view raw text
4 — JOCKEY JOHN L. ROTZ — Rode three winners yesterday at Churchill Downs, including the 69.20 Daily Double. Racing Manual Is Now Off the Press Add New Features, Expand Others; Past Performances Of Leading Horses Shown By GERALD STRINE Staff Correspondent "By and large, the season was graced by more genuine turf idols than any other of late years," writes Charles Hatton, columnist for Daily Racing Form, in his vivid, 63 -page review which sets the tone for the recently -published 1959 American Racing Manual. "At first blush, this may seem extravagant," continues Hatton. "But not since the vintage crop of almost three decades ago, when Equipoise, Twenty Grand, Sun Beau, Mate, Jamestown, Jack High and others of that exceptional order strode up and down our turf, have we seen racing among quite so many genuine "smashers." Bold Ruler, Round Table. Gallant Man. Neji, First Landing and Tomy Lee all wer? top drawer, and would have been in any year." The 1959 American Racing Manual, in order to again give the turf and all its associated industries complete and authoritative date on every phase of the greatest of all sports, has added several new features and expanded others in this, its 53rd edition. Compiled by Daily Racing Form Most of the material in the Manual is exclusive. The book is compiled, edited and i published by Daily Racing Form, "Ameri- cas Turf Authority." As in the past, the 1959 Manual is replete with statistical data. Answers to » practically every question on thoroughbred 1 racing can be found within its 1,222 pages. | The books opening section is a gallery of the 1958 champions — Round Table, First Landing, Quill, Tim Tarn, Idun, Born- 1 astar. Bold Ruler and Neji. One page is devoted to each champions pedigree and racing record, opposite which is a full- page picture of the divisional leader. Champions in all divisions, from Gran- $ ville in 1936 to Round Table in 1958. are ] the subject of a table that precedes a ] section devoted to the Twentieth Century ■ Hall of Fame. Members of this elite group ] are Citation, Colin, Count Fleet, Equipoise. Exterminator. Man o War, Nashua, Native j Dancer, Swaps, Sysonby and Tom Fool. i Increases All Along the Line Hatton, in his review, notes that "The Great Wheel of Fortune" which is the , American turf continued to spin ever larger numerals in 1958. During the end- j lessly diverting season many dramatic new records were established. The attendance increased from 34,648,498 to 34,981,960; the wagering from ,448,798,137 to ,- * 455,301.893 and the net distribution from r 1,463,420 to 1,575,943. ■ The review captures the most exciting moments of the seasons major events and J includes a final chapter on the years out- . standing two-year-olds. Hatton has contributed a series of profiles on the years best horses, most of whom won at least | one of the years 32 00,000 races which i » 1 | 1 $ ] ] ■ ] j i , j * r ■ J . | are presented, in full chart form, in the following section. The past performances of all Experimental Free Handicap and older Free Handicap horses highlight the start of the statistical sections in which the Manual also offers complete figures on purse distribution, attendance and mutuel handle figures at all tracks in the United States, Canada and Caliente in Mexico. Fifty-seven pages are devoted to winners of stakes and feature races, and there is a divisional breakdown of leading money-winning performers. A thoroughbred need not have made national headlines to be listed in the American Racing Manual. The "Records of Horses section lists every runner who took part in the racing of 1958, even those who were unplaced in all their starts. The number of horses in competition in 1958, incidentally, reached an all-time high of 28,099, bettering the 1957 mark of 27,355 by 744. The number of starters has increased annually starting with 1945 when 14,307 performed. Owners who won 5,000 or more are listed alphabetically as are trainers who saddled 10 or more winners. Jockeys are the subject of three separate articles. All riders who were aboard one or more winners during the season are listed alphabetically; another section lists their ages and birthplaces while Alfonso Coy and Eldon Nelson are spotlighted, in the "Remarkable Riding Feats" writeup, for their 6-for-7 efforts at Fort Erie and Delaware Park, respectively. Breeding Market Covered Other sections are devoted to yearling sales, leading American breeders, leading : American sires, organizations and officials connected with racing, officials at racetracks, j and track diagrams, organizations and records. A new feature of the Manual this year is found on the pages of the track diagrams • where the names of the officers of the organization which operates the plant ] are printed, along with the tracks address ■ and phone number. A record was set in 1958 when 867 stakes and features were decided, representing an I aggregate outlay of 2,689,724, also an all-time I high. The number of these events increased I by 35 over 1957 and the total value by 72,374. The average purse per event was 4,636.36. In presenting the tabulated history 218 pages 1 of important North American events, l the Manual has again adhered to the 1 policy of omitting all claiming races, thereby | preserving for reference purposes , only those of traditional value. Discontinued and foreign stakes are also noted, as are match races and walkovers. Subjects of the Manual is shorter features 1 are: the nations oldest stakes, foal registration, i modern handicapping methods, J highest-priced thoroughbreds, Triple Crown winners England and U. S., turf obituaries, types of racing plates, a history and £ explanation of pari-mutuel racing, betting t percentage tables tax methods by | states, conformation, running gait and naming x of a thoroughbred. A total of 1,735 thoroughbred breeding farms are listed, by states, near the rear of the book.
