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• • Here and There on the Turf 1 1 By reason of the weather and track conditions that prevailed for the running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, it can hardly be taken as a true index of the quality of all of the horses that raced for the rich prize. This is not set down •with an idea of taking anything away from Herbert P. Gardners great little gelding Clyde Van Dusen. He proved himself every Etride of that long ten furlongs gallop, to be both fast and game. He demonstrated an ability to carry his weight, and stay well. It may be that when the last word is written of the three-year-olds of this year that the son of Man o War will be at the top of the heap. The fact that he is a gelding robs him of some big opportunities, and in that connection it is a wise provision of racing that there are fewer and fewer races that are confined exclusively to entire colts and fillies, as the turf moves on. But after giving Clyde Van Dusen his full credit for taking down this great classic, it must be admitted, by all who saw the running, that, at least, Blue Larkspur suffered an unusual handicap. In the first place it was shown conclusively that the slippery condition of the track mitigated against his chance and his bad habit of racing on the rail was another. Of course, the colt himself is to blame for that rail running habit, but an inability to race over a slippery track can hardly be charged against him. It has frequently been contended that a horse of championship qualifications should race through any condition of going, but that is not entirely correct or fair. There are various reasons for a good horse not racing well in muddy or slippery going. Hourless was a notable example. It must be admitted that he was one of the great horses of American racing, but he was helpless when asked to race over other than a hard, fast track. Like Hourless, this Blue Larkspur js a long striding colt and that has always been a stride not suited to muddy conditions. Then there is this Naishapur, winner of the Tijuana Derby, which finished second in the Derby. He may prove himself the greatest son of Omar Khayyam. Like Blue Larkspur, he was handicapped in the going, although it is usual that sons of this imported winner of the 1917 running of the Kentucky classic are partial to such footing. Through a footing plainly not to his liking, this sturdy chestnut was fairly running over horses at the end of that long gallop and, while Clyde Van Dusen apparently won with something in reserve, he would be sorely tried to beat Naishapur another sixteenth of a mile. There were others lights in the Kentucky Derby, but these are the ones that appeared to be of greatest importance. George D. Wideners Jack High is back. Of course he did not really have much to beat at Belmont Park Saturday, but it was enough to demonstrate that the son of John P. Grier has better than a chance to carry on as he did last year. A. J. Joyner, who developed the good colt, dodged both the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby, with the Withers in view as the first big objective, and at least the beginning of the three-year-olds season has been a satisfying one. The return of Joseph E. Wideners Osmand In the Toboggan Handicap was a decidedly auspicious one when the gelded son of Sweeper raced three-quarters under a burden of 129 pounds in 1 :10%. He surely was doing his best at the end to lead home William Ziegler, Jr.s Polydor, but the Ziegler sprinter had the advantage of a seasoning at Jamaica, and he had already proved himself a veritable whirlwind. It is natural to expect that Osmand will carry on successfully after this brilliant beginning, but at best he promises to be only a remarkably fast sprinter. There were two other successful returns to racing in Thomas Hitchcocks Bangle, winner of the International Steeplechase Handicap and the Greentree Stables Valorous, which scored over the mile route. Bangle proved himself thoroughly last year and he shouldered his ICO pounds in a fashion to indicate that he has all of his 1928 quality. Mr. Bostwick, who handled the English gelding in the International, played an important part in the score and, like the son of Golden Orb, he demonstrated that he has all of his riding skill of last year. There should be many a triumph through the field this season for both Bangle and his accomplished rider. Valorous will probably find his way to the steeplechase division of the Greentree Stable, should he take kindly to jumping, but at this time he has abundant speed to the available member of the flat runners that perform under those popular silks. J , I I 1 i ; ; ■ 1 : i :
