view raw text
ivionaay, iviay *, yy California By Kent Cochran ■■ Why Seaneen Missed Tanforan Handicap Factors Which Held Local Handle Down Good Thing Put Over by Donald Brokaw TANFORAN, San Bruno, Calif., May 2.— Rumor has it that the reason Seaneen was withdrawn from the Tanforan Handicap was that his last workout did not please trainer Bill Pin-negan, who was at Churchill Downs with his Kentucky Derby hope, his namesake, Finnegan. When Irish Gordon, whom Finnegan left in charge of his, stable here, phoned in the report, Bill consulted owner Neil McCarthy and it was agreed that the well-being of the horse could best be served by passing up the Tanforan and readying the Irish-bred flyer for Hollywood Park. Despite Seaneens absence the race was a good one, with Social Climber and Battle Dance taking over as favorites. Which reminds that Tanforan was favorably situated this spring as regards quality of its horses. It had three Kentucky Derby colts — Finnegan, Royal Orbit and Monks Hood — and two winners of 00,000 races — Social Climber and Seaneen — to respectively head the Derby and handicap divisions. And there were plenty of horses just a notch under the tops to provide stirring contention. A big group of allowance-class horses were between these and the higher claiming-race brackets. Of course there were some cheap races, as is the case at every track, even those which offer the greatest purses, but this condition is no way lessened the sports interest. Tanforan has had a satisfactorily successful meeting, from a box-office standpoint, despite the handle being slightly down at the end of the first 46 days compared to the like period of three year- ago, which was the last time Tanforan had the spring dates. Several causes contributed to the drop, among them being the two weeks strike of culinary workers and bartenders which hampered festivities until the caterer and his employes got together; horsemen leaving for Churchill Downs and Hollywood Park horsemen are liberal patrons of the mutuel windows ; a virus epidemic which has closed public schools in the vicinity of Tanforan to the worriment of parents, and the overlaps with Hollywood Park. Someone has pointed out that five trainers and five jockeys who normally are active in Northern California at this time of year are now at Churchill Downs. All such factors affect attendance and handle. Trainers Prepare for Hollywood Though several trainers of big outfits have departed in order to get their organizations in apple pie order for the opening of Hollywood Park, May 8, leaving assistant trainers in charge, like Fred Houghton for Charlie Whittingham, Irish Gordon for Bill Finnegan and Richard Chew for Ralph West, others are remaining for the overlap. These include Dale Landers, Farrell Jones, Warren Stute, Buster Millerick and Noble Threewitt. . . . Supt. Fred Volkman has kept the Tanforan racing strip in excellent condition all season. . . . Aly Tudor, who ran for ,000 two months ago, cost Harry M. Warner 8,000 in England. The horse was injured soon after reaching America two or three years ago; is now going good. Monks Hood, who all but beat Finnegan in the recent California Derby, is said to have injured a shoulder while training at Churchill Downs. The son of Kings Abbey has been known to ricochet off the rail when. going full tilt in workouts; maybe he did it in Kentucky. . . . Have you noticed how many foreign-bred stars aie in action these days, beating our Amer-ican-breds? Right here in California we have seen Kingdom, Pardee II., Aly Tudor, Two Francs, Bally-rullah, Seaneen, Rumbo, Golden Emblem, Roryare, Predestinado, Bichero, Precept and others in action! Also, Tomy Lee. Poona, Miche, Noor, St. Vincent, Sailors Guide — the list could be strung out a yard long. Construction Problem at Gateway We hear that while grading for Gateway Park, just north of El Paso, the bulldozer ran into water near the surface. Creates construction problems. . . . Big-hatted horsemen from the plains are talking of Copper Cap, fastest horse on four feet — 5 furlongs in :5135, pulled up by two at Phoenix. Hes by Spotted Bull, a horse the CBS man, Jay Paley, once owned, and from a Piggin String mare. Impossible to beat that blood combo, for short -distance speed. . . . dockers say Kingdom, by King of the Tudors, is the handsomest horse on the grounds. . . . Plunger Roy Stovall a visitor from L. A., where he dabbles in real estate. . . . Pete Moreno and his new agent. Bill Holmes, are having good luck. Pete tripled recently. . . . Harry Fisher, of Ralston and Co., a turf club guest. . . . Walter and Agnes Wissemann of Sacramento guests of the George Klumpps. A good thing was sprung on the Tanforan crowd Friday by quarter horseman Don Brokaw. Three weeks ago he shipped up a two-year-old filly which had never been to the post, worked her three-eighths in :38, and then popped her over in :593/5, best time of the meeting. She was Tight Knit, listed at 20-1 in the morning line but bet down to 2-1 on the board at post time.
