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Churchill Downs — : By Joe Hirsch - Lamoureux Elaborates on Foreign-Breds Rathermans Speed Impresses Arcaro Future Looks Bright at Freuhauf Barn CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 5.— Time is of the esences: The successes and failures of foreign-bred horses in this country has come in for increased discussion along the backstretches of American tracks in recent years, conversely with increased U. S. participation in sales rings across the Atlantic and private transactions with bloodstock agents abroad. Horses like Blue Choir, Summer Solstice, St. Vincent, Cascanuez and Le Beau Prince are running advertisements for the foreign marts, while there are also a considerable number of highly publicized im ports who simply wont run a lick when brought to this country. Few trainers in- America today have Tfad Frenchy Lamoureuxs experience with foreign-breds, and the other morning, in the midst of the pre-Derby madness that gripped the Churchill Downs stable area, the veteran conditioner of Harvey Fruehauf s powerful stable took a few minutes from his chores to chat of the subject. Lamoureux is a horseman of the broadest experience, who began his race track career as a blacksmith and has an unusual knowledge of a thorougli-breds hoofs and legs, which are, after all, of key anatomical significance. Time Essential to Proper Training For the past few years, Lamoureux has been training for Fruehauf, the retired truck-trailer king from Detroit who is a devoted patron of the sport and a frequent purchaser of foreign stock. Lamoureux has 37 of Fruehaufs horses on the grounds at present and a significant portion of these were foaled abroad. What, Frenchy was asked, had he found was of primary consideration in the training of these horses? ."Time," thundered Frenchy like a baseball umpire. "Youve got io-take plenty of time with almost all of them because they need and deserve plenty of chance to adjust to the climate, water* and other conditions peculiar to American racing. You cannot rush them. Another thing Ive found is that most of them prefer racing on our grass tracks to our dirt surfaces. And, incidentally, it doesnt follow, as you might think, that they also like muddy or sloppy going on our dirt strips, as do many American-bred grass horses. Additionally, most of the foreign-breds that Ive handled also prefer a distance of ground. They dont seem to be cut out for sprinters." Of the 37 horses that Lamoreux has under his supervision, 15 are two-year-olds, an equal number are three-year-olds and the older horses are hard-hitting allowance performers, which makes for a well-balanced outfit with great potential. A few years ago, Fruehauf went to Ireland where he purchased, at private treaty, nine mares in foal with foals at their side. Some of the mares were left in Ireland and their get flown over to this country at a later date, the rest were sent here to join the band of 30-odd mares that Fruehauf keeps at the Golden Maxim Farm of Mrs. T. M. Murphy near Louisville. Among Frenchys better three-year-olds, is Ratheram, a colt by Windsor Slipper from a Midas mare who was dropped in this country. Ratheram scored here at a mile and one-sixteenth the other day, impressing no less astute an observer than Eddie Arcaro by the manner in which he opened up daylight on his field entering the stretch and then won easily by two and one-half lengths "with speed in reserve," as the chart puts it. Frenchy feels that Ratheram may make his presence felt in the three-year-old stakes ranks this summer in Chicago, where the stable will be shipped to take advantage of Ben Lindheimers extensive turf racing program. Imported Dublin Miss Very Appealing Another sophomore that Frenchy displayed and singled out for mention was a striking chestnut filly named Dublin Miss, who is by Solar Slipper from the Nearco mare, Paye. This strapping beauty, who looks more like a four-year-old stud, was one of the foals dropped abroad and brought to this country. Frenchy started her at Gulfstream Park last winter and she was slammed against the inside rail. Lamoureux must send her to the farm to recuperate, but shell be back in the summer or early fall,. and Frenchy warns that the dis-staff ranks had better be ready for her. Among the other sophomores here who could be prominent over Arlington Parks sweeping turf course this summer are a pair of colts by Solar Slipper7a filly by Arctic Star and another miss by The Phoenix, all sires distinguished for their racing and breeding records abroad. The two-year-olds havent started as yetj but Frenchy is. pleased at the way they are coming along, and if these prospects werent bright enough, Lamoureux also has 21 yearlings of excellent breeding to be picked up for breaking later in the season. "Like most veteran horsemen, Frenchy knows full well the important role that luck plays in the success of a racing stable, but with such promising youngsters on the grounds and at the farm, the future looks particularly bright at the Fruehauf, bam.
