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r... ....... iiftrt».*7i«.,« .i Maryland By Charles Hatton Harbingers of Preakness Week at Pimlico Calumets Get Feel of Hilltop Course Bold Ruler to Wear Blinkers in Prep PIMLICO. Baltimore, Md., May 11.— A week of comparatively routine activity was sparked up this muggy, close morning with unmistakable indications that r... ....... preakness preakness Week Week is is at at hand. hand. Jovial Jovial preakness preakness Week Week is is at at hand. hand. Jovial Jovial Jimmy Jones motored over from Garden State and gave "Iron Mike," the hero of the Derby, his first, casual breeze, sending Gen. Duke a rather tentative three furlongs, as a sort of afterthought. The impetuous Federal Hill was orientating himself to his new surroundings, and Bold Rulers name was dropped into the entry box for Mondays betless Preak- ness ness prep Prep over over in m the the racing racing sec- iiftrt».*7i«.,« .i ness ness prep Prep over over in m the the racing racing sec- secretarys office. He will sport blinkers in this exhibition.* As we came up to Barn J, Iron Liege was contentedly picking grass beside the stable. The Derby winner is a completely uncomplicated colt. "Look at him," trainer Jones said, "he is smiling from ear to ear." Then, wistfully. "I would like to make a Triple Crown winner of him." We were reminded that he has campaigned more industriously than his vaunted stablemate, still is in there pitching, and won the big one with a stirring show of courage under fire. "Thats right," the colts groom, Wendell Griffin, put in. "What do they want a horse to do? A policeman they called him in Florida ! Hes got a right to improve, hasnt he? I am not taking anything from Gen. Duke. He is one of the boldest running horses I have ever seen. I dont underestimate him. If you dont underestimate your opposition, youve got a better chance of beating them." Groom Devoted to Iron Liege We have never known a groom more devoted to his horse than Griffin is to lion Liege. "I used to give him peppermints," he reflected. "He saw me eating them, and wanted to try them. I had to stop giving them to him. though. He got to sucking his tongue when he swallowed them and I did not want to make a cribber of him. He wasnt speaking to me for about a week after that. Just looked at me, so sad. ... I carry a St. Christophers medal, for luck when he runs. Man. I squeezed it until it almost cut my hand when he tried to come through on the rail in the Derby." It is clear Griffin resents the critical indifference, not to say contempt, with which some of the interpreters of form regard his pride and joy. One really cant blame him in view of the facts. He is keeping a scrapbook for the colt. Chatting of Gen. Duke, trainer Jones said: "I would like to run him — but I dont know. I probably wont be sure all week. I may want to give him more time." The Dukes hoof was satisfactory after his short spin this morning, when he was turned this way and that without any discomfiture. Asked if he would advise keeping the colt among the "probables" for the upcoming Preakness, Jones replied: "No. I would say it is possible, not probable." A reporter asked the Mis-sourian how he would rate the three-year-olds at the present time. Pondering that one a while, he replied: "Gen. Duke, Bold Ruler and Iron Liege." It is amazing, the Derby winner cast in the role of the under-dog! From time immemorable, horsemen have been saying: "Theres a better one in the barn." Perhaps. We would like it proved. But that seems too much to hope in the circumstances. We should be inclined to give the cleverer Iron Liege the edge in a match with the stretch runner. Distaff Side Reveals Greatness Turf ana: Soon now the breeding journals will get around to considering Iron Liege in terms of genetics, like Boston dowagers examining the list of invitations for a coming out party. They will find his female family is almost as old as American racing. In our own time of covering Kentucky Derbys, it has produced three winners, almost in successive generations — Clyde Van Dusen, Swaps and Iron Liege. No other family in the Stud Book, our turfs Almanac de Gotha, is so prolific in Derby winners. . . . Pimlico will have 12,000 seats in the grandstand for this Preakness, of which 7,000 will be reserved. The innerfield will be open, and provide tote facilities, for the first time in several years. State steward Joe Flanagan is considering a request Maryland milers identify their winning posts with huge metal rings, a la those across the Atlantic. Pimlico now marks its finish with two large neon lighted arrows on either side of the course. We should think Flanagans point especially appropriate to the International finish line at Laurel. The many foreign riders habitually look for such a ring. . . . Some years ago, we applauded Horace Wade when he carded a number of races for winners at Hazel Park. Last summer, Mr. Fifcz deplored the practice of writing races for losers, thus cheapening the sport. "A horse that wins twice is a liability," he declared today. It is a step in the right direction. Chicago and California clubs are proposing races for winners, particularly in the two-year-.old division. ... Ed Farrell is full of enthusiasm for his first renewal of the ,500 Marlboro Nursery on Oct. 12. It is an open stakes, the only one attempted at any Maryland halfer, and in 56 was split in three divisions. The winners Soft Day, Spiel and Fenmar have won on the milers this spring.
