Sarre Green, claimed by husband and wife training duo Jack and Gretchen Mobberley for $6,000 at Bowie four years earlier, was described as "raunchy looking" at the time, said Jack, and earned the nickname Tubby around the barn "because she was all skin and bones," said Gretchen.
Looks proved deceiving. The mare, who became a barn pet, won 21 races, including the Gallorette and Haddonfield handicaps, and captured her final race, Keystone's Whitemarsh Handicap. The 7-year-old daughter of Clem Pac was officially retired immediately after the win, as the Mobberleys decided she would be bred that spring. She had a date with Claiborne Farm's *Hawaii.
"You know," said Jack Mobberley, "there's no way to put into words what this mare has done to us. The only way I can say what I mean is tell you that everybody who is sincerely conscientious about horses should have the privilege to own such a mare."
Sarre Green produced six winners from nine starters and was the granddam of one of the Mobberleys' best runners, graded stakes winner Jet Stream.
The queen of America's 3-year-old fillies during the winter season was Maryland-bred Hoso, winner of three consecutive stakes at Hialeah. Bred by Guy Burt and foaled at Glade Valley Farms near Frederick, the daughter of former Glade Valley stallion Solo Landing was owned by Roxie Gian, who purchased her the previous April for $175,000 after she won her first start by 11 lengths.
By a vote of 4-1, the Maryland Racing Commission agreed to allow race-day use of Butazolidin on all horses racing at the state's tracks other than 2-year-olds. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Carle Jackson, who reproached those trainers present at the commission meeting: "Have you ever heard of a farm? Six months rest? That sort of thing?"
n The purchase of the late William duPont Jr.'s 5,500-acre Fair Hill estate by the State of Maryland came a step closer when duPont's executors agreed to accept an offer of $6 million for the tract.
Purchase of the land was authorized by the 1972 session of the General Assembly (duPont died in December 1966). Negotiations began in 1973. A spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources said the state had no plans to change or develop the property in the next few years. The traditional Fair Hill race meeting would continue to be held, according to the plans.
Early foal reports featured a future superstar. Carlyle "Jiggs" Lancaster reported his mare Candle Star, by Clandestine, delivered a Naskra colt Feb. 15. She was being bred back to Northern Jove.
The Naskra colt was Eclipse Award-winning champion sprinter Star de Naskra.
