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Delaware By Charles Hatton Akbar Khan Proves Superior Grass Horse Holiday Card Attracts Patrons From Afar Barbizon on Probation in Todays Kent DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., May 31. There are a number of items on the agenda this sun-drenched morning which will, one may hope, have some reader interest. First of all, there is the notable performance that Akbar Khan gave in amputating two seconds from the mile and one-sixteenth track record in the Brandywine, which now is like the Sussex presented on the smooth, green turf course. His time of 1:42 only missed the American record a tick of the watch. Among other things, his race could be construed as a confirmation of the premise that the local grass surface can be more conducive to flamboyant speeds than is the main track. It also revealed that for all his somewhat paradoxical form, Mrs. Marian Eppleys flashy chestnut is intrinsically at least, a "grass horse" of the first order. We suppose it could be argued that some of those he beat are more declasse than classy. But the dazzling incandescence of his Brandywine form suggests he was not just winning out of turn in Pimlicos Dixie, and that he shall have to be taken quite seriously as a prospect for the 5,000 added Sussex on the Fourth of July. Among others in m the Britons wake Thursday was George Wideners mare Rare Treat, who shared favoritism with Star Rover. It is doubtful if anybody will care to deny she has quality, and her race was good enough to encourage the notion she may have something pertinent to say of the New Castle and Delaware. Then there was the splendid Memorial Day turnout of 28,705. This represented a gain of about 2,000 compared with the holiday attendance in 56, when Delaware Park conflicted with Pimlico as well as Garden State. Indeed, there were two busloads of patrons from Camden, another from the Newark and Jersey City area. Conversely, one fan was overheard to remark he was a sort of captive audience, unable to find race bus transportation or train connections from here to Gene Moris sensationally successful course. Management feels it can normally expect 25,000 on "big days," from this immediate area. It considers the opening crowd of some 9.000 more significant even than the Memorial Day attendance, which missed the track, record by about 7,000. Calumet Colt Gets Another Chance Important stakes are being presented in an engaging profusion here these days, and we turn now to this first Saturdays 5,000 added Kent of a mile and one-sixteenth. It has the vaguely disappointing 1956 two-year-old leader Barbizon, the Chesapeake winner Inswept, the rather headlong front runner Four Fathoms, the useful Roscoe Maney and half a dozen others. The fascination of the race is the appearance of Barbizon, who may become Calumet Farms last, best hope for the upcoming Belmont Stakes. "Mayor Jimmy" Jones has him on probation. The Missourian does not follow any empty wagons, and Barbizon shall have to earn the right to deputize for his fragmented stablemates, Iron Liege and Gen. Duke. Any others of the Kent field who are not Belmont nominees can become eligible for the GNYAs 00,000 upon payment of a ,000 fee five days before the race. Under the terms of the Kent, Mrs. Markeys striking looking colt must carry a classical 126 pounds, conceding six to Gough Thompsons Inswept. Perhaps he can bring it off, but he shall have to improve extraordinarily over his Jersey Stakes form. Jones is reluctant but has considered adding blinkers to his equipment. Commission Plugs Outside Lines Turf ana: The Delaware Racing Commission, a rather remote body, is holding press-box workers incommunicado at this meeting, limiting phone calls to interdepartmental lines. Ideal for the suppression of news. Dont they know there is a peace on? ... Eldon Nelson was lucky to escape with nothing more serious than a bruised shoulder in his recent spill. How it happened baffled conjecture and the best field glasses. Perforce canceled two winning mounts. . . . Jimmy-Jones is going into a huddle with himself re: To fire or not to fire Iron Lieges splint. "I have not fired a splint iff" a long time," he -observes, "have had better luck without it." He is by no means the first of his highly specialized profession to conclude the iron does more harm than good. . . . Cabbies are in a Byronic dudgeon over a new regulation precluding them from parking on the grounds. But they get .35 for a one-way trip from town, and rates go up June 1. The Walter Edgars have a lively homebred in the filly Milady Dares, a beginner by their Princequillo stallion Prince Dare. Won a maiden race by what is technically known as a country mile and is reputed to flirt with track records mornings. She is in the Polly Drummond. . . . Bryan Field is dieting rigorously. Eats self-conscious lunches of raw carrots and celery. . . . Nahodas two-year-olds brother Nola proves handsome as Downey Bonsai had said he was, but could not beat a fat man kicking a barrel up a hill in his debut. ... Gil Haus programmed a race expressly for two-year-olds bred by their present owners the other day. Many agree with-his thinking.
