Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-08
Derby and Preakness
Likely 10 Be Held;
Tracks Are Ready
By LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

4 10y LEWIS f. txSu1SON.
Lifting of the ban on horse racing
in effect since last January 3, is the
first benefit of We day anticipated
in the sports world.
Turfmen, clinging to the belief
from the beginning that the shut.
down would be short-lived, are pre-.
pared to resume racing within a few
days, they indicated today. No one
knows definitely, however, when the
Government will nod approval.
1t is expected that both the Ken.
lucky Derby and Pimlico Preakness
traditional spring classics, will be
run. Plans for both were mapped
out and tucked away awaiting the
wars end. Only final details re.
main to be worked out and the
Derby may be held within the next
three weeks, followed a week later
by the Preakness.
Meanwhile, Charles Town (W. Va
track officials indicated that the
start of their summer meet, orig
inally scheduled May 10 to July 7
might be set back until May % tc
avoid conflict with the Maryland
Jockey Club, which is reported con.
sidering May 16-to-26 meeting al
Pimlico.
More than 200 horses are in train
ing at Charles Town, with more ex-
pected from Maryland.
At Pimlico, Trainer Oscar White
said the undefeated Pavot wouldn't
be ready for the Derby If held this
month, but would go in the Freak
ness if that race was run not later
than June 2.
May Celebrate Sunday.
Baseball, hopeful that We day
would stay further induction of its
rapidly diminishing supply of estab-
lished stars, indicated next Sundays
games might be dedicated to the
victory over Germany. This would
be merely salute to the fighting
men who earned that costly victory
The wars end was expected to
have a beneficial effect on the
recent protest against inducing AZ
athletes into military service merely
because they are in sports. The
War Department., supposedly in
vestigating instances of such dis
elimination, yesterday told news
papermen the matter still is being
cased. You'll just have to coast
along until it's ready"
While some observers believe the
all-star game might be resumed
this year the majority disagree
Plans for inter-league games on the
day usually set aside for the battle
of stars have been completed and
confusion would result from any
change now.
Germany's surrender means base
ball may regain some of its 500
major leaguers and untold numbers
of lesser lights by the start of next
season, but few are expected back
in competition this year.
Big Benefit Seen for Grid.
Pro football, testing rumors and
quietly biding its time pending the
outcome of the war, may reap the
greatest benefit of the European
peace. Commissioner Elmer Layder
is expected to call a meeting Of
National League club owners the
latter part of the month to discuss
the situation and decide If an,
changes are necessary in the cir.
cults 1945 plans.
The Redskins hopes of returning
to their San Diego, Calf, training
base apparently have been blocked
by the Office of Defense Trans.
portation's insistence that its traveI
ban will not be lifted until after
Japan has been conquered.
Football has a tremendous adj
vantage over baseball in that its
season is still five months away and
there is time for some of its bright
est stars to return before the cam
paign starts.
Few colleges expect to benefit this
year from the peace. Next winter
or spring is the earliest they hope to
return to normal.
News of We day caused cancella-
ton OF only a few sports events,
unlike D day II months ago when
most race tracks closed and base
ball games and prize fights were
postponed. Yesterday only the Julie
Bort-Freddy Russo bout at Newark,
N. j., and the Albany Utica East
ern League baseball game were
called off in addition to those events
halted by bad weather.