New Jersey breeder W.H. Laboyteaux encouraged longtime friends, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Williams, to take a few horses to their Stadacona Farm in Maryland’s Worthington Valley after the couple had sold out their Thoroughbred stock when Williams left home three years earlier for the war effort. Mrs. Williams acquiesced, and would stand a couple of Laboyteaux stallions, led by *Piping Rock, in 1945. In addition, 10 mares were to accompany the stallions to Maryland, including the high-class Imperatrice, a daughter of Caruso (who produced her first foal that year and was in foal to Whirlaway).

• Atrocious weather, which resulted in off tracks on 24 of the first 44 days of the 50-day joint fall meet at Laurel didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for racing fans. Having never averaged more than $400,000 perday in wagering, Laurel saw an increase to around $700,000.
  
  Top-class winners during the meet included E.R. Bradley’s Busher in the Selima and Calumet Farm’s Twilight Tear in the Queen Isabella. Petee Dee won the Maryland Futurity for state-breds by a nose over William L. Brann’s filly Gallorette.
  
  
• The Kent Miller-owned and -trained Maryland-bred Elkridge returned to his best form, winning four straight, including the Broad Hollow, Shillelah and Saratoga Steeplechase handicaps.