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New England By Teddy Cox Renew 0,000 Massachusetts on Wednesday Rules Require Top Weight to Shuider 126 Riley Given That Impost by Gordon Morrow SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., June 21.— In the rather spectacular and often controversial and liery history of modern Yankeeland racing, there is no doubt doubt that that the the highlight highlight was was the the doubt doubt that that the the highlight highlight was was the the memorable match between Whirl-away and Alsab at Narragansett Park in 1942. It was truly an all-time epic and those of us who were there will never forget the two gamecocks as they strained with all their energy in their nose-and-nose struggle to the wife. Next to this melee of titans, the Massachusetts Handicaps annual renewals must take a place at the top top of of the the regular regular stakes stakes events events top top of of the the regular regular stakes stakes events events offered on the Down East circuit. The twenty-third running of this mile and one-quarter event comes up next Wednesday. There is a 0,000 added purse, as usual and once again it should pro-" vide an extremely interesting race. Judge John C. Pappas and his associates in the Eastern Racing Association were disappointed when Calumet did not elect to keep Fabius in the East. Racing secretary and handicapper Gordon W. Morrow came up with something of a surprise when he ~"dubbed Greentrees Riley _as the best of the lot. Actually there is not a "126-pound horse" in the race, but the very inept Massachusetts rules of racing call for the top weight in all stakes handicaps to shoulder that amount. We dont know who conceived this regulation, and without knowing the astute Mr. Morrows thinking we will be willing to wager at least a worthless mutuel ticket that the transplanted Tennessean, who now resides at Pawtuckett, R. I., shuddered at the thought of John Gavers reactions when he was apprised of the weight on Riley, Consider 120 Pounds Sufficient In checking the past performances of those regarded as probable starters for" the Massachusetts, it seems that 120 pounds would have been sufficient for the top weight, but when a racing official is plagued with ridiculous decrees he often must make himself in-advertently ridiculous. If Mr. Gaver doesnt get to see this himself, we hope someone will call Morrows plight to his attention. Matter of fact, we didnt believe such a rule existed until Suffolks publicity head, Edward J. Sullivan Jr., hauled out the rule book. It is this sort of thing that makes many of us wonder i if the Society of North American Racing Officials isnt pointing in. the right direction by seeking some sort of standard rule book, such as the one that exists in baseball. That, at least, seems to be their ultimate objective. Presently Keene Daingerfield, president of SNARO, and his fellow members of the organization, are working on a compendium of racing rules that exist in the varous states, and from this study may come eventually uniformity. Marshall Cassidy and officials associated with The Jockey Club could wisely bury the proverbial hatchet and smoke a peace pipe with SNARO for this objective, at least, for the sake of all that is good for racing, and help carry this effort for uniformity in rules to a happy and pleasing conclusion. , But to get back to the Massachusetts Handicap — Morrow naturally is embarrassed by the impost he was forced to assign to what he believed to be the top horse, in this case Riley. The bay four-year-old son of Hill Prince — Easy Living, by Heliopolis, is without victory this year, but his races have been fairly impressive. He was a good second to Traffic Judge in an overnighter at Belmont Park in his seasonai bow, then was found " wanting in the Metropolitan. Wednesday of this week he was humbled by Admiral Vee, Third Brother and Kingmaker when he finished fourth in the Edgemere Handicap at Belmont. Apparently Frank E. Kilroe also rates Riley as a good one, for he had the colt pegged at 121 in the Edgemere. At the moment, the probable field for the Masschusetts is in a flux stage and no word has been received of Rileys status. Motor Line Appears Probable Of the locals on the grounds and regarded as definite starters, the "come-up" horse seems to be Fuller Mc-Iver Pricketts Motor Line, a cantankerous, seemingly perverse colt who is reported to have run kindly for the first time of his spotted career in a jaunt at Monmouth Park last week. The big question here seems to be whether George Gibb, his regular rider, is capable of "" keeping the Bimelech stud under control. Norman Mer-cier was boosted aboard Motor Line in his Jersey bounce and Junie Bresanhan, who handled the saddling chores, brought back glowing accounts as to how the veteran reinsman conquered the Prickett colorbearer, and how he made him respond to his every move. On the cold figures, however, Rockcastle and Switch On are the best of the locals. For one, Dr. James T. OConnor Jr., track veterinarian, who also . practices along the Suffolk shedrows, thinks Rockcastle will give an improved account of himself. Dr. OConnor made a rather starling discovery that Rockcastle was somewhat infested by worms recently. Usually this condition is prevalent only in younger horses. "Since we treated Rockcastle," says Dr. OConnor, "he looks and acts like a different horse: I dont think he ever was in better health and with these parasites out of his system he should be much stronger."
