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R T it d ci si tl C jj no j n o " 51 a u J1 s. c c : . 1 1 1 " j . 1 t i i 1 I i ; : : i " : i - I : . - r I I 3 t j 1 t 2 1 j s . ? ,e REFLECTIONS ON MORVICH Turf Idol of Few Weeks Ago Now Almost Forgotten Will He Come Back? BY SALVATOR. The eclipse of a star, the downfall of an idol, is a natural sometimes an unnatural phenomenon in the turf world. Just now the principal playing that role in the racing drama is Morvich. "The brass band and cinema champion," as he was termed a few short weeks ago, is now attended by neither the shriek of the cornet nor the click of the camera. The impassioned publicity promoter longer haunts his vicinage and chronicles in perfervid periods the minutiae of his all-absorbing existence, the footsteps of his owner and trainer are no longer shadowed by the hordes of those dssirous to be "near the throne." Instead, there is a sad, pensive paucity of all reclame. Alas, like unto Ichabods, "his glory has departed." Will it ever return? That is the question. There are these who, aroused by mere counter-irritation, when the Morvich boom was most reverberant, to somewhat caustic criticism of the colt, today feel that just as he was then the victim of oer much fulsome flattery today he similarly is suffering from an undeserved contempt. All which is by no means a new thing under the sun nor yet the moon in Ihcroughbreddom. When Morvich was sweeping all before him last season, there were many doubters ; that is, doubters whether he would "go on" at three. These doubters, some of them, doubted his pedigree. They just couldnt see, on the one hand, a grandson of Voter shining effulgent over Derby, Realization or Cup courses. Neither could they a grandson of Dr. Leggo. Others of them said stubbornly that "A great horse looks the part. No such individual as Morvich can be a real champion." Yet just as strange things have happened as for the grandson of a sprinter to be a stayer, or a shoddy individual to be a champion. Just as all signs fail in dry weather, so all analogies, traditions, theories and superstitions go by default upon the turf. There have been more than a few champions not bred "in the purple." There have been more than a few which would have taken no prizes at a beauty show. Neither fact has prevented their having "gone and done it." UTS TRAINING CRITICIZED. There is yet to be added a third item to the brief against Morvich if so wo may term it. "Ground training" is notoriously easy, as well as certain ? in its results. Nevertheless it must, in behalf of truth, be recorded that the experts have probably passed more unfavorable criticisms upon the manner in which Morvich has been handled this season than has been the case in any similar instance for many seasons. It is to be assumed that Mr. Burlew knows his business. Also his colt. Nevertheless, the way in which he has "done his turn" has provoked the critics to many remarks not precisely complimentary. Whether he is right, or they are, is something in abeyance. He may yet have tho final laugh at their expense. If he is so happy, doubtless it will not decrease his adipose tissue. Meanwhile, in the language of the street, Why pick on Morvich? If he never wins an- other race, nor earns another dollar, he has yet served the public, and, particularly, the publicity promoters, more than well. He has provided material for many thrills, as thrills go nowadays, when everybody is inclined to thrill over most any old thing. He has also provided endless excuses for headlines, "special stories," space-writing ad lib. He has earned for his owner over 50,000, plus some expansive moments. He placed hi3 trainer and his riders, also his entire entourage, in the brightest glare of the lime-, light and kept them there month after month. The brass bands that have attended him have received generous pay for over-t time tooting and the cinemas have reeled him out to a very profitable extent. Just because all this cannot be endless, why, as aforesaid, pick on Morvich? Turf fame is transitory. Of all things mundane it can be most fleeting and im-t permanent, which, in the words of the Bard, "an insubstantial pageant fading, leaves not a wrack behind." Morvich is enly one of an interminable procession of thoroughbreds that have "strutted their brief" hour and then been unceremoniously shoved off-stage. Whether he is destined to have no rentree is something for the womb of the future to disclose. There may be a "return from Elba" ere the final Waterloo. In the meantime let us remember that when all is said and done he has been a very brilliant colt and that a few beatings do not necessarily label him a lizard. Our three-c year-olds this season beat each other back and forth in a very disconcerting fashion. Either their form is not formidable or their rank, comparatively, it is too early yet cor- rectly to assess. It might also be recalled that there are many purple pedigrees at- tached to colts that cannot get out of their own way; that there are many "picture horses" that cannot win at a county fair; and that training methods are matters of taste and that taste is a matter of tempera-". ment and, therefore, not subject to the ordinary canons of criticism.
