Jinny and Laddie Dance sold the highest-priced yearling at the Saratoga sale.

The Sparks, Md., breeders received $140,000 for their *Forli—Guest Room filly on a bid by E.P. Taylor, owner of Windfields Farm in Chesapeake City. The filly was foaled at Windfields when her dam was shipped there to be bred to Northern Dancer. She became the second highest-priced Maryland-bred yearling ever auctioned, behind the $160,000 record for a Dr. Fager colt sold in 1971. The Dances sold two for an average of $90,500. The sale’s overall average was $28,930, the second highest in sale history. The owners of three broodmares, Laddie gave considerable credit to farm manager Bobby Hale. With the Dances since they first got into the breeding and racing business in 1966, Hale was a valued friend as well as an employee.

• Dr. George M. Palmer – “one of the best-liked veterinarians ever to work in Maryland” – sold his practice to his partner, Dr. Ralph L. Yergey, and retired to his home just outside of Laurel. “I didn’t retire out of choice,” said the 49- year-old Marylander (who walked with a cane and had a brace on one leg). “My health forced me into it. My partner [Yergey] was afraid I was going to get hurt by a horse sooner or later.” A lifetime horseman born and raised in Havre de Grace, Dr. Palmer got his first track job at the age of 13. Yergey brought in Dr. James V. Stewart as his new partner in the practice.

• Writer Lucy Acton and 17-year-old photographer Cappy Jackson followed apprentice jockey Sue Graham – seeking her first win after 13 months of competition on the Maryland-Delaware circuit – for a day at Delaware Park. “In a woman-to-woman interview, jockey tells Maryland Horse reporter how male jockeys react to her invasion of their world,” enticed the contents page. It was an enlightening documentary on what women on the track had to endure. And at times somewhat shocking. A trainer Graham galloped for commented: “Don’t misunderstand me. I didn’t say I didn’t like them. I said I didn’t think they had the capabilities. Now, Sue is wonderful at galloping a horse. She has wonderful hands and good control over the horse. She’s a good exercise girl.” Graham had support from a number of trainers including Del Carroll, John P. Mullen and Robert L. Maffay. On that afternoon of Aug. 4, 1972, Graham got her first win aboard the Mullen-trained 3-year-old colt Black Watch.

• Laurel’s Washington, D.C., International, billed as a race for “horse of the world” honors, was to be televised and broadcast around the world that November. Tommy Roberts, president of the Independent Television Network Inc. said, “What the Kentucky Derby is to racing in the United States, the Washington International is to world racing; simply an event of tremendous importance.”

• William L.S. Landes III wrote a letter to the editor about his concern for the credibility of racing, which was getting reports of fixed races, ringers, and jockeys found using joints. Plus accusations that champion Riva Ridge was drugged for the Monmouth Invitational. “There is a certain degree of unsavory activity occurring at racetracks, none are immune,” Landes wrote. “Needed is an organization which can investigate, compile and present to the public a much needed dose of truth; explaining what has happened, what does happen, and present solutions or alternatives.”