Connors Corner: Vanderbilt Sale Attracting Much Interest; Big Demand for Ready Made Racing Material; Value of Thoroughbreds Hard to Determine, Daily Racing Form, 1956-05-12

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Connors Corner By Chuck Connors : Vanderbilt Sale Attracting Much Interest » Big Demand for Ready Made Racing Material Value of Thoroughbreds Hard to Determine JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 11.— The A. G. Vander-bile reduction sale, which is slated to be held at Belmont Park on Monday. May 21.~is attracting considera ble attention from owners and trainers who are in the market for "made" horses. The offerings, according to those who profess to know, will attract buyers from all over the country, either in person or by representative agents. Ready made racing material is always in demand. This is attested by the unusually large turnover via the claiming race facilities. While the quality .obtained via this method is not looked upon as high grade, nevertheless, they serve the purpose of the ultimate buyer. Dispersal and reduction sales have in the past held an appeal to prospective buyers, but not in the same interest as one brought upon by the death of an owner. However, that situation is not always the case, for it can be recalled that the dispersal sale conducted by Louis B. Mayer, the West Coast motion picture executive, broke a dozen or so track records. The sale of Nashua by sealed bid tops the world, but the paddock gang membership frequently expressed private opinions that had the Belair Stud properties been offered at public vendue new records for the cost of horseflesh would have been made.- The value of thoroughbreds is hard to determine, for there are so many unseen facets to take into consideration. Racing ability, potential value as a breeding prospect and the desire of the bidder for ownership are a few that enter into the overall picture. Rivalry in the bidding at the salesring is another and in some instances sentiment plays an important part. However, horse vendues have been held for years and years and will be conducted as long as racing and breeding exists and in the long run there is no telling to what lengths a man or woman will go, when at the salesring, they have made up their minds that the individual offered is the one they want. The two big yearling markets swing into action during July and August, at Keeneland and Saratoga Springs. These are styled "the midsummer madness" and, as old Father Bill Daly once remarked: "Its too bad that you cant see whats inside that shiny coat." He was thinking of heart, lungs and that intangible called class. He was right at that. Rockingham Clubhouse Nears Completion Lou Smith returned to Rockingham Park to supervise the final construction moves of the new clubhouse at the New Hampshire track. He stated that from every spot of the new structure a patron can get a complete view of the running of a race and. furthermore, that the building will be completed well in advance of the opening of that meeting this summer. . . . O. L. Foster, who has several horses here and some at Lincoln Downs, was among yesterdays visitors. . . . Max Gluck, who maintains Elmendorf, was on hand yesterday. , . . Tom Williams of San Antonio, Texas, was a visitor yesterday, a guest of Frank C. Rand. James Cox Brady and Andrew Fowler were visitors yesterday and some smart Sherlock Holmes detective work was reported. Brady lost his Jockey Club button, and it was later found by Van, the major domo of the dining room. Then came the big question, who is the owner? Van and Harry Stevens winnowed through the list of visitor members and in addition to Brady, George D. Widener and Gerrard Smith were present. The latter did not eat lunch and he was eliminated. The button was not found in the area where George D. Widener was. The loser must be James Cox Brady. Harry Stevens did some smart reconnoitering, noted that the * button was missing from the lapel, and he must be the one. Yep, Stevens was right, and Brady was somewhat surprised to learn that he lost the important talisman. . Hockey Brass Take In Jamaica Sport Jim Norns, Connie Smythe, King Clancy, Kenny Reardon and Frank Selke of the hockey field were visT tors yesterday. They are in New York on a meeting pertaining to the popular ice game but decided that Jamaica had more attractions for the afternoon. The upshot of the afternoons conference was that the meeting will be continued at Toronto in June, when the new Woodbine track makes its bow to the racing scene. . . . Jim Norris, in discussing his new breeding farm in Florida, on the outskirts of Tropical Park, stated the work on the improvements is coming along steadily. He recently flew back from that point. He also reported the arrival of the first two foals at the farm, a filly by Escadru, from Congo Rythmn, and a colt by Gangway, from Murin. John B. Partridge,, who is in charge of the farm, reported that everything was nice and that later in the season he planned a trip to California for a months visit. . . . Maurice Levy of the Stevens Catering Company was extended congratulations on his sixty .-fourth birthday. . . . Charles Mather n. of Philadelphia came over to lend encouragement to his two-year-old starter, Condemnation. Second was the best the youngster could do. . . . Joe Eitinger of Marlboro Stud was notified from Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky that hif broodmare, Speeding Jeep, foaled a colt by Billings , The arrival was the first colt of the season for the New Yorker-


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