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New England Fred Galiani By — ! Lincoln Loses Its In-With Weatherman Dario Against Early March 3 Opening Also Frowns on Lang Continuous Meet LINCOLN DOWNS, Lincoln, R. I., May 9.— Until three years ago, the regimented New England dates had this newest of the northeast tracks opening and closing the season and its phenomenally successful meetings led to the remark that B. A. Dario, the managing director, had an "in" with the weatherman. Occasionally a few days were cancelled because of snowstorms, but considering their March and November dates, the run of beautiful weather was nothing short of amazing. But then dates and the weather changed. As Ernest Hemingway remarked once, "My luck, she is not running good." The very first time • Lincoln ran a summer meeting, a pair of hurricanes screamed out of the Atlantic 10 days part and knocked the track out of commission for a total of five days. Last summer, a roaring flood swept the Blackstone Valley and Connecticut regions and, although the track did not close, it was a natural reaction that business slumped. This year Lincoln accepted .a straight run of 60 days, originating en March 3. The snows howled as they hadnt dene in decades, with the result that 11 days were blanketed out. All of which has led Dario to do some thinking. This session winds up its long meeting on Saturday but -Dario is looking forward to next year. On the matter of dates, Dario is convinced oh two points. -He is against such an early opening as March 3 and also opposed to a straight meeting of long duration. But, he is quick to point out, when it comes to the annual dates meeting of the four tracks this Winter, he doesnt want to seem dictatorial. He views it as a common problem for all the tracks. Shortage of Horses Another Problem "There are a lot of reasons against an early opening, and it is not only the weather," he said. "Weve battled the weather before. One of the big drawbacks is a supply of horses. If we opened after the close of New Orleans we would be able* to get a number of good stables. As you know, outfits which race in New Orleans do not leave before that session is over. Therefore we are forced to get what horses we can. And this is one thing I think where all the New England tracks should get together. Most of these horses here now will stay here for the circuit and a majority are of the cheap kind. The other tracks will have them racing there too. They might not get stalls, but theyll be vanned in from farms and outside stable areas. All the New England tracks should get together and screen the horses. Whoever opens the season will get the horses who will be the bulk of the performers for the rest of the year. Thats why an opening before March 20 is not desirable. There is a lack of good horses. As for a run of a continuous meeting, I dont think it is too good. You keep drawing people from the same area and it wears them out. Split meetings are the best, with 25 days in each session. . . . For next year, in matters pertaining to the track physical, Dario says that new dormitories will be constructed .on the back side, a sorely needed item, and the place given a face lifting. The tack rooms will be taken out, providing more stable space for horses. Gibbs to Lose Apprentice Allowance Sal Chiappetta plans to ride on the Ohio circuit all summer and will travel to ThistleDown after the close here Saturday . . . George Gibb moved on to Suffolk Downs to gallop horses for his contract employer, Ike Prickett, while he is serving out his 10-day suspension. Gibb will return sans his apprentice allowance. The Bristol, Conn., youngster rode his first winner last May 16 at Suffolk . . . Dick Gottsman added Chrysolite to his string. The horse was recently purchased from Mrs. B. F. Whitaker and arrived here from New York. Norman Hall who runs a thriving farm in Norfolk, Mass., made his second visit to the track yesterday and reported that Nellie Mowlee, the dam of La Corredora and Land o Liberty, had foaled a chestnut filly by Knockdown on Tuesday. She will be bred back to Little Beans. Seven of the nine mares on the farm have foaled, one of them, the old New England favorite, Wrights Wrong, dropping a colt by Little Beans. It was a busy winter with over 50 head quartered there, and the severe weather curtailed training activities until late in the spring . . . Entries for the final two days of the session will be taken tomorrow, Gordon Morrow aiming to offer the best racing possible.
