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Regarding the Halter Brigade The scene was in the paddock at Laurel. The time, last fall. Eleven selling platers were being saddled for a six furlong gallop. A handicapper turned to a young man at his side and remarked, "Say, you ought tj be ablo to pick the winner here. At one time or another this season youve owned nine of eleven horses in this race. How about it!" "Sure, I can pick it," admitted Johnny Coburn. And he proceeded to name them in the order they should finish. Bnt two that John did not . think conld finish in the picture ran first and second. And the one he didnt think could lose quit to a dismal walk and trrerybody-Jtjeat hint. For several years now Coburn has been the chief rival of Sam Louis for the honor of acquiring and losing the most horses in a single season. Hamburg and Tammany were brilliant horses. But measured by the . standard of good horses beaten both accomplished little to justify claims to greatness. Bowling Brook and Handball were the best to finish behind Hamburg and the former beat Hamburg as a three-year-old. Tammany beat nothing at two. Lamp Lighter and Yorkville Belle were the best he mastered at three. Like. Sysonby and Man o War, Tammany and Hamburg impressed their admirers by the manner in which they beat their opponents. Edward "Snapper" Garrison rode at one time or another nearly all the greatest horses of Tammanys day. And Garrison rode hard, gruelling races against all the champions of that time. Garrison says Tammany was the fastest horse he ever rode. Speed in a race horse is the prime requisite. Without it even "more of it," one authority has said a thoroughbred can not become great But speed alone will not make him great. He must have courage, stamina, endurance and game-ness. He must be as sound as Exterminator or he may not last long enough to prove his claims to greatness. Tammany had the speed ; he did not meet horses of a quality to test out his other powers. Hamburgs case was similar. His performance in the Great Eastern Handicap at two, when, under 135 pounds he was held at the post nearly forty minutes, only to come on and win easily from the best of the year, caused him to be regarded at the time as certain to prove one of the greatest horses ever seen. Hamburgs friends have always held that he was palpably short when Bowling Brook beat him so easily in the "Belmont at three years of age. He never had opportunity to wipe out that defeat. In succeeding races there was nothing behind him. As we started out originally to learn what great horse ever beat good ones and was not In turn decisively beaten by them we are forced to eliminate Tammany and Hamburg from consideration. And there are others whose elimination is to follow. ;
