Here and There on the Turf: Count Arthur Not through Yet Uncovered Old Time Ability Had to Withstand, Daily Racing Form, 1938-11-17

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i t Here and There j on the Turf Count Arthur Not Through Yet j i Uncovered Old Time Ability Had to Withstand Stout Ohal- j lenges j ; Injury Denied Aneroid True j Chance r 1 Count Arthur isnt quite the horse he was formerly, but that he continues to possess speed and durability in his aging- frame was amply demonstrated in the twenty-sixth Bowie Handicap Tuesday. The chestnut son of Reigh Count and Abbatissa, by Ballot, ! now six years of age, long has been accounted one of the countrys better stayers, but he has been very much of a disappointment this season until the past several weeks, when he accounted for his first victory of the year and came back to place third in the Grayson Stakes. Mrs. John Hertz veteran simply has found it increasingly difficult to get back into top form from one campaign to the next and this season has been the worst. He disappointed in one after another race until he abruptly decided to take over a group of class "D" horses meeting at a mile and one furlong at Empire City, October 26. More for a sentimental reason, perhaps, than any other, Mrs. Hertz sent Count Arthur to Pimlico for the first running of the Grayson Stakes, honoring the late sportsman, physician and friend of presidents. The mile and one-half distance of the Grayson was to his liking, but the opposition was much more serious than that to which he has been accustomed this year, and therefore, it was mildly surprising when he went smartly all the way and moved into the lead entering the stretch, only to falter. That weakening, Don Cameron, his new trainer, reports may be attributed to the fact Count Arthur had missed a trial because of a slight injury and wasnt quite as he should have been. At any rate, the effort convinced Cameron that the Reigh Count veteran deserved a chance in the Bowie despite the greater potentialities of the field. The Bowie running found Count Arthur something like the Count Arthur of old. He had his mind and heart on his work and was thoroughly fit, so when he ran the mile and five furlongs in 2:46 victory had to be his. This time is four-fifths away from Esposas record, made in the 1937 running of the event, in which he nosed out Seabiscuit, but the Pimlico course wasnt quite so conducive to speed this fall. Indicating, however, that the Hertz star isnt the same fellow he was in winning the Saratoga Cup twice and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, as he carried 110 pounds in the Bowie, whereas in those distance classics he was called upon to shoulder scale weight. But he uncovered enough of his old-time prowess to top off the 1938 campaign of the Hertz stable with a bright spot. Nearly everything out of the ordinary that could happen in a race occurred in the Bowie, beginning with the starting of Jolly Tar from outside the gate. Then followed a photographic finish resulting in a dead heat for the place and the disqualification of one of the participants in the tie for committing a foul as the result of going lame. Count Arthur figured in none of these, although he only managed to achieve his victory by a neck, after surviving a long, hard drive, in which he had to show courage or he surely would have been beaten. Johnny Longden had rated him just a length Continued on twenty-seventh page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. or two back of the pace from the start, but although he was on the inside where the looting probably was more exacting, the son of Rcigh Count was ready with his response when called upon. Nothing can be detracted from Count Arthurs success even though Aneroid appeared to be going stout enough entering the final furlong to overtake the leader. The Hertz star appeared to be holding Es-posa safe, just as he had done in his two Saratoga Cup victories, but Aneroid had come forward so boldly that first money appeared within his grasp. He suddenly bore over sharply, knocking Esposa right out of contention and then hung to the finish, both influenced probably by his attack of lameness. Regardless of his disqualification, Aneroid completed his racing career in the manner of a good, courageous colt, and for that he will be remembered. Regal Lily and Jolly Tar, the plodding mates in the W. M. Jeffords stable, again caught up with the first division before the Bowie running had ended, but as usually has been the case didnt quite get up in time to overtake the leaders.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1938111701/drf1938111701_2_3
Local Identifier: drf1938111701_2_3
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800