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Maryland I By Charles Hatton War Age at Top of Form for Sprint Cap Betless Hunt Cup Attracts About 18000 Successful Lancrel on Good Behavior BehaviorLAUREL LAUREL Md April 30 This progressive park enjoyed a big week end despite conflict with the open ¬ ing of Garden State Park The Birds a lacrosse match the Maryland Hunt Cup and other high jinx A crowd of 18304 was on hand to see Mrs Ben Cohens War Age romp off with the 10980 Sprint Handicap There is not really much to say about this latest success of the sevenyearold War Relic stallion who was bred by the late Sam Riddle He simply went to the front and improved his position from there He was in receipt of seven pounds from the runnerup Informant but beat that one three lengths Bobby Martin was never more correct than when he remarked in pulling the tack off his mount after the race that he is a quick post horse Sharing interest with the Laurel program on the week end was the renewal of the Maryland Hunt Cup out in the valley This bet less affair drew a crowd of about 18000 and was won by Lancrel a horse Mrs Henry Obre imported several years ago and who was ridden by Frank Bonsai Jr Second at a respectful seven or eight lengths was Rayquick who was handled by Billy Smithwick and Gofetchit was third Only four of the starting field of nine finished the race one of the most grueling timber events anywhere in the world some say more demand ¬ ing even than the Aintree Grand National We did not get out to the Martin estate but Fred Colwill who won the Cup a couple of times on Blockade described it for us It seems that the successful Lancrel can be temperamental at times and stick his toes in the ground but he ran cheerfully for young Bonsai on this aus ¬ picious occasion occasionLaurel Laurel Fans Visit the Backstretch BackstretchLaurel Laurel gave the average fan a glimpse behind the racing scene here the other day employing buses to tour the stable area arid let them visit the horses at home Approximately 100 took advantage of this open Jiouse to acquaint themselves with the tranquil aspects bf workaday hoivse training learn something of the accoutrements of the training stable and its modus operand and inspect the starting gate at close range Starter Eddie Blind schooled some horses from the ma ¬ chine for the group and one set was ridden by various of the 45 Cub Scouts present A little shaver breaking from number 12 won by a length and a half going away There was also a demonstration of the lip tattoo service of the TRPB a tour of the famous In ¬ ternational Village and trainer Bill Resseguet and Tommy Kelly showed them through their stables These guided tours of the stable areas are not unique but they can go far toward informing thinking people about what makes racing tick Judge Pappas has staged them at Suffolk Downs on Massachusetts Hand ¬ icap day with the same encouraging results met here at Laurel LaurelNot Not many columns ago we were interviewing starter Blind regarding the post behavior of various of the horses who have come under his supervision He noted that it is not always possible to teach a rogue Emily Post and enumerated a number of recalcitrants who were apparently incorrigible In the cases of some of the descendants of Hastings it is fairly atavistic Mata Hari Man o War War Admiral and others of this tribe have given starters headaches Blind and his crew now have supplied us with more data on the tough post horses Listed as bad are King Saxon Clingendaahl Grand Slam War Hero Padlock and Head Play Halcyon and Pasteurized were sulkers Stymie would sit down in the gate Conquistador is categorized as a very bad actor along with Pharasay Halcyon presented quite a problem Usually he was among the choices in the stakes in which the late Tom Healey entered him but as he aged he became tricky and would not break Healey finally devised a closed shutter blinker for him Halcyon could be induced to go into the gate when th e blinkers were closed and as the bell rang it was up to Sammy Workman or who ¬ ever had the mount to pull the string which would open them As we recall he won a stake every season he raced but actuallyhe did not have much heart heartPimlico Pimlico Plans PreRace Fashion Show ShowTurf Turf ana Pimlico will have an unique attraction in an hourlong fashion show daily in the clubhouse pre ¬ vious to the first post time Among the models from some of Baltimores smartest shops is Linell Nash Smith daughter of Ogden Nash We have received some unfriendly letters from one Milan Dineen who apparently does not like grass racing and is also dis ¬ satisfied with Laurels grandstand facilities Frankly we cannot see what is so objectionable about the plant in comparison with other structures and he may be pleased to know there now are plans for improving it still further These are necessarily nebulous because of the steel situation Pimlico has published an elabo ¬ rate brochure for its spring meeting replete with Preakness history and portraits of past winners Besomer really looked good in his recent public trial here and the son of Double Jay will be vouchsafed a chance in the Derby He changed his stride a lot in his mile in 137 but appeared to be going easily under Nick Shuk all the way Shuk has never before rid ¬ den in a Derby Gene Van Deren tells Pimlicos Charlie Johnson that he is receptive to the idea of making the Blue Grass winner Toby B who upset Career Boy a supplementary eligible for the Preakness and Belmont
