The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 206

ARUNDEL SUN, Sunday, February 15, 1981 Page 2 Marley volunteers reject loan aid Taxing problem County counters city move on utility levies volvement with that company," Mr. Strott said. Senator Connell said the Marley volunteers approached the legislators when the problem of paying off the loan first surfaced. (The volunteers have paid about $1,000 a month in interest over the past two years to the Bank of Glen Burnie, but as yet have made no payments on the principal.) He said a meeting was held and he "thought everybody was happy." Now, he said, he has asked Delegate Burkhead to arrange a meeting with the volunteers "to discuss this change of attitude." Mr. Strott charged that the Marley company bought the fire engine when the county fire department already had one on order for them.

Eva president of the Marley Area Improvement Association, seconded Mr. Strott's charge. "I do not want the county to bail them out of the mess they got in," she stormed. "They should have thought about it before they did it. They did not have the money to pay for it the fire engine.

They knew the county had one on order." Mr. Powell, the volunteers' attorney, said the company decided to buy its own fire engine because the county engine on order "never got to Marley. Ostensibly the engine was for Marley," Mr. Powell admitted, "but they never got it and that's why they went out and bought another one." ty another $200,000, they maintain, because of a distortion the redistributed revenue would cause in the complex method of computing how much property tax Annapolis citizens pay the county. The effect of the new amendment to the legislation would be to ensure that the county loses only1 $200,000, said H.

William Gardner, the county's lobbyist. Under the county-sponsored amendment, the County Council would give Annapolis the authority to collect the taxes within the city. "In that way, it never comes to the county," Mr. Gardner said, and therefore does not enter into county calculations of the Annapolis tax differential. "I think our way is the cleanest" way to handle the change, Mr.

Gardner said. But a legislative subcommittee formed to polish the utility tax bill and accompanying amendments before it is forwarded to the House Ways and Means Committee is also looking at other ways to return the tax revenues to Annapolis. Delegate Gerald W. Winegrad (D, Annapolis), who along with Delegate Elmer F. Hagner, steered the controversial amendment through the delegation, said the subcommittee is reviewing jockey struggles to escape young riders' 'graveyard' A fire department official, however, said the county-owned engine had indeed been assigned to the Marley station.

The official said department decided to use that engine as a backup for other companies because it felt that since the volunteers had bought their own, they did not need the new county engine as well. Asked about the possibility that the loss of the fire engine would weaken fire protection in the area, Mrs. Scones complained about what she called the volunteers' current lack of commitment. "They're not that much to begin with," she said. Mrs.

Scones argued that Marley's volunteer roster has 86 names on it, but that no more than a handful are there to assist the two career firefighters stationed there around the clock. "Here I sit one block from that firehouse and I can't count on ambulance service," she said. The upshot of the failed negotiations on the bail-out plan, according to Mr. Wilcox, is that "the bank's breathing down Marley's neck. The bank's going to own a fire engine." Mr.

Powell intimated that the bank was preparing a note of default against the volunteers, but the bank refused to comment on the matter. "Our attorneys told us we cannot say anything," said Norman Botts, vice president of the Bank of Glen Burnie. Sun photo Joseph A. DiPaola family home in Pasadena. prentice's career is as tricky as handicapping a field of foals: Too much can happen between leaving the paddock and entering the home stretch.

For every Vince Bracciale there are dozens of ex-jockeys scrubbing the stalls or exercising other jockey's horses. Mr. Flynn, as befits a professional agent, remains guardedly optimistic about his latest find. "Greg's probably one of the most likable kids I've ever met; if anyone should make it, he should. He's got a hell of a personality and desire, which you certainly need in this dog-eat-dog game, and all the attributes but the physical ones.

I'd say he got a heck of a career ahead of him; but you've got to remember that the man's still awful green and should be out there hustling on his own." Mr. Flynn and a few of Greg's fellow jockeys have a more pointed suggestion for Greg: that he spend at least a season at Charles Town, the West Virginia night track. There, they say, the horses are meaner, the turns sharper and the jockey's reflexes accordingly faster than at any other track around. Call it a minor-league boot camp, but it has produced some of the finest talents around: Vince Bracciale and Bill Har-tack both got their starts there. Greg has his reservations.

Logisti-cally it's a sure-fire loser: up at 4:30 a.m. to drive to Clark's farm, off to Bowie by noon and then an hour-and-a-half drive to Charles Town for a hard night's work. Perhaps equally important, admits Greg, is the question of pride: "No athlete wants to take a step down. I know I've got a lot to learn, but I think I'm going about it the right way at least I've had luck so far." And as luck would have it, last Wednesday he went on to claim the $11,000 purse on an auspiciously named mount from Christiana Stables, "Brilliant Future." MAULEY, from Page 1 firm. "We biven't struck a budget with them yet," he added.

"We're working with them on it." Robert R. Strott, the county administrator, said the problems at Marley are "very unsettling" in light of renovations the county plans to make at the run-down Summit avenue station. He said the county is expected to spend about $7,500 replacing poorly insulated windows at the firehouse and possibly repair the station's antiquated electrical system. But the county, he added, is hesitant about spending the money to aid the volunteers. "After the experience of Glen Bur-nie, we're not going to pump money into these fire stations and not protect the public's interest," Mr.

Strott said. He argued that the volunteers were amenable to the county bail-out plan "until a certain lawyer involved himself." (Mr. Powell is the attorney for most volunteer fire companies in Maryland, including the recently dissolved Glen Burnie company.) "What we have done at this point is we have brought it to the attention of the Fighting 31st (Legislative District, represented by Delegates Philip C. Jimeno, Walter J. Shandrowsky and William J.

Burkhead and Senator Jerome F. Connell and asked them to discuss it with them in light of their relationship with them and their in Jockey Greg Smith boy" as soon as the old one "loses the bug." "Apprentice riders are like stallions: When the cream rises, only one out of ten's going to make it," asserted Mr. Flynn. "There are countless apprentices you never hear of again after they lose the bug; the first to do good consistently in the last five years has been Pino." The phenomenal 19-year-old Mario Pino is the only rider Mr. Flynn represents besides Greg, but Mr.

Flynn is hardly complaining. The horses raced by Pino netted $2 million in 1980 and $1.9 million in 1979, meaning upwards of $50,000 a year for Mr. Flynn (who receives i the standard 25 percent of his jockeys' winnings). That is a remarkably hard act for any new apprentice to follow, and until last week Greg considered himself in something of a slump. Out of 61 horseraces during his first four weeks at Bowie, he won only one (the $19,000 feature rac4 with Dottie and placed second and third nine times each.

"The feature race was a nice one for a young rider to win," said Mr. Flynn. "Aside from that, though, Greg rode a lot of favorites who got beat and things have been a little slow. It takes awhile to pull out of a slump, so we may just lie back and play dead and not browbeat the trainers for now." Recently Greg seems to have been feeling his oats again, as he placed first in Bowie races February 6 and 11. But he acknowledges this roller-coaster pattern of slumps and come-backsas endemic to the profession: "There are a lot of twists and turns.

You could get carried away with being depressed, so we think positive all the time. We're all out there to In the money The glittering prizes of the racing world are known to the public chiefly amendments that would: Require the county to collect the taxes and then transfer the revenues to the city on a monthly basis. Permit the county to deduct up to 1 percent of the tax revenues, or roughly $4,000,. to cover the cost of collecting the fees. But the Annapolis legislator warned that.no amendment would be accepted that altered the original plan to return all boat-slip and hotel fees to Annapolis.

"Delegate Hagner and I are standing fast on the original issue," he said. Mr. Hagner added that he is confident the utility tax bill would have no trouble in the Ways and Means Committee because it is supported by the delegation, including Delegate Tyras S. Athey (D, Jessup), chairman of Ways and Means. Mr.

Gardner agreed that both sides appear "to be talking the same thing." Annapolis Alderman Gustav J. Akerland, who had been unaware of the amendments, said the city could arrange to collect its own taxes, but that the present system of county tax collection might work just as well. "I don't know that there would be preference for either one," he said. It's a sensitive topic, and Greg de-' fends his trainer as "the best I could possibly have for a contract. He trains for some of the classiest stables there are, and I'm sure he'd give me the contract release me if I asked for it." Meanwhile Mr.

Clark allows him to ride for whatever local trainers Mr. Flynn can interest and those interviewed about Greg generally seemed pleased with his efforts. "He performed real good for me, ran a couple decent horses finishing second," said Pimlico trainer Mel Gross. "I plan on using him again." Saddle savvy Greg's near-collision with Hand some Dame in the Free State Race was one of those split-second reminders of the occupational hazards faced daily on the track. No red-blooded jockey likes to dwell on his prospects for taking a sudden spill; but the possibility is always there, like a tick beneath the saddle.

Bill Passmore, the wary 47-year-old "survivor" of the track, has broken his ribs, wrist, leg, several vertebrae and all the toes of one foot during his illustrious career. Yet he believes steadfastly in his luck and continues to dominate the local racing scene under the aegis of Laurel trainer King Leatherbury. Doris Riley, a familiar figure at Davidsonville's Roedown races and a former exerciser at Pimlico, was pronounced dead when her horse fell on top of her and dislocated three vertebrae, her nose and left eyeball. It was six weeks before she emerged from her deep coma and many months before she could resume her activities around the stable. The chances of such an accident for the average jockey are admittedly slight.

Yet as he gallops amid that tight cluster of blinkered beasts, a single mishap two horses clicking heels, a filly starting back suddenly from dirt spewed in her face can throw off his vital balance. An overworked horse perked up with a drug can endanger the entire field if driven beyond its capacity. Then there are the so-called calculated risks: when to "go for the rail" (inner circle on the track) to trim your time, on the chance that another horse might cut you off. "You're always looking for the stride of a horse whether it wants to run or feels like relaxing under you," says Greg. "Flynn keeps telling me to work out to get in shape for a race, and some riders do lift weights to give them upper body strength.

But let's face it, if Lou Ferrigno raced horses he'd get tired pretty You have to finesse your body to the way you ride, the way you're actually going to be using your muscles during a race." "The most important tip I ever got was from Eric Blind a starter," he recalled. "And that was, 'Relax and don't ever get It's simple but true: Make even a small false move out of excitement and you're going to lose the race." 'Bug boy' This vear has marked the bieeest influx of apprentice jockeys ever seen in Maryland: 15 from every part of the nation, including mini-celebrities such as Kenny Black (Nevada) and Gordon Whitacre (Texas). A sport that was always gruelingly competitive, has become, in the words of one prominent local agent, "a gravttard for young riders." A novice rider must win five races to qualify for a year's apprenticeship. (His apprentice status is then indicated on racing charts by an asterisk or He is automatically given a 3- to 10-pound weight allowance which many stable-owners consider such a valuable advantage that they will promptly sign on another "bug llv Ann LoLordo Anne Arundel county officials say they want Annapolis to collect hotel-rental and boat-slip taxes if the city is to get a larger share of the county utility tax. Last week, the 16-member county delegation to the Maryland General Assembly approved a two-year extension of the utility tax, tacking on an amendment to return all taxes collected from hotel rentals and boat slips within Annapolis to the city.

Currently, the county collects the taxes in Annapolis and returns one-half of that amount, which is expected to total $193,000 this fiscal year. The move angered County Executive Robert A. Pascal, who almost immediately wrote a letter to county residents warning of a property tax increase. He just as swiftly withdrew funds for a fireboat promised to the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company, which is headed by Delegate Walter J. Shandrowsky.

Mr. Shandrowsky voted for the utility tax amendment. County officials charged that turning over the tax money to the city would cost the county nearly $200,000. It also would have a backlash effect of costing the coun Pasadena jockey, from Page i i last, that 1950s aura of clean sports? manship seems to set him apart from the run of the jocks. On the track At one minute to post time, the railbirds were pressing against the fence for a better view of the start, "They're off!" and for a few seconds, i Greg's white-and-blue uniform could be seen clearly in the lead.

Not for long: "Privacy takes the lead over Little Lilith, followed close-: ly by Tricki Vicki," boomed the voice over the public address. "Little Lilith falling to fourth as the others hold their lead." Was it a ploy? Canny riders sometimes choose to lag momentarily be-. then steam ahead just before the finish line to win by a nose. But for today's six-furlong scramble, those tactics just weren't on the I menu. Two-thirds through the race Handsome Dame, a filly ridden by James Fazio, pulled abruptly in front and seemed on the verge of forcing Little Lilith against the rail.

5 Greg pulled back abruptly and went around the outside, losing a few valuable seconds and falling to fifth place. Before the minute was up, Privacy charged past the finish line 3 lengths ahead of Tricki Vicki and the railbirds awaited the official re- suits. "Wait, there's been an objection by fifth-place rider Greg Smith against Handsome Dame," announced the gravelly bass over the loudspeaker. I "The stewards have declared an in-j quiry." "Here we go again!" yelled one fan as he smashed a beer can on the pave- ment, furious at not being able to collect his bets. "What difference will it make to the guy, $50? I'll give you Five minutes later the loudspeaker boomed again: "A disqualification has i been declared Handsome Dame is disqualified and fourth place goes to Little Lilith." i Back in the Jocks' Room, Greg ex-' plained that it hadn't just been a mat-j ter of collecting an extra $50 or sav-! ing face.

Only the first four finishers I collected purses: fourth place in the Free State Race meant a total purse of $1,887, of which the jockey would 10 percent, and fifth place the i standard $35 loser's fee. i "She Little Lilith tried her best but got tired at the end," he explained, i watching his near-collision with Fazio on the TV monitor. "Then again, what happened to her Handsome Dame can take a lot out of a horse even if it only lasted a few seconds." Despite the dust and disappointment, Greg still looked fresh for someone who had been riding since 5:30 a.m. That morning as always, he had arisen at 4:30 and driven to Pimli-. co to gallop horses for Henry Clark, the Glyndon trainer who holds Greg's two-year contract.

He had headed directly to Bowie for a full afternoon of riding, studying the charts and waiting in the Jocks' Room for "his" race. "With even one or two races a day I don't have time for hobbies," he explained quietly. "I'm working seven days a week and usually go straight home after the races to relax. There isn't that much time for social life at night, and I haven't taken any vacations. But I don't get bored: This life is up and down like you wouldn't believe." How did lie see that afternoon's fourth-place finale? Well, he had still technically finished "in the money," if not exactly in the forefront.

Maybe with luck and a little bit of hustling 'by his agent, tomorrow would see him at the head of the pack again. horses around with his foal Nugget at the Jockey for avor Few of the old-timers in the Jocks' Room can remember an equestrian career quite as unconventional as Greg's, Unlike Passmore or Bracciale both of whom come from riding familiesGreg only began to feel at home on a saddle well after his graduation from Chesapeake High School in 1978. His father is an employee of the Social Security Administration in Wood-lawn and his mother runs Jackie's Dog and Cat Wash in the basement of their home on Hastings lane. There is a barn on their 20-acre farm, but only a single foal to inhabit it: Greg had never ridden a thorough bred before meeting Mr. Clark.

Yet like most other jockeys, his physical attributes played a strong part in determining his future career. "I was 5-1 most of the wav through high school and only shot up to 5-4 my senior year," he recalled. "Of course I got teased a lot but I didn't really mind; I was already thinking maybe I could put my littleness to some kind of use." That dim hunch took awhile to bear fruit. Greg (whom one former teacher described as "bright, thoroughly likable but not one of our more outstanding quickly ruled out college and began a series of odd jobs after graduation. For the better part of a year he pumped gas, grilled McDonald's hamburgers and chased puppies around Huffard's Animal Hospital in Pasadena.

But he continued to believe that "there had to be something I really enjoyed doing." It was another gas station attendant who first suggested working on a horse farm. Unfortunately there was no short- age of hired hands at local stables that spring, and Greg finally had to offer his services for free in order to land work at Glyndon's Sagamore Farm. He walked horses and helped break in yearlings for trainer Buddy Troyer until early fall, when Mr. Clark visited the stables and agreed to hire Greg on a temporary basis. Mr.

Clark, a crusty and highly respected trainer whose horse farm is not far from Mr. Troyer's, decided to take Greg along with him to a Florida training center that winter and gradually allowed him to "breeze" his throughbreds. It was one of Mr. Clark's better fillies, Gillis, that brought Greg his first victory on October 9, 1979. "That was definitely my most memorable race," Greg reminisced.

"She was in some pretty tough company but it was her day. We raced along the rail and saved as much ground as we could, then got a hole opening along the rail and stayed lucky. I made $780 that day." Shortly afterwards he placed second in the Walter. Haight Handicap at Laurel, and began to think about getting a permanent agent. In those days Mr.

Clark was fond of extolling Greg's natural riding ability, willingness to work himself to the limit and (for a jockey) uncommonly "clean" life-style. But in the wake of what he deems to be premature publicity, he now declines to discuss his young charge's career. The agent who currently finds mounts for Greg, Pat Flynn, shows a similar caution about bringing him into the limelight too soon: "Face it, the man's as green as grass, he's only been around the track for a year." Yet he freely challenges Mr. Clark's handling of Greg's career, arguing that his morning barn duties prevent the jockey from hustling for mounts and doing all the riding he could. To which Mr.

Clark heatedly responded: "Flynn should mind his own business who's holding Greg's contract, him or me?" through the earnings of superstars such as Ronnie Franklin, Angel Cordero or Bill Shoemaker. For the handful of jockeys in this stratospheric category, a yearly income of $150,000 could be considered rock-bottom wages. (Only three racing in Maryland enjoy these kind of earnings: Bill Passmore, Vince Bracciale and Mario Pino.) "This is the only game in the world where a kid can come off the street without a ninth-grade education and make $100,000 right away," said Mr. Flynn. "They all talk about the money, the money; but they're not going to make it if they can't ride." For most apprentices the financial picture is quite different.

Out of an "average" Bowie purse of $8,000, the winning horse takes 60 percent Of that, the jockey receives 10 percent ($480) minus a 25 percent commission ($120) for his agent. He will make substantially less if he places second or third, and losers collect only the mandatory $35 for mounting a horse. Starting jockeys make about $200 a week, Greg estimated. Nonetheless, those who manage to keep a hand in the game can make annual incomes of $30,000 to $35,000. That's enough to keep most novices working a 12-hour day, although Greg insists on a more important consideration: "If I lost the special feeling I get before riding a race, I quit.

Aside from that, you have to think of it as something you'll making a living out of. My parents were a little apprehensive about this being a 'steady' profession, but now they're backing me 100 percent." His biggest investments to date? A new Chevrolet Monte Carlo and a video-cassette console to watch replays of his races in the comfort of home. 'Lot to learn' Calling the long-shots for an ap.