view raw text
WITHDRAWAL OF EQUIPOISE Trainer Hopkins Forced to Scratch Whitney Colt Because of a i Quarter Crack. LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 16.— It was a icalamity when Fred Hopkins was forced to scratch C. V. Whitneys Equipoise, the winter book favorite for the big special up to the time of his failure in the running of the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace. Discovery was made this morning that the son of Pennant — Swinging was suffering from a quarter crack in his off forefoot. Probably this infirmity has been bothering the colt for some time and it would readily account for his having gone back steadily in his form. The Preakness running demonstrated that Equipoise was not at himself and since his arrival at the Downs he has not impressed. Hope was expressed that Equipoise will be brought back for racing in the fall, but at this time there is no chance for his being ready for his next big engagement, the Belmont, to be run at Belmont Park June 13. It is remembered that after the running of the Saratoga Special last August it was discovered that the son of Pennant — Swinging was suffering from a minor blind splint. That caused only a slight interruption in his training and he was raced in the Fu-urity and finished out his juvenile campaign with the greatest race of his career when he was winner of the Pimlico Futurity, after being practically left at the post and pulling off two of his plates in the running. Hopkins decided early in the forenoon that it would be impossible to start Equipoise, but he delayed officially declaring the colt out until the arrival of Cornelius Van-derbilt Whitney, his owner. Mr. Whitney came in on his special car from Lexington later and the colt was declared out. *
