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m- m New Jersey fly Teddy Cox Hal Bishop Finally Lands a Good Horse Bought Filly Melody Mine From Col. Chinn La Rue Says Dandy Blitzen Top Prospect GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 10.— Even though William Hal Bishop adheres to the theory that "a horse sold is a horse well sold," and has main- tained through the years that every horse under his shedrow has a price on his hide, the* big, powerful former sheriff and horse and mule trader from Anna, 111., now finds himself "eating crow," if such an expression may be pardoned. Reason for this turn about face is Melody Mine, a two-year-old daughter of The Doge — Magic Melody, by Zacaweista. Bishop has been "turning over", approximately 100 horses annually through his continuous claiming and buying and selling and this pattern has been in evidence for more than a decade? During this period, Bishop has enjoyed singular success by "knocking out nickle and dime" purses, as he puts it, and he often wondered out loud why the law of averages did not allow him to "luck myself into a good horse." Well, "Bish" apparently has finally struck pay dirt in Melody Mine. He thinks she is the finest horse ever housed under his shedrow and he has turned his head away from all offers, which is generally recognized as an impossibility for a man whod rather trade horses than eat and hes a pretty good "doer." Melody Mines next engagement i» in the 5,000 added Rancocas Stakes next Wednesday and, in this corners book, she looms as the eventual winner. The Prairie State horseman had told us during the Laurel meeting that he had a filly in the barn that can "outran a hant" and he was genuinely enthused and excited. Miscues in Garden State Debut Melody Mine made her Garden State Park bow in the Rancocas Trial and she should have won easily but didnt. She broke from the extreme outside and jockey Harold Keene was forced to gun her in order to get a favorable position as they moved into the far turn. He took over with obvious authority as they neared the top of the stretch and it was here that Keene slashed her left-handed and she promptly headed out for the grandstand parking lot. Keene was quick to straighten her, however. She came on again and took command, but tired when right on the money. Her effort was tremendously impressive. Bishop said this morning that he didnt know for sure whether it was the southpaw hitting that caused her to attempt a bolt. "You know there is a gap right at the top of the stretch," he explained, "and we go through there every morning with our horses. I kinda think she decided she wanted to go home when she neared the gap and that might have caused her unusual action, even though she has never done it in the morning." In purchasing Melody Mine for ,500, Bishop obtained the best of the bargain in a deal with one of the most accomplished horse traders of our time,, or any other time. He bought the horse from Col. Phil Chinn, of Old Hickory Farm. "What happened was this," says Bishop. "I had previously bought a* horse from Mr. Chinn and he did not work out well and I was much disturbed, but I didnt complain. A horse trade is a horse trade, and I wouldnt like to tell you how many bad ones Ive wished off on others. In any event, I was talking to Hal Steele, who was training for Mr. Chinn at New Orleans and I told him about the bad deal and I wondered if Mr. Chinn wouldnt give me a break and sell me a good horse. Steele told me about the filly and he said Mr. Chinn had her priced at 0,000. I told him to call Mr. Chinn and explain that he owed me a good deal, and that Id give him ,500. Thats the way it happened, and Ive got the best horse Ive ever had." Companionship Solves a Problem Melody Mine was a stall walker until Bishop put a goat in with her. Now the two are inseparable and when the Bishop star goes to the track the goat bleats and baas until she returns. Bishop took Melody Mine from the stall for our edification this morning and she is a racey, streamlined type who appears to have the conformation of one that might get over any reasonable distance, even though her grandsire is Zacaweista, who is noted for getting short distances. She stands about 15.3. A few minutes later we drove through the finely-appointed stabling area to the stable trained by Bill La Rue, who claims his name has never been spelled correctly in the newspapers. La Rue is two words, he insists. Anyway, Bill has the filly who beat Melody Mine in the Rancocas Trial. Dandy Blitzen is her name and she is a trim bay daughter of Bull Dandy — Spiteful Sue, by Heather Broom. She has started three times and Bill has won a pair of races with her. She is the half-sister to the brilliant speedster, Venomous, who is by the sire, Mel Hash. In the case of Venomous and Dandy Blitzen, La Rue has an extremely unusual experience. For ten years he was the farm manager for owner B. A. Dario, who is also president and general manager of the Lincoln Downs track. As such, he was in charge of the breed- ing procedure when both Mel Hash and Bull Dandy served the mare, Spiteful Sue. He supervised their foaling and he gave them all of their early education before taking them to the track. Needless to say, both fillies are as much a part of his life as the air he breathes. La Rue believes Dandy Blitzen is a better prospect than Venomous, and he is of the opinion that he has never seen a horse that could outrun the latter on the back-stretch. Bill hails from St. Louis, Mo., and stems from a long line of horsemen. He has been with the Dario organization for more than 13 years. He has only three horses here — Venomous, Dandy Blitzen and Navy Jet. But he has 19 others at Suffolk Downs.
