The Washington times., 1922-08-06
NO CONFLICT
IN DATES FOR
TURF EVENTS
At Least a Week Will Intervene
Between PimIioo and Ken
tucIy Classics Next Spring.
BY LEONARD w. COLLINS

THOROUGHBRED own er s
who have nominated can
didated for the renewal of
the Preakness and Kentucky
Derby, of 1928, will have ample
time in which to ship their
charges either west or east, as
the case may be, in order to
compete in both classics.
In other words, the regrettable
conflict in dates, between Amer
ica's two greatest turf classics,
which occurred last spring, is to
be guarded against in the future.
A voluminous amount of corre-
spondence has passed between Sec.
retary William p. Riggs, of the
Maryland Jockey Club, and Desha
Breckenridge, Kentucky publisher,
breeder and authority. the result OF
which has been that the Kentucky
and Maryland authorities have
mutually agreeded that at least a
week will intervene between the
running of the Preakness and the
Derby.
without even stopping to ascertain
any Of the facts in the matter there
were many who unjustly criticised
the Pimlico officials for setting n
date for the Preakness which fell
upon the same day as the running of
the Derby. The charges were base
less and without foundation as
subsequently proven.
Truth Of the Matter.
The whole truth Of the affair was
that the Maryland Jockey Club, upon
ascertaining the dates awarded it
by the Maryland Racing Commits
sion, selected Saturday, May ID, for
the Preakness, this being the last
day of their meeting and also an ac-
cepted half-holiday in Baltimore.
Their action was taken fully six
weeks before the Kentucky Jockey
Club had allotted dates for the
several Kentucky tracks.
Then when the Kentucky Commits
sion announced dates for Churchill
Downs, the Blue Grass Association
followed its time-honored custom by
selecting the Saturday nearest the
tenth day of May for the running OF
the Derby. 1t was found that this
would be the 18th, the same day as
that on which the Preakness was
to be featured.
Now that the Pimlico officials have
been acquainted with the fact that
the derby Is always run on the Sat
urday nearest to the tenth or May,
Secretary Riggs has issued a state
ment in which he says that the
Preakness of 1928 will be contested
either one week in advance or one
week later than the Derby renewal.
This is as It should be. 1t will af.
ford the more prominent candidates
for both events an opportunity Of
performing in both classics and will
undoubtedly assure classier fields
IN the two attractions.
Swan Song Once More.
Once more the swan song of Ex-
terminator, Americas greatest geld
ing, is being sung. Again just lit
tie prematurely, 1t Is hoped, rs has
been the case upon several occasions
In the past.
After his disappointing effort In
the Saratoga Cup renewal, Owner
Willis Sharpe Kilmer was quoted as
saying that the courageous old cam
paigner was probably through.
Probably" is just about right and
probably" is just about all.
Kilmer may believe that "Old
Poison" Is probably through. but the
one man OF all others who knows
better than any other whether Ex.
terminator has faced the barrier for
the last time is none other than his
trainer, Gene Wayland.
SO far Gene Wayland has made no
comment upon Exterminator' fu.
ture racing engagements. Wayland
makes few mistakes in his Judgment
OF a thoroughbred's condition, and
until he comes out with the state.
ment that the old warrior Is done turf
devotees will anxiously scan the en-.
tries each day for the name OF the
Kilmer silk bearer.
Exterminator has run other disap-
pointing races only to come right
back and take the measure OF a far
more classier field than he faced In
defeat. Let wayland start him again
and Americas most popular thor
oughbred will carry the proverbial
ton of wise jack In the mutuels.
He VIII Be There.
In our minds eve we cannot ban
ish the picture that on the afternoon
Of sNovember 3. when Starter
James Milton climbs into his stand
preparatory TO rising the gate on the
field that faces the barrif for the
Pimiico Cup. that as he gleSces down
the line he is going 20 lind 'Oid
Poison" looking him In the eye.