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j - BLUE GRASS BREEDING . Factors of Important Early Stakes Upon Derby Calibre of Contestants Depends on Many Things Definite Lack of Color Noted in Some Fields * By HUGH J. McGUIRE LEXINGTON, Ky., May 5.— In casual conversation with several horsemen and breeders prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby there arose repeatedly the opinion that there were now too many pre-Derby races of importance for three-year-olds. It was suggested that these races served to remove from Derby competition many of the well-regarded eligibles who went wrong before they had a chance to compete at Churchill Downs. Winter racing in Florida, and California, followed by early sophomore activities in New York, Maryland and Kentucky certainly has provided more opportunities for the division and with more competition it follows that there can be expected an increase in the number of horses sidelined through injury or weaknesses. While there may be some _ . basis for the opinions expressed, we are not quite prepared to accept the elimination of numerous pre - Derby races as a guarantee that Derby starting fields would be improved without them. There are too many examples of horses who have survived winter racing to compete in the Run for the Roses. We are more in-i clined to the belief that the topic was prompted primarily by the fact that this year there is what Evan Shipman describes adequately as a "presumably moderate generation of three-year-olds" and perhaps subconsciously a search is being made for an alibi for them. This-is written before the Derby is run and the result might alter this opinion but at present there is a definite lack of color to the prospective starting field. For a reason, that escapes us, Needles, the pronounced favorite at this time, has failed to surround himself with the glamor that went with such public choices as Your Host or Olympia. Regardless of the outcome, however, Needles has shown" that there iSj a way to practically guarantee the presence of a horse in the Churchill Downs classic-It is a rather extreme method, to be sure, but a modified version of it calling for fewer races might supply the answer to those concerned. The situation develops into individual cases and sometimes calls for a gamble between the earlier races and a chance at the Derby. A shrewd trainer i might foresee possible trouble and avoid it by staying in the barn until the big job was done. From this distance wTe have no way of knowing if this is the case with Needles. AAA Admitting that numerous early races for three-year-olds could have a bearing on the quality of the field in the Derby, we cannot accept this reason as being in control. It requires only a glance over past Derbys to find years in which the calibre of the contestants resembled this years line-up and there were also years such as Count Fleets when one horse dominated the field. In favor of early racing of three-year-olds to bolster the Derby fields it may be recalled that in the years before winter racing had grown to its present popularity, the date of the running of the Derby was often held to be too early to have ready i ► : many of the top horses who had been retired to winter quarters. Presumably acting on the premise that they have nothing to lose, hreeders have been submitting every last one of their yearlings to the summer sales for consideration by the selection committee. This indiscriminate naming of yearlings many of whom were predestined to rejection and could be expected to be known as such to the breeders, has added unnecessarily to the work of the selectors. A proposal has been made to the Breeders Sales Company that it charge a suggested 0 for each yearling submitted, this sum to be credited to the breeder if the yearling was accepted and forfeited if rejected. However, no action has been taken on the proposal. AAA Blades of Blue Grass: Blue Grass breeders were saddened to learn of the death of Ted Carr after a lengthy illness. Carr carried on his own breeding operations and also supervised those of Dr. H. M. Mundy The Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club will hold a dinner meeting Monday, May 7, at 7 P.M. at the Coach House, Lexington. Guest speaker will be Laban Jackson, conservation commissioner for the State nf Kentucky . . . Derby guests of Mrs. Warrington Gillet and Walter Salmon Jr. of Mereworth Farm included Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lyons of New York. . . . John Barry Ryan was a visitor at the Normandy Farm of Mr. and Mrs. E. Barry Ryan. His mare Pipette is in foal to Turn-to. Latest foal arrivals at Normandy are a filly by Roman from the imported mare Skye, and a handsome colt by Princequillo from Gun Moll. Mrs. Ida Sherburne who, gained renown for her knowledge of thoroughbreds on the 4,000 Question, addressed the local Rotary Club. Col. and Mrs. Sherburne will witness the Preakness and Belmont to complete their attendance at the Triple Crown races . . . Dr. Luis Traverso, a veterinarian of Lima, Peru, made a tour of the Blue Grass as the guest of Dr. Robert E. Bardwell . . . The stallion Apache who died recently in Virginia, stood for several years at Claiborne . . . Calumet was unfortunate to lose as a result of a paddock accident, a promising foal by Citation — Mar-Kell . . . Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bennett reported the loss of the mare Dora Dear from a delayed Tiemorrhage some time after foaling a sturdy colt by Ambiofix. Dora Dear was by Foray H. — Dancing Dora and was a half-sister to Prince Simon. She was secured from the Belair dispersal. The foal is thriving on a nurse mare . . . Derby house guests of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Combs H. included Mr. and Mrs. John C. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Danny Van Clief, and Mrs. Charles U. Bay.
