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In The Blue Grass By Hugh J. McGuire Floridians Claim Needles as Homebred Individual States Set Up Own Rules Wallace Digs Up7 Background of Dam LEXINGTON, Ky., May 9 —A great deal of conversation, some of which got into print in Kentucky, has been heard concerning the right of Floridians to claim the Derby winner Needles as a Florida - bred because he was foaled in that state. While it is true that everything leading up to the foaling of the colt transpired in Kentucky, at the risk of being run out of town by a posse of Thoroughbred Club members, we must go along with the Floridians. It is our understanding that The Jockey Club, in addition to the Florida rule,, ordains that the birthplace of the foal deter mines this issue. It is, perhaps, not mandatory to accept either of these rules in which case it might be interesting to know just what rule would be followed. Claiming Needles as a Kentuckian appears rather pica-yunish and smacks of the very thing so often encountered, when other states claim Kentu.cky-breds. Lacking an authoritative national governing body to control the subject, the individual states have set their own rules, stipulating what constitutes a state-bred horse. The same problem exists to a degree abroad, where the joke is made that if a plane carryings a pregnant/mare from France to America, sets down in *Eire for refueling, the foal becomes Irish-bred. Admittedly there is no concerted effort in Kentucky to claim Needles as a homebred, but it appears unbecoming to belittle the rule. Possibly Florida brought upon itself much of the criticism thrown its way by its live-pound weight allowance for homebreds, of which Needles was the recipient in stakes. Ev Clay tells us that this allowance is to be abolished in stakes only. If this weight concession is wrong u stakes, it is wrong in all races and the Florida breeders might do well to abolish it in its entirety. There are many other acceptable methods to encourage the home industry. Noodle Soups Best Was a Maiden Victory At the risk of being accused of fostering the very thing of which we complain here is the background on Needles as "dug up" by Bud Wallace of the Thoroughbred Record and Lexington Herald. Giving all the credit for the ability of Needles to his sire Ponder and none to his dam Noodle Soup, Wallace pointed out that the mare won a maiden race at two, then failed to score again in 14 races at two, three and five. At stud she also produced the stakes-winning Menolene by Bull Brier. Noodle Soup and other broodmares owned by Sam Feinberg of New England were at Rodes Estills farm in Lexington for two breeding seasons before being sold to W. E. Leach. According to Wallace, Estill had a verbal agreement with Feinberg that could be terminated on six months notice and Estill exercised this right when he believed he had a losing proposition. Three Feinberg mares, including Noodle Soup, a yearling filly, and a suckling filly Menolene , were sold to Leach for 0,000. Paul Little, of Palmeadow Farm, represented Leach in buying and boarding the Feinberg mares and it was Little who arranged the 1952 mating of Noodle Soup and Ponder. Later, Little relinquished his interest and sent the mares to Florida to fcal. Wallace also pointed out that Supromene, granddam of Needles,. did little to distinguish herself either. She produced three foals and Noodle Soup was her only winner. So much for class in the dam, but we will still string along with the percentages despite the occasional Alsab, Needles or other Cinderellas. Report Monsoon in Foal to Hasty Road Blades of Blue Grass: The imported mare Monsoon, who recently foaled a filly by Alibhai, is reported in foal at Crown Crest Farm to Havsty Roads first service. . . . Trainer Strother Griffin plans to ship the Bwama-zon Farm string from Keeneland to Balmoral this week. There are 18 horses in the consignment, including the good stakes winners "Judy Rullah and Jovial Jove. , . . The three -year-eld Country Vet, by Harmony Nowr— Woodmere, broke his left shoulder while galloping at Keeneland and it was found necessary to destroy him. The colt raced for Dan OSullivan of Shelbyville and was named for Dr. A. L. Birch of Timely Tip fame. . . . Trainer Joe Kramer was to move out the horses of Keeneland prexy, Louis Lee Haggin n„ to Balmoral this week. Last season Haggin met difficulty in finding time to get to New York to see, his stock race and decided upon a campaign in the Chicago sector as a remedy. Dixie McKinley, local Cadillaq dealer, has come up with a speedster in his Mr. Patrick, who won the Delaware Valley Stakes at Garden State in 1:09 ts. The victory was the Rico Monte colts first stakes success. , . . Venerable Thomas Cromwell, although retired, is a visitor at Keeneland each morning except Sunday. . . . John and Jimmy Gavegnano, sons of Joe Gavegnanp of Errard King fame, witnessed their fathers High King in his Derby effort and are visiting Blue. Grass farms. Errard King stands at Crown Crest with a full book, and seasons are already being booked for 1957. . . . Fire Fall, dam of Imbros, has a colt foal by Ambiorix at. Hurstland and goes to Helioscope. . . . Nalur is back at his, birthplace, the Walnut Springs Farm of Clifford Mooers, and is being treated in the hopes that a bone .fracture in his foot can be repaired.
