The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-17
DISTANCE RACES
MARK TRACK YEAR
Vanderbilt Says 1941 Should
See Greater Tests for Ma
tons Race Horses
By ALFRED G. VANDERBILT
President, Belmont Park and PIN
leo Race Tracks

llcO f6dCe 1IdChS
BALTIMORE, Nd, Jan. 16.-LP-
Last year the most significant de-
velopment in American racing was
the increased number of distance
races. Actually this development was
only in its experimental stage. The
year 1871 should see the full flower
ing of races over extended distances,
testing the complete powers OF thor
oughbred heart and stamina.
Perhaps the failure of earlier ef-
forts successfully to provide endur'
ance racing can be charged against
the racing people themselves. Breed
ers contended it was the ultimate
proof of a great horse. Racing as
sociations subscribed to that bellef
but contended races of that charac-
ter were financially impractical and
Furthermore that the available horses
were not bred or conditioned to
race at extended distances.
The story of racing in 1910 dis.
proved such a theory and revealed
to racing associations a startling fact
which promises well and almost
guarantees the future of endurance
racing in America.
That fact is the public emphat'
ically favors long races both from
a spectators viewpoint of sustained
action and also as a wagering con
%sideration. To bolster this it is es'
tablished the trainers of thorough
breds are fully competent to condi-
ton horses for the longer events
and that the basic thoroughbred
blood-lines in America provide al
the qualities of heart and stamina.
With this knowledge now accepted
as fact and proved beyond doubt, the
racing associations should and are
Selling upon it.
The year 1941 looms as one Of a
great opportunity for everyone IN
racing. The breeder can proceed
confidently to produce horses that
theoretically are bred to run over a
distance; the owner can produce new
stock of potential endurance powers
with reasonable assurance Of hav-
ing the opportunities to realize a
fair return in prize monies, and
finally the racing associations can
schedule more and richer distance
races.
At the present stage the response
bility for the further and intelligent
development Of distance racing rests
with the racing associations. Be
cause of the greater testing powers
placed upon the thoroughbreds in
these events there must be coordina-
ton and cooperation among the as
sociations in writing the conditions
of these races and in the running of
them.
On the other hand, these same
associations must be conceded the
privilege of determining whether or
not the races be run under weight
forage or handicap conditions.
They should not be blamed for
~favoring the handicaps in the early
stages of this new transition in the
sport. Handicaps encourage larger
fields and consequently reassure the
sponsors of the race courses. Even
tually, perhaps in one or two years,
there will be an abundance of horses
in training able to display their
| greatest ability over a distance.
| When that point is reached then
the associations must and will &C
cede to the demand for weight-for-
age events without fear Of small
starting fields and consequent finan-
cial loss.
|. Underlying all this important
change in American racing there will
be the satisfying knowledge on the
part Of the racing associations that
they a r giving the public nor &C.
ton, more thrills, better horses and
greater races.
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