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■■- J±.£T — S California By Oscar Oth A New Set-Up for California Breeders Rettler Engaged for Sales Promotion Fasig-Tipton to Incorporate in West HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., May 9 — Lou Rowan, president of the California Breeders Association, made one of the most significant announce- ments effecting West Coast racing and breeding when he revealed that a closer liaison had been established with Fasig-Tipton Company, and that Ralph Rettler, of Maryland, would come West July 1 to take up permanent residence in Arcadia as a joint representative of Fasig-Tipton and the breeders. The board of directors of the breeders association placed its stamp of ap proval on the new set-up at a special meeting held earlier this week. For the breeders, Rettler will work mainly on the sales programs, and, for Fasig-Tipton, will serve as a permanent .West Coast agent. "We are not changing our policy, but merely expanding it," explains President Rowan. "The breeders and Fasig-Tipton now have developed two yearly sales of major status, the annual selected vendue of yearlings at Del Mar, and the mid-winter miscellany sale at Pomona. A third is to be added this year, a selected sale of yearlings in northern California, this new sale to be held October 14 in the Exhibit Building of the San -Mateo County Fair Grounds, just to the north of the Bay Meadows grandstand, and the sales stock will be stabled at and made available for inspection in the Meadows barn area. We are fortunate that a man with Rettlers background could come to California." Early Experience in Show Ring Rettler is a somewhat unique individual, the type of whom the breeders have been seeking for some time. He started in Maryland and Virginia back in 1936 as announcer-manager for horse shows, and his ability as an appraiser of quality was so highly regarded that he was called upon to judge horse shows, as well as show competitions of thoroughbred yearlings. It takes a man of unquestioned talent to judge a yearling show in the Maryland-Virginia area, for these folk are experts in their own rights in such matters and are prone to pounce on any seeming errors in rating on the part of any judge. As often as not, the judge will be . required to give his reasons for making any awards, and they had better be valid. In addition to his show experience, Rettler is a licensed trainer, has raced a stable of his own and other peoples horses on the eastern seaboard. He served for a brief spell as an assistant starter to Eddie Blind, obtained a higher degree in farm education when, in 1953, he managed the Kentucky farm of Dr. Eslie Asbury during the breeding season to make it possible for the doctor and his wife to tour Europe. For the past few years Rettler has been associated with Fasig-Tipton in the East, and has gained wide experience in selling, as well as in culling a sale for soundness. He has helped Humphrey Finney in inspecting yearlings pointing for the Saratoga sales and passing on those consigned from Maryland and Virginia. In addition, Rettler has enough business background to be able to setup what will, we have learned, pay him less than he was earning in the East. He told us, "Im looking at the long term in this field, and California offers the best potential in the nation. California racing is rapidly building to the point where many observers in the East feel that within another decade or so, it will be the number one circuit in the nation in value of purses, in patronage, and in play. Promotionwise, California management is outstanding. And, from my visits in the past to California, I have learned to like westerners, and I hope they will like me." Unlike Any Other Segment of Racing Then he added, "The field of thoroughbred selling and appraising is a rather limited one. and the background and training needed to be successful is varied and in many ways unique. It is unlike all other professional posts in racing. I feel extremely lucky that Humphrey Finney gave me a start and the schooling in what I believe to be a touch of genius in the broad field of thoroughbred buying and selling. And in coming to California, I feel I will be able in effect to take a post graduate course in judging a yearling for conformation by being closely associated with Col. F. W. "Bill" Koester, general manager of the California Breeders Association and who is recognized as one of the leaders in that field." Double checking on the premise that Fasig-Tipton really believed that California racing is destined for far greater accomplishments than now prevail, we asked Fasig-Tipton director L. P. Doherty of Lexingtons Stallion Station about it, knowing Doherty to be ultra conservative. "Yes," he answered, "most Kentucky thoroughbred folks think California ultimately must become the national leader in racing, although we also feel that Kentucky will remain as the national production capitoi. Thats why Fasig-Tipton is incorporating in California and sending Rettler West under a join agreement with the breeders. Arid I wish to add that it was with genuine regret that Jay Tyson, who represented us on the Coast for the last several years, found it more desirable to reside in La Jolla and thus be unavailable to maintain the on-the-spot liaison now Continued on Pogt Forty -Four CALIFORNIA Bv OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Four necessary between ourselves and the California breeders. Tyson has been a definite asset to the sales during the last several year?. Incidentally, in the future, while pedigree tabulation will continue to be done in New York, catalogue printing and mail-ins will be handled from Los Angeles, thus providing faster and. we believe, better service. Billy Byars of Dallas says that he and : Clint Murcbison are not necassarily going out of racing as some have inferred from ! the complete dispersal sale pending in New York of the Murcain Stable horses. "Wof-ford Cain, our partner in Murcain. is leaving the sport as an owner," explains*Byars. and he felt a sale was the only fair way to determine the value of the horses. But.! this summer, if our wives want another j stable, which I am. sure they will, Clint and myself can start from scratch with yearlings irom Keeneland. Saratoga and. maybe Del Mar."
