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Here and There on the Turf i I Seabiscuit Camp Is Hesitant Found Track Not Quite Suitable1 J JLoser Loser Will Not Be Disgraced 1 May the Best Horse Win I This is the day Seabiscuit and War Ad ¬ miral are to settle their little argument at Pimlfco As this was written at the Mary ¬ land Jockey Club course not a cloud even of the white variety was discernible in the sky and the local meteorologist predicted partly cloudy and warmer weather for today That being the case the conditions for the running of this race for which the public has been waiting for more than a year should be ideal But it still remains very difficult to state with any kind of emphasis that the race will be held as scheduled although we do have the promise of the weather man that no rain may be expected and the guarantee of Maryland Jockey Club officials that Jervis Spencer chairman of the Maryland State Racing Commission and umpire of the match can do nothing else than declare the track in suitable condition for both horses horsesThe The course was considered in good condi ¬ tion during training hours yesterday morn ¬ ing although the horses which worked out were unable to display blistering speed but a state of hesitancy was noted in the Sea biscuit camp Charles S Howard the owner Tom Smith the trainer and George Woolf the jockey all expressed themselves as being dissatisfied with the track when Seabiscuit was brought out for his warmup for the con ¬ test He didnt appear to find anything wrong with the track as he worked a half mile in 49H although Woolf kept him mov ¬ ing along throughout the trial Other horses made better time for the distance but Woolf purposely kept Seabiscuit well off the rail or otherwise he could have negotiated the distance considerably faster Despite their hesitancy the Seabiscuit strategical board entered the horse at the proper time timeThe The feelings of the Seabiscuit people were not contaminating it was learned through conversations with many of the hundreds of persons who were present when he went through his trial While everyone regarded War Admiral as a logical oddson favorite his rival had more partisans than we be ¬ lieved he would have There is no question but that this event has captured the imagi ¬ nations of the public and if Spencer says the word at 830 oclock this morning that everything is ready one of the greatest crowds ever to view a horse race in America will assemble at Pimlico We cannot see how anything can happen now to prevent the race the weather being what it is and the track steadily being whipped into its best condition even as to places which did not dry as rapidly as the remainder of the course courseThis This clash between Seabiscuit and War Admiral should have a stimulating effect on racing even if it proves nothing more than which is the better horse It has been said that War Admiral has everything to lose and nothing to gain in this race but that is hardly true The loser whichever he is will not be disgraced as it doesnt seem possible that either will run a bad race Of course it will be a wonderful honor to be the win i ner but the value jf either horse as a sire will not be affected by winning or losing I oth have shown too much class during their illustrious careers to be condemned by a single failure War Admiral has had an easy career by comparison with that of Sea Continued on fourteenth page HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page biscuit and under very careful and shrewd handling has compiled a splendid record of victories but his opponent came up the hard way having had to battle for everything hes got and for this reason is held in genuine respect respectScabiscuit Scabiscuit and War Admiral never have clashed nor will they probably after todays race unless something occurs to make an ¬ other meeting mandatory The son of Hard Tack and Swing On will head for California soon for another try at the Santa Anita Handicap and War Admiral is expected to enter the stud next spring although there is a chance he will go after a second triumph in the Widener Challenge Cup And so we hope along with all of you that the day dawns clear and bright the Fimlico track is dry and fast Seabiscuit and War Admiral keep their good health and their owners the earnestness so evident when Alfred Vanderbilt brought them together May the best horse wn
