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Here and There on the Turf Meaning of Paumonok. First Disqualification. Canters Good Showing. Sarazens Sour Race. The running of the Paunionok Handicap at Jamaica on Wednesday taught one more lesson in not taking too seriously the racing of any thoroughbred until he has been highly tried, and highly tried with good ones. Noah in two races at Bowie and in the Harford Handicap at Havre de Grace was unbeaten. It was agreed that he was an infinitely better colt than he was last year and it was even intimated that he might develop into another approximation to Roseben over the sprinting distance. He had carried 121 pounds to victory in the Harford Handicap and it was by long odds his most impressive performance before he was shipped to New York. It was natural that he should be looked upon as best in the opening feature at Jamaica in the light of what he had accomplished together with the- fact that he had been hardened and seasoned by actual racing. But Noah was soundly beaten and he will have to begin all over again if he is to win for himself a place among the best of the New York sprinters. Noah showed an abundance of speed in the Paunionok Handicap, but when Conde also showed speed enough to go along with him until the stretch was reached it brought about his ignominious defeat. He quit so utterly that he was being eased up many lengths back and Conde, the colt that helped bring about his defeat, was even farther back. The Paumonok Handicap was a fast run race and it is not intended to take anything away from Silver Fox, the winner, or Cartoonist, which easily beat Navigator for second place, but it was a race that discounts all that Noah accomplished for Fred Hopkins in Maryland. It was interesting to see Silver Fox come back to win his first race of the year. Silver Fox was one of the highest priced yearlings when Hildreth paid 9,000 for him at Sara toga. As a two year old he was the winner of only ,600, but last year as a three year old he justified his high yearling price when he won 0,725. This handsome son of an illustrious sire has begun 1926 in a way that must be highly gratifying to both Mr. Sinclair and S. C. Hildreth, his developer, and with such a be ginning he may climb high again before the fall racing arrives. It is truly unfortunate that at the beginning of the New York racing season the stewards should have found it necessary to disqualify a horse after he had finished first. It was doubly unfortunate that the disqualification should come in the running of a stake race, the Suffolk Stakes, a claiming dash for two year olds. It was Uncle Hood, a speedy youngster that had raced well at New Orleans, that was set back and by his disqualification first money was given to II. P. Whitneys Golden Pennant. But the disqualification was earned and it is infinitely better that the stewards should make plain at the beginning of the racing year th:t: rough riding will not be tolerated. It is proper that 6ome allowance should be made for two year-olds when they may swerve and race green during the running of a race, but the offense of Uncle Hood was a bit different. Carter, who had the mount on the son of Sweep, was guilty of sharply cutting across in front right at the start. This move fouled both Golden Pennant and Huffy, while there were others that suffered as a result of the foul. It was only the fouling that prevented Golden Pennant from beating Uncle Hood home and it was eminently just and fair that the colt that beat him, by reason of the rough riding of Carter, should be set back and the race awarded to the colt that was plainly his master in the running of the race, but for this fouling. When a horse commits a foul he must be disqualified, but it is doubly guilty when it is only by reason of the fouling that it is enabled to finish first. The stewards are to be congratulated on their prompt action at Jamaica, even though a disqualification on the opening day and in a stake race is an unfortunate duty to perform. It is generally agreed that the performance of J. E. Griffiths Canter in the running of the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace on Wednesday was an eminently satisfactory one. even though he was beaten by the Sagamore Stables Rock Man. An excellent excuse for the defeat is found in the fact that while at the post Canter was severely kicked by Son Ami and an injury was inflicted that might readily have had its effect on the race. Then he was giving Rock Man four pounds and it was his first racing of the year, while the Sagamore colt had a certain amount of seasoning by actual racing. But to be beaten by a nose by Rock Man is hardly a disgrace and, as a matter of fact. Rock Man has beaten Canter every time the pair met. In the Aberdeen Stakes last year Rock Man was the winner, while Canter could only finish fourth. In that race Rock Man carried 116 pounds to the 122 that was carried by Mr. Griffiths colt. Then in the Pimlico Nursery Stakes under equal weights of 122 pounds Rock Man was an easy winner, while Canter could only finish third. Rock Man went info retirement after his spring campaign and did not meet Canter again and the Griffith colt went on to a full measure of greatness when he was raced untd late in the fall. It is not meant to convey any idea that Rock Man is a better colt than Canter. He has not been raced often enough to earn any such reputation, but the fact remains that in three meetings Rock Man has each time whipped the son of Wildair and Virginia L Sarazen, after the brilliant start of his 1926 racing, has been guilty of one of the bad races that made him so undepcndable last year. He did not seem to be badly treated when asked to take up 130 pounds in the Larch mont Handicap at Havre de Grace, as it was only a three-quarters dash, but he was outrun all the way. It was just one of those sour races for which the son of High Time became more or less famous or infamous last year. It was not because he was not ready or that he was overmatched and his performance may only be charged up against his erratic temper. After his long winter rest at John E. Mad-dens Hamburg Place, in Kentucky, Sarazen was brought back to training by Max Hirsch looking better than ever before in his career. He was brought up to winning form and he was well tried when he beat Joy Smoke. Now he comes back with a race that, to say the least, is bitterly disappointing. It is disappointing for the reason that it proves the swift running gelding to still be a horse of moods that make him utterly undependable. Sarazen may be in a cheerful frame of mind on Monday and be returned the winner of the Dixie Handicap at Pindico, but he is just as apt to finish last in the race and for no ap parent reason. Hirsch has devoted much time and care to the development of Sarazen, but it is doubtful if he will ever be able to cure him of the mental state that seems to be hi.--only fault, but indeed a serious fault. «
