The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-08
THORP PROVING IDEAL STEWARD
 AT 'GANSETT
CheCkup on "SOur" Races Brings ResuIts-Saint
 Kitts Destroyed

Pawtucket, R. l., May While the spectacular operation of the Electric Eye has stolen the show at Narragansett Park this week, there is smooth running factor working in close cooperation that makes racing at the big Pawtucket plant a standout success.
 This factor is & highly efficient Stewards Stand, headed by that prince of officials, Tom Thorp. The ver-ceasing vigilance of the Long Island man has spurred his co- Stewards, Howard Reynolds and Charles B. Stickney, to efforts more thorough than ever before. Thorp's genial personality and the humane, understanding manner in which he dispenses rulings affecting owners, trainers, and jockeys has established @ marked degree of confidence with all hands
 Knows His Stuff
 Tom has been right on his toes since the moment he reported for duty last Friday. Following scrutiny of all applications for li- censeS for horsemen, his first job was to deliver Q stern lecture to all riders immediately before the first race of the meeting. "I pre- sume you all know the rules of racing" said Thorp, T expect you to live up to them to the letter. We will be watching every move you make. We won't stand for foul rid- ing, for rough tactics, and the boy who doesn't give everything he has in an effort to win, gets his march, ing orders"
 In the third race on opening day, Tom did not like the manner in which little c. Kamar rode the favoritc, Overstimulate. He called the rider to the stand and asked for an explanation. The boy could not justify his poor performance and took a five-day suspension, with storm admonition that the next time would be the last
 The Mrs. A. M. Creech 5-year old Regardless, ran a sour race and in explanation before Thorp, trainer Monte Park explained the horse was Q little sore. "All right" said Thorp, i've don't want sore horses on the racetrack. Don't enter that horse again until we have the track veterinarian certify he IS perfect ly sound and fit"
 Horse Destroyed
 Even the Araho Stable (owned by Mrs, Walter F. O'Hara) did not es- cape Thorp's vigilance. St. Kits, established Q favorite, ran a poor race and finished last. Immediately Thorp notified trainer Bob Curran the entry of St. Kits would be rec fused til the horse was certified broke 0 bone in his foot during that sound. AS 1t happened, St. Kits race and was destroyed the follow ing day.
 Weston Adams nice lilly Conser- VatiVe raised ruckus in the pad dock when blinkers were put on her, and nearly kicked the place down. She ran a disappointing race in con. sequence. Thorp observed closely the whole performance, and break ing all precedents in New England gave trainer Lyman Brusie permis- sion to have blinkers put on the lilly while at the post, in her next race. This was done and Conser- vativc gave @ greatly improved per- formance.
 When Auburndale upset the dope the other day to win in unexpected fashion, Thorp called in trainer An- derson to explain the sudden re- versal of form "This horse will only do his best when the track is soft, judge" Anderson told Thorp, "Okay" said Tom, "thc entry of your horse in future VIII only be accepted when the track iS soft"
 On the Job
 People at Narragansett park last Monday wondered what was wrong when Thorp left the Stewards stand and ran up the course to the starting gate Here's what hap pened. Due to the races running iate, post time had been set back ten minutes, but the paddock judge I had not been notified Consequently the horses were sent out to the post ten minutes early. Had they gone off at that time, great complications would have arisen all over the coun- try on moneys Wagcrcd - which are always contingent on post-timc and off-time.
 It is the careful checking and handling of such apparently insigni- ficant details as these, that keep track running smoothly and effi- ciently. Thorp is the born cxecu- tive. His interpretation Of racing rules is so clear that they become simple. His big smiling countenance instills confidence and faith in all that come in contact with him. And that s Thorp's secret. Character anS honesty over many years has be- gotten the confidence whcih make him outstanding in his field.