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y~-- Maryland By Charles Hatton 1 No Margin for Error at Churchill Downs Stewards Suspension of Shoemaker Harsh Compounds Loss of Derby Fee in Preakness PIMLICO. Baltimore. Md.. May 7.— The ChurchHl Downs stewards action in suspending Willie Shoemaker is a harsh, intemperate, ill considered, petty ap- plication of a principle. Their right to mete out this punishment is. of course, incontestible. The rules leave these matters to the discretion of the stewards. This presupposes they have discretion. In our view. Shoemaker made an honest, if costly, mistake. In the terminology of stewards Finley. Plaut and Goode this becomes "gross carelessness." We beg to doubt if any rider, at any time, anywhere, was ever careless about 10 per cent of 07,950 and the honor of riding the winner of a race of the Kentucky Derbys importance. This observer chanced to be concentrating on Shoemaker and Gallant Man when the Californian stood up on his mount, immediately going into a huddle with chart caller Don Fair over the irtcident when he called the last horse. Matter of fact our lead was written to the point. ". . . Shoemaker manfully admitted his mistake." when Churchill publicist Brownie Leach announced it over the intercomm system. Shoemaker was not being careless, he erred, and to err is human they say. It happens all the time, in all sports. John Nerud. learn-of Shoemakers suspension, said: "I am surprised and disappointed. A man who never makes a mistake isnt a rider. I was planning to fly Shoe here Saturday to ride a race for me. The Preakness? I cant say now concerning a rider for Gallant Man about that." Downs Solons Are Rubbing It In You may have one guess how Shoemaker felt about his role. The Downs stewards now are "rubbing it in." The 15 days suspension— an unusual term — compounds the penalty he paid on the Downs, when he was beaten a zip on the post for that very acceptable fee, for it deprives him of a chance at 10 per cent of another 00,000 in the Preakness. Perhaps the stewards feel impelled to make an example. An example of what? Human frailty? Shoemaker committed no more grievance than any rider who misjudges making his move. The end result is the same to the player. Perhaps the stewards feel that if they do not have a "cause celebre" of this unfortunate affair, they will be inviting duplicity on the part of other riders and there will be a rash of jockeys standing up like Cossacks and explaining they misjudged the finish. That is where their discretion, for which they are well paid, should be exercised. When Shoemaker was questioned, he told the truth. The Lord loves that. It should be good enough for the Downs stewards. In such circumstances, a rider might have "sung like a bird." He could have thought his horse hit himself, was about to bolt, saw a bird fly before him. anything, and have defied the stewards to prove otherwise, giving them an uncomfortable time of it deciding whether they are accusing him ialsely. We can recall jockeys who were very glib at that sort of thing. The truth hurts at the Downs. It cost Shoemaker 15 days and an excellent chance of winnina 10 per cent of more than 00,000. Turfana: Aeschylus, "a basket case, last year, when he was operated upon at the University of Pennsylvania, -now has won both, his 57 starts impressively. Gained friends for the Dixie by his consummate style of winning the Laurel Spring Turf Handicap. . . . Aspirants for the Black Eyed Susan, which is the old Pimlico Oaks with a beard, include the Kentucky Oaks Prep winner Pillow Talk. Also the local favorites. I Offbeat and Mile. Dianne. Double Jay Sires Class Fillies The "all-American sire. Double Jay, who made a name for himself bred to some extremely moderate mares, has two top-class prospects for the Black Eyed Susan and other filly stakes in Jota Jota and Miss Blue Jay. If one could devote the space he pleased to his enthusiasms, we would linger over Jota Jotas engaging individuality a long time. First rate fillies seem Double Jays specialty. Earlier on, he sent up Doubledog-dare and Manotick. . . . The 56 International hero. Master Boing, has been nominated for the Dixie and the Mr. Fitz Handicap. Needles, last seasons three-year-old champion, is entertaining the morning railbirds on the Hilltop. But he is a conspicuous absentee from any of the spring stakes at the MJCs ancient cavalry post. . . . "Bull" Hancock now believes Tulyar will recover. Whether or not he will be potent is something else. . . . Daily Racing Forms Hugh J. McGuire addressed the Farm Managers Guild at "Chitlin Switch" last night. . . . The Calumet forces — racings "red wave" — are heading this way. A welcoming committee, comprising some dozen journalists, is forming to greet them. The aging, ailing Aga Khan bred numerous European classic winners, almost gained the distinction of breeding a Kentucky Derby winner when Gallant Man scored a miss. Though he proved too delicate to campaign like the Calumets for the Flamingo, he could run with Continued on Page Forty On* I MARYLAND By TEDDY COX Continued from Page Five Iron Lieiie when pointed for a specific engagement. . . . The Jersey Stakes is expected to mark Barbizons return to com-sically best of Mrs. Markeys three-year-petition. Chick Lang agrees he is intrinsically best of Mrs. Markeys three-y ear-olds, indeed fancies "he may end up the three-year-old of the year." Georgie Poole, here training Maharajah for the Dixie, says there is a possibility Greentrees Cohoes will come on for the Preakness. "He is better mannered, now that he got accustomed to his tongue strap during the winter.* . . . Gallant Man wat. 31 hours getting from Derby town to Aqueduct on a train and it was a little wearing for him. Nerud will make a definite decision regarding his Preakness status by the week end. . . . Owner Clifford Lussky of Federal Hill has returned to the hospital.
