No Preliminary Races: No Race in Book Suits Either War Admiral or Seabiscuit.; Howard and Riddle to Confer With Belmont Park Officials Regarding the Completion of Match Plans., Daily Racing Form, 1938-05-20

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NO PRELIMINARY RACES No Race in Book Suits Either War Admiral or Seabiscuit. Howard and Riddle to Confer With Belmont Park Officials Regarding the Completion of Match Plans. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 19.— Seabiscuit and War Admiral will not be seen in competition before their meeting in the Belmont Special on May 30, unless their respective trainers ask John B. Campbell, racing secretary of the Westchester Racing Association, to substitute events for those provided in the book of conditions. The new book, to cover the second half of the meeting, was issued today by secretary Campbell and did not include any races to which either of the stars are eligible. Very probably neither Tom Smith, trainer of Seabiscuit, nor George Conway, developer of War Admiral, has any intention of running his protege prior to Memorial Day, or Campbell would have been asked before now to rate conditions for a race or two to fit either horse. Both of the principals in the event, which has stirred up interest in racing throughout the country, have had preliminary efforts to season them for important engagements, but that program apparently is not being followed by Conway and Smith. MATCH RACE OFFICIAL. The new condition book includes the provision for the match race, thereby making it official. Within a few days the respective owners of Seabiscuit and War Admiral, Chas. S. Howard and Samuel D. Riddle, are expected to have a conference with officials of the Westchester Racing Association, The Jockey Club and Marshall Cassidy, steward representing the New York State Racing Commission, to complete plans for the match. Most important item to be settled is that of the starting. Original conditions of the race stated that it be started from "suitable stalls" and it is generally believed that three partitions will be erected at the starting point for the mile and a quarter race to Contiryied on thirty-fifth page. NO PRELIMINARY RACES Continued from first page. provide two stalls, as for a permanent stall gate. Concrete evidence that the race is drawing near was demonstrated in the appearance of Seabiscuit at the starting gate in the back stretch chute this morning. The California star was brought there by trainer Smith, who, as usual, was mounted on his familiar pony. The veteran son of Hard Tack and Swing On lunged through his position in the Bahr starting gate several times much in the manner of his adversary, after which a bar was placed in back of him. When that was done Seabiscuit settled right down and stood for several moments. Then George Cassidy rang his bell and the Howard representative stepped away from the post with great alacrity in company with a stablemate. He went hardly an eighth of a mile when he was eased up by John Pollard, who will be his rider on May 30. GOES FIVE-EIGHTHS HANDILY. Trainer Conway had War Admiral out for a gallop of five furlongs on the main course and last years three-year-old champion went the distance in very handy fashion in 1:02%. The quarter was covered in :2S% and the half in :48%. He was accompanied in his trial by Army Banners, which has been his work mate many times in the past. Both Seabiscuit and War Admiral appeared to relish their latest tasks and were quite contented after being cooled out. Seabiscuits trainer described as "a lot of foolishness" the stories about having the horse out on the track long before sun-up for secret trials. Smith said he did have the son of Hard Tack out about 5:30 one morning when the skies were just beginning to lighten up, but otherwise he said Seabiscuit did not require workouts every three or four days. In the case of Seabiscuits recent workout after the last race at Belmont Park, Smith said he desired to take advantage of the improved condition of the course after it had dried out steadily all day, pointing out that his protege is not partial to damp going. The western horseman further stated that he had no regular time for bringing out Sea-biscuit, for he never disturbed the horse when he was lying down, always waiting until his charge was on his feet looking for something to do. J. J. "Doc" Reynolds was an arrival from Pimlico and he will remain for the meeting.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1938052001/drf1938052001_1_8
Local Identifier: drf1938052001_1_8
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800