade, Maine Chance, King Ranch and others. Sanctioned by Foreign Jockey Clubs This intersectional rivalry could have a close bearing on the running this year at Laurel, Md., of the Washing O. C, International, -as races in this area could do much to point out those American-bred horses deserving of an invitation to that great sporting special. The International now has the official sanction of the august Jockey Clubs of England, Eire and France, an unprecedented honor attained through the efforts abroad of Laurels president, John Shapiro. Chicagoans and Midwesterners are reminded that competitors from foreign countries are invited by Shapiro and a committee, while a panel of Ameri-tan turf writers selects the American-breds invited to oppose them. The International is at a mile and a half, for three-year-olds and up, at scale weights, and in deference to the foreigners it is started from a walkup start. It will be run for the fourth time on Friday, November 11, Veterans Day, which gives ample time for a thorough weeding-out process that should find the best American-breds in training rather well pointed out. If some sections of the sport in the East are prone to overlook the part played in the development of turf racing in Chicago, the. management at Laurel is not one of them, for advices from that course indicate that turf races here will be followed minutely. A list of horses in Europe who are currently under consideration for invitation to the International comprises the ranking campaigners of France, England, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Spain. The present crop of English three-year-olds is held to be somewhat sub-standard, as Phil Drake, from France, won the English Derby, and Panaslipper, from Eire, was second. Both of these are under consideration for the International. Older English eligibles are Narrator, By Thunder, Chatsworth, Blue Prince II. and several others. Irelands top contender just now, in addition to Panaslipper, is Hugh Lupus, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Zarathustra and Chamier appear best of the older divisions of that country. Several Prominent European Candidates In addition to Phil Drake, France has a good colt in Rapace, while among the older horses is Banassa, who was second to Fisherman in last years International. The Italian Derby was won by Altrek, who beat Grand Rapids only a neck, and both of these are under consideration, along with others. Prominent in Germany are a filly, Silver City, and a colt, Koening O.ttokar, both of whom are good stakes winners. Spains best appears to "be Pirata, winner of the Spanish Derby at Madrid. This is only a partial list of foreigners from whom will be selected opponents for the best homebreds this country can offer. Mme. Suzy Volterra, of Paris, owner of the English Derby winner, Phil Drake, confirmed her willingness to send her colt to the International, and if this reaches its conclusion, it. will mark the first time since 1923 that an English Derby winner came to this country. That was the year Papyrus came over to fall before Zev in a match race. In his column in this paper some time ago, Oscar Otis stated that Rex Ellsworth would be interested in an invitation for Swaps. What a drawing card that meeting would be. Last year, Englands Queen Elizabeth was represented in the International by Landau, but the Queen does not consider that she has a horse good enough to compete this year. It is against such horses that the best American-breds will be matched in the International, and "our representatives could establish themselves in turf racing in Chi-cagoland. One horse on the grounds for local racing might prove himself eligible in another category of the International. This is Alberta Ranches St. Vincent, who is foreign-bred and foreign-owned, as his base is in Canada.
