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MUTABILITY OF HORSE FAME Morvich Little Thought of Since His, Dethronement by Whiskaway. BY H. M. WILLIAMS. NEW YORK, N. Y., August 9. For a thing of such great intrinsic value a turf reputation is dangerously fragile. Two races may make a difference of many thousands of dollars in the value of a thoroughbred adding or detracting, as the case may be. Two cases in point are those of Whiskaway and Morvich. The latter fought his way up from the ranks of the selling platers last year, climbing rung by rung on the ladder of fame until he entered the select circle of two-year-old winners of 00,000. He entered upon his three-year-old career with all the pomp and ceremony attending an oriental potentate, training to the accompaniment of camera clicks, typewriter music and shouts of approbation. Astute horsemen shook their heads and doubted, but the "cinema champion," favored by the epidemic which kept his chief opponents away from the races, went on to win his most glorious triumph in the Kentuc?cy Derby. The highest price ever paid for a thoroughbred probably could, not have bought Morvich at that time. Meantime Whiskaway, considered one of the lesser lights of the Harry Payne Whitney stable, was recovering slowly from the ravages of the epidemic. He was a good three-year-old, but none would have been so bold as to pick him out as a coming champion. The great day came. New York racegoeis were to have their first glimpse of the "new Man o War" as a three-year-old. In other words, Morvich was to be allowed to canter around the Aqueduct course in the Carlton Stakes as a final preparation for his engagement in the Kentucky Special. There were a couple of other horses in the field, but they were just there to give the affair a racing aspect. But something went wrong. Morvich found himself giving stern chase to a bundle of lightning. Whiskaway was out in front and the Derby winner never had a show. The "cinema champion," beaten eight lengths, had tasted defeat for the first time. Those who saw the running of the Carlton knew thai Morvich was outclassed, but Kentucky, firm in the belief that a Derby winner must be the best of the year, backed the Block colt to turn the tables on his rival in the Special. Again Morvich was beaten, more thoroughly than before, and without the semblance of an excuse. The blare of trumpets dies out. Back in his barn at Jamaica Morvich munches his feed in peace and quiet, canters out upon the track for exercise without attention from the humblest of "movie" cameras, and he is no less content than in the days of his glory. Whiskaway, on the other hand, became the target for the "movie" cameras, the typewriter clicks and the shouts of approbation. He became overnight the most valuable three-year-old of the year.
