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New England " By - Teddy Cox Switch On Takes Up 126 in Commonwealth One of the Most Versatile Performers Today Illinois and Jersey Competition Tough: Dooley SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, -Mass., May 31. Switch Ons busy campaign this season has found him running three-quarters of a mile twice, seven-eighths once, a mile and one-sixteentn three times and he was stretched out to a mile and one-quarter in the 00,000 Widener. For the most part, he has avoided unfavorable track conditions, but twice has competed on "good" surfaces. If nothing else, this provides a suspicion that he may be the most versatile handicapper of the nation, even though he may not be the best. Of those competing in the 0,000 Com monwealth Handicap at six furlongs Saturday, however, he is dubbed the chief of the group by racing secretary Gordon Morrow, who has spotted him at 126 pounds. Jimmy Forma, of Metheun, Mass., and Gerry Colella, of Haverhill, Mass., have displayed a great deal of provincial pride in keeping Switch On in New England. Or, possibly they are merely wise in avoiding Bardstown. Most horsemen these days are inclined to head in the direction where the devils red and blue of Calumet cant be found. In any event, Switch On probably will parade, easily supported in spite of the championship impost. The six-year-old son of Condiment Tactic, by Sickle, made his last start in the 0,000 added Lincoln Special, but ran up into a wedge nearing the far turn when it seemed that he was going places. It was later reported that he came out of the race somewhat the worse for wear, but obviously the injury was only superficial otherwise you wouldnt find his name in the entries. Another Yankeeland .pride in the Commonwealth is Pine Echo, who specializes in blood-red raw speed. An extremely handsome son of Pinebloom Wayfarer, by War Dog, the stallion is quite "opinionated," as Charlie Hatton describes Bold Ruler, and there are times when he feels so good that it is almost impossible to keep him from running off in his gallops. Getting him to the post is another major undertaking. Matter of fact, little Davie DeRoin told this observer the other day that he traces his injured ankle to post parades astride "Pine Echo. "He lunges and tries to throw you, and I rubbed my ankle against the stable pony so many times it started to hurt," says DeRoin. "But he s a runner. The only thing that keeps him from being a great horse is his temperament." Veteran Sportsman a True Realist Judge James E. Dooley, who has been president of Narragansett since the late Walter OHara, was ousted from that position some two decades ago, is generally regarded as a conservative of the greatest magnitude, but if you are fortunate to find him when he isnt occupied with the myriads of ventures that constantly are cleared through his agile, 71-year-old brain, you 11 find he is more of a realist than anything else. The Judge actually is the daddy of modern New England racing. For more than 20 years, prior to passage, he battled for legislation to legalize pari-mutuel wagering in Rhode Island. He drew up the measure that eventually became a law and he saw it through a referendum and on into the construction of a race track. During the course of a lengthy chat in the Paddock Club here at the top of the clubhouse, the Judge was asked rather bluntly why New England doesnt lure the great stables of the land as of yore. "There are two major items that have hurt New England racing," the Judge explained. "New Jersey and Illinois. When we opened Narragansett, and the other New England tracks came into being, other than Lincoln Downs, there was no racing in. New Jersey. And, at the time, the character of the sport in Illinois left something to be desired and many of the good stables wouldnt go there. Consequently, those that couldnt race in New York, fell in the lap of either Maryland or New Eng-land, which placed us in an enviable position. Recognizes Quality of Sport Elsewhere "Candidly, we have been unable to meet with the strong competition offered by New Jersey. New York, as a matter of fact, is encountering its troubles keeping its good stables from the Jersey circuit. In addition, Illinois racing has improved tremendously over the years and the purse schedule out there is mighty attractive to horsemen, and weve lost many of our stables to the Middle West. These, I believe, are the answers to your question. Weve tried our utmost to hold all of, the good stables that develop here and we are succeeding. But we have trouble attracting the big stables from Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Illinois." Judge Dooley most certainly is the greatest sports figure in the history of Rhode Island and this accolade could also be representative of all New England. He brought professional football to Providence many years ago and gave impetus to the growth of the sport as the x head of the vaunted Steamrollers. He created ice hockey in the Rhode Island Reds, of the Canadian-American League, and his Providence baseball club was a member of the International League during his tour as president. He was the leader in numerous other sports enterprises that placed Rhode Island on the map. Hes never been one for too many gimmicks in sports. He feels that each should rest on its own laurels. It is not generally known, that the Judge is the father of the consolation Daily Double, which has now become almost universal
