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Kentuckians Rooting for Young Sire Hardboots Rally To Xalapa Clown d Son of Eternal Claims J Interest Because of Colorful And Popular Late Owner LEXINGTON, Ky., May 16 Horsemen in these parts are rooting for a young horse to make a success as a sire. The horse is Xalapa Clown. There are two reasons for the rooting. He was the last good horse bred by Ed Simms, and he is strictly an v American-bred. Go back to 1936. On April 23, that year n at Xalapa Farm a black colt by Eternal v was foaled. Not an impressive colt was E he. He was plain about the head like his a dam, Loma Linda. In-fact, he inherited her lop ears. But he was considered worth- c while because he was sired by the favorite k thoroughbred of Simms. When he was a yearling, Simms would . show the colt to friends occasionally, only because he was by Eternal. Simms had a Blue Larkspur colt he thought was his best. He fancied a Crucifixion colt as his 1 second best. Later the Eternal colt was to develop into a stake colt, and the others 1 were platers. j How Colt Acquired Name The black horse is well named. In the 1 fall of 1937, when the Simms yearlings 1 were being sent to Keeneland for breaking, all loaded on the van peacefully except Xalapa Clown, He delayed proceedings with his antics. When he actually reared back on his haunches, sat down and re- 1 1 fused to get up, Simms chuckled and ex- claimed: "Hes the clown of the farm well name him Xalapa Clown." 1 Xalapa Clown proved in spring trials as , a juvenile that he was by far the best of the bunch. He did not begin Taring until , fall. , The" Eternal racer was undefeated as a juvenile. He started in three races, each time being an impressive winner. Best of his victories as a two-year-old was his only stake engagement, the ,000 Ardsley Hand- ! icap, in which he defeated Ciencia and . Lovely Knight. That gained him backing as a Derby prospect. The report was out that Simms was ; broke. Many wealthy owners, thinking Simms would sell his good Derby prospect, ; made overtures toward buying Xalapa Clown. One offer was 0,000. Simms spurned all tenders; told the bidders he still liked to, own a good horse, and would not sell the black colt. Breaks Down Before Derby Xalapa Clown made three starts as a three-year-old, all at Santa Anita. He-was victorious in one, unplaced in one, and in the Santa Anita Derby was second to ; Ciencia, whom he had trimmed in the Ardsley Handicap. The son of Eternal started in but two stakes in his racing career, the Ardsley Handicap and the Santa Anita Derby. After the Santa Anita Derby, Xalapa , Clown had good backing fou the Kentucky Derby. He trained well until the eve of the big race. Efforts to bring him back to the races failed, so last year Mrs. Simms retired him to the stud. Simms died in the fall of 1938. Xalapa Clown was then undefeated. The master ; of Xalapa Farm passed on believing he had an excellent chance of winning the Kentucky Derby, the one face he had strived to win for thirty years. Simms loved a thoroughbred. FeW" men ever loved a horse as strongly. Because of his love for a horse, his sportsmanship,-and the wealth of romance about him, he was one of the most popular of Kentucky horsemen. Xalapa Clown was his last good horse. That is one of the reasons the son of Eternal Loma Linda has so many rooters among local horsemen. Ben Brush Fair Play Cross Now for his American pedigree: Xalapa Clown is of the Ben Brush sire line. He is by Eternal, by Sweep, by Ben Brush. He is out of Loma Linda, who is by My Play, he by Fair Play. The good . American cross, Ben Brush and Fair Play, has produced many top race horses in this country. Eternal had about five sons to retire to the stud in Kentucky. Of these, only two Jiad real opportunities, Ariel and Okapi, and both have become successful sires. Xalapa Clown is getting an adequate chance, standing under the management of Thomas Piatt, the veteran breeder who made Good Goods as a sire. . Last year, his first season at stud, some twenty matrons were sent to the court of the young stallion. The brood mares were owned by Thomas Piatt, Thomas Carr Piatt, Mrs. Ed Simms, Samuel Look, Tom B. Young, James L. Cleveland, M. B. Goff, Dr. D. B. Knox, Frank Letellier and Tollie BToung. This year almost as many matrons AjU again go to Xalapa Clown.
