Maryland racing was facing a "light" spring stakes program, due to poor handle and attendance figures the previous two years, and operators of the tracks and horsemen alike were somewhat puzzled as to what to expect, reported Don Reed.

". . . there is the question of whether patrons of racing will adjust themselves to Laurel racing in the spring instead of the fall. And how well can Havre de Grace do prior to the opening of Garden State Park? Or will Philadelphia fans await that track and pass up the Maryland course? And will Pimlico draw as well without its usual all-star lineup of features?

"Only time can answer most of these questions. Racing in the State is faced with the necessity of making some money quickly if there is to be racing in the future.

"Early indications point to an excellent brand of sport during the early days. Fine weather this winter has permitted horsemen who remained away from winter tracks to have their charges in better shape than usual. And most of the stables who make Maryland a regular stand in their year's itinerary are scheduled to campaign here again."

n In chronicling the successful Hialeah meet, Joe Palmer added a tidbit about Alfred Vanderbilt and trophy presentations.

"Vanderbilt is extremely dextrous at this; when he was president of both Pimlico and Belmont Park he set what was believed at the time to be an American record in trophy presentation."

When a Hialeah stakes presenter asked Vanderbilt if he could outline what she should say, Palmer wrote of Vanderbilt's response: " 'I'll do that,' he said. 'What's more, I'll give you a speech and a method which will serve for any future presentations as well. You take the trophy by the stem if it's a cup, and by the rim if it's a plate. When the winning owner comes in range you stick it at him, and say, 'Here.'

Humphrey S. Finney's Editor's Saddle-Bag included accounts of coast hopping and sales preparations while overseeing dispersals that included Californian Louis B. Mayer and Virginian William Ziegler.

His entry for Jan. 31: "Today, with a Maryland and a Pennsylvania breeder, both interested in buying some of the Ziegler mares, we drove down to Middleburg to see the breeding stock to be offered in a couple of weeks. Went on to the High Hope farm of Mrs. Marie A. Moore, a well-appointed, spacious stud, where there are first class quarters for all sorts of stock. Found the stallions Lovely Night, Pass Out and Vincentive looking very well, as was the great Gallorette, world's leading money winning mare. The former Brann racer is carrying a Lovely Night foal, her first, just now. The mare will go to Sagamore, to Discovery, this season.

The foal Gallorette was carrying was Mlle. Lorette, later winner of the Gallorette Stakes. There was no report of a 1951 foal, but she did travel to Sagamore in future years. Her stakes-winning Native Dancer daughter Courbette is in the female line of a host of stakes winners, including Gun Runner.