Field day awaits Million bettors

TORONTO - Saturday's Arlington Million at Woodbine Race Coursehere is such a wide-open race that Lou Cavalaris, the track's racingsecretary, can't decide on a second or third choice behind favoredTriptych. Neither can I. That's how many horses have a big chance.

That isn't the main problem. When I asked Cavalaris about the14-horse field, he explained Woodbine can take bets on each entrant.The mutuel machines in Canada are geared that way. That presents aproblem because our tote board can take bets on only 12 horses.

Our system could be arranged to take bets on 14 horses, but onlyby announcing the odds on all 14 and hanging a sign somewhere showingthe 14 names and money bet on them. At Hawthorne, the mutuel fieldwith 12 betting interests must be used.

The problem can be solved by Hawthorne racing secretary FrankArsenault, who can select three horses for the mutuel field. Theycan run as one so you'll have 12 units to bet on at Hawthorne and thefollowing substations: Ditka's at Arlington Park, Maywood, Balmoral,Fairmount Park, Peoria and Rockford.

The payoff is that the 24 tracks, off-track and intertrackparlors must do likewise. What a picnic. Each track in the UnitedStates may have a different mutuel field for its own betting. I'mcertain the various mutuel field-makers will have differentselections.

Cavalaris suggested that the No. 12, 13 and 14 post positionhorses could be put into the mutuel field, but what if Triptych isone of 'em?. That would make the mutuel field an odds-on choice.

There have been many 14-horse fields. The track secretaryselects what appear to be the three slowest horses and puts them inthe mutuel field to run as one. There are no bum horses in theMillion so the mutuel field may not be a bad bet. I believe everyhorse has a chance to win Million VIII and Triptych - the great filly- is the best on paper.

"Yes, she seems to be the one to beat," Cavalaris said. "Thefact that it's supposed to rain a bit here the next few days willhelp her chances because she loves soft turf. She can run prettyfast on a firm strip, too, but yielding turf would increase herchances."

Cavalaris should know. He trained horses for 20 years, both inCanada and the United States, before he was named racing secretary atWoodbine's fine track five years ago. He won a tremendous number ofraces and plenty of stakes. This will be his last year as secretaryat Woodbine. He's going to train horses again next year. In fact,he said he may race at the new Arlington Park.

"I've seen some of the Million horses run," Cavalaris said."Regal Classic, beaten only 3 1/2 lengths in the Kentucky Derby, isin better form now than any time of his life. Not only that, he'smuch better on the turf than the dirt, so he has a fine chance."

Cavalaris didn't say that because Regal Classic is Canadianbred. Regal Classic's trainer, Jim Day, also thinks he has a finechance. That's the problem with the Million. All trainers thinkthey have a fine chance. The other Canadian entrant, the mareCaroten, also has a good shot.

Horses who have raced on the Woodbine turf should have an edge.Triptych was third there last year. Regal Classic and Carotene havewon over the course and so has Yankee Affair, who won the Early TimesHandicap there, equaling the world record, running 1 1/8 miles in1:45 3/5.

The time was tremendous, but the Marshall Course on which YankeeAffair set the record is a downhill course, Cavalaris said. Horsesrun fast coming down that hill. I was there a few times.

Cavalaris said he has much respect for Great Communicator,Equalize and Deputy Governor. In fact, he sounded as though he likedthem all.

"The Million is going to be a great race," said jockey SandyHawley, a Canadian who probably knows Woodbine's turf course betterthan the track superintendent.

Hawley, a three-time national champion (1970, 1972, and 1973)and winner of more than 5,000 races, is listed to ride Regal Classicin the Million. Hawley has won more than $55 million in purses."It's a wide-open race," Hawley said. "My horse is good right now,but so are the others."