In a thrilling renewal of the Preakness, Greentree Stable’s Capot – trained by Marylander John Gaver and ridden by Ted Atkinson – prevailed by a short head over Palestinian to provide breeder/owner Greentree Stable its first win in the classic.

Calumet Farm’s brilliant filly Wistful was also a star during the meet as she beat 11 others in the Pimlico Oaks. The half-sister to Coaltown came in with a win in the Kentucky Oaks and added the Coaching Club American Oaks, all in May.

Those were a few of the bright spots of  Pimlico’s eight-day meet that suffered from direct competition from Garden State, resulting in poor handle and attendance figures. Don Reed noted that horsemen who wanted to race on the New Jersey circuit during the summer went to Garden State at the close of Havre de Grace and remained there, passing up Pimlico because of the short meeting. All of which revived talk that Pimlico should be permitted to transfer its activities to Laurel. 

Added Reed: “. . . it seems to be a foregone conclusion that an effort will be made next winter to have the transfer to Laurel approved by the Legislature. Just what preliminary moves will be necessary remains to be seen.”

Following the death of Virginian Dr. Lewis Allen, whose Clifton Farm horses won timber and flat races, horse shows and hunter trials, came word that Louis McL. Merryman and Sons were set to disperse Allen’s 20-some horses at the farm just miles from Berryville, Va., and Charles Town, W.Va. “Young Louis Merryman, whose work in the stand is drawing increasing favorable attention everywhere, will wield the gavel.”

“Blessed with the loveliest weather we have ever seen for our 15th annual yearling show, judge Abram Hewitt did a thorough, painstaking job of selecting those “most likely to succeed,” wrote Humphrey Finney in his Editor’s Saddle-Bag. “The judge dictated complete reasons to his ring secretary on all his placings, and comments on all entries.” Larry MacPhail’s B. Battery, a chestnut colt by Discovery—Boomtown Gal, by Stimulus, was named champion. The colt, named for MacPhail’s outfit in World War I, was the first Thoroughbred named by the former New York Yankees executive and the first shown by the new local breeder