view raw text
Here and There j on the Turf Seabiscuit Not Through Yet j Trip May Cure Ailment j Naming Horses Is Problem j Klees Passes on Applications j ,! Seabiscuit is now en route from Columbia to: Santa Anita Park, thus apparently ending all hope that he would be seen in Florida this winter, either in a special invitational race or in the Widener Challenge Cup. The son of Hard Tack Swing On, by Whisk Broom II., is making his seventh transcontinental journey as rumors are going the rounds that he has broken down and probably never will get to the races again. However, trainer Tom Smith denies that his star protege is through campaigning or is out of the Santa Anita Handicap, although admitting the veteran has suffered what appears to be a slight rap on a foreleg. If it is no more serious than the injury which prevented Seabiscuit from competing in the Massachusetts Handicap although he was able to run in the Stars and Stripes Handicap at Arlington Park five days later, the trouble ought to be gone by the time he arrives on the "West Coast. The handicap champion ever has had suspicious knees, and many horsemen marvel at the extent of his ability and extreme durability as a result. There was no question last May at Belmont Park when he was training for the proposed 00,000 match with War Admiral that his knees were ailing, as the horses stride plainly was affected, but given time and a change of scenery, the trouble sufficiently disappeared to permit Seabiscuit to race at Arlington Park, then at Hollywood Park and Del Mar. One well known trainer who likewise has had good luck with a horse having knee trouble similar to that of Seabiscuit informed the writer some time ago that it was his belief that the nature of Belmont Parks soil taxed thoroughbreds with such an ailment more than did other courses. Seabiscuit ever has taken kindly to the Santa Anita course, which may be one reason that he is being taken there rather than accepting the chance of campaigning in Florida. If he should reach a point in his condition where it will be necessary to retire him, Seabiscuit can be put in the stud at the California ranch of his owner, Charles S. Howard, almost immediately if he happens to be at Santa Anita at the moment. Even if the coming six-year-old is able to race this winter and achieves his ambition of becoming the worlds ler ding money winner he may be put" in the stud next spring, although another campaign probably will be planned for him. He eventualljy will land at the Howard farm, as the Californian already has begun collecting suitable mates for him, hence the purchase of Carvola a month ago and several mares at the recent Lexington sales. j One task in racing that frequently becomes very tedious is naming horses. Owners may name them gratis prior to March 1 of their two-year-old year and at the present time every mail into the office of Fred J. E. Klees, registrar of The Jockey Club, includes applications for the nomenclature under which next seasons juveniles will race. Under the rules of The Jockey Club, no name that has been used during the previous fifteen years, either in the stud or on the turf, shall be duplicated, consequently every application is checked with the elaborate card index maintained under Klees supervision. He also may refuse names for other reasons, j particularly if they are suggestive of advertising or are tawdry. Horses named for persons must have the written approval of the latter, which also presents a problem. Because of the many difficulties in naming horses, owners adopt various methods to get the job done as easily as possible with one of the most convenient plans being to com- bine portions of the names of sire and dam, such as Hadmore for the colt by Hadagal and Nellie Morse. Numerous owners, the most prominent of whom are E. R. Bradley and Leo J. Marks, use the first letter of their names for that of their horses. Others try to have the names of horses suggestive of their breeding, such as Yes or No for the colt by Questionnaire and Gallant Last or Boston Party for the filly by American Flag and Tea. Many names appear ordinary, but their commonness usually is overlooked and forgotten if the animals develop into outstanding or popular performers.
