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REFLECTIONS By Nelson Dunstan Belmont Points Out Top Sires of Future Origin of Domino, Ben Brush, Fair Play Fair Play Lines Fine Belmont Record Assault May Score Today for St. Germans NEW YORK, N. Y., May 31. The Belmont Stakes is more than one of Americas Triple Crown events for three-year-olds in this country. Often it is said that Englands Derby is the brightest gem of the trio of Englands Triple Crown, the companion events being the Two Thousand Guineas and the Doncas-ter St. Leger. The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes are the American Triple Crown, but the one race that is nearly counterpart in conditions of the Epsom Derby is the Belmont Stakes, which is run at the true Derby distance of one and one-half miles. And yet, confining it to this country, two lists which reflect one another in many instances are the Belmont Stakes roster and that of American Leading Sires. The race is closely watched by those in the breeding in dustry for the fact that a Belmont winner is very often to become Americas leading sire in years to follow. Racing in this country was in its infancy when Diomed, winner of the inaugural running of the Epsom Derby in 1780, arrived in Virginia in the spring of 1798. Diomed, of course, was too early an arrival to play a direct part in the Belmont Stakes or on the list of leading sires, but he was very ably represented by his grandson Lexington, who, foaled in 1850, was to lead the American sires on 16 occasions and was the first horse to sire four winners of Belmont Stakes. One of the most remarkable facts in the annals of thoroughbred breeding in this country is that the horses who were to establish permanent American lines arrived at these shores in the space of three short years. Why that should have been defies explanation, but it remains that Bonnie Scotland arrived in 1857, Australian in 1858 and Eclipse in 1859. Eclipse was the sire of Ruthless, winner of the inaugural running of the Belmont Stakes in 1867. Besides Ruthless he also sired Alarm, and in turn Alarm was the sire of Himyar, who, when sent to stud, was to beget Domino, the "Black Whirlwhind," who was the founder of the Domino line in this country. Two years before the arrival of Eclipse, Bonnie Scotland arrived here, and his son Bramble was the founder of what is today known as the Ben Brush line in the breeding of this country. Both the Domino and the Ben Brush lines contributed winners to the Belmont Stakes. Down through the years these two lines have played a prominent part in the racing and breeding of this country, but neither of them have been so important insofar as the Belmont Stakes are concerned, or the Fair Play line. The descendants of Bonnie Scotland established the Ben Brush line. Eclipse established the Domino line. Between the importations of Bonnie Scotland and Eclipse, however, Australian came to this country, and of all three stallions who founded American lines, he was the most impressive. Three of his own sons were to be winners of the Belmont. Then came the year 1908, when Colin, a representative of the Dominos, was to meet Fair Play, the outstanding representative of the Australian line. That was one of the most exciting renewals in the annals of the Belmont Stakes. . The race was run in a blinding rainstorm and the fog was so thick that it was impossible to take the time on the race. There was some confusion toward the finish. Some veterans say that Joe Notter, atop Colin, had pulled up his horse at what he thought was the finish line. The throng roared, "Go on! Go on!" And it was then that the great rider of another day rallied his mount to win by a whisker from Fair Play. Colin was retired as one of the few undefeated horses of this country, but Fair Play went on to become not only one of the greatest stallions in Belmont Stakes history, but also one of the greatest in this country. Fair Plays great son Man o War was winner of the Belmont Stakes in 1920. Like Australian, Fair Play was to send out three who were to win the Belmont Stakes, Big Red being followed by Mad Play in 1924 and Chance Shot in 1927. Chance Shot, in turn, was the sire of Peace Chance, winner in 1934, but two years prior to that Chatterton leading sire of 1932, a son of Fair Play, added another score for that line with the victory of Faireno. Man o War became the leading sire of this country in 1926 and, like Australian and Fair Play before him, he was to add another trio to the Belmont Stakes roster in American Flag 1925, Chusader 1926 and, after a long lapse, War Admiral 1937 . In this column we have simply endeavored to sketch the highlights of the Fair Play line in its relation to the Belmont Stakes, but when the full facts are taken into consideration it is a tribute to the male line of that great horse who met defeat at the heels of Colin in the Belmont Stakes of 1908. The Fair Play line has not been prominent in the Belmont Stakes since War Admiral won in 1937. Nor are they likely to be in tomorrows running. To date Assault has been winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and at the moment he must be highly respected for the third leg of the "Triple Crown." Assaults sire, Bold Venture, was an American-bred, but he was by the imported horse St. Germans out of Possible, by Ultimus. His closest rival is Lord Boswell, who ran third in the Kentucky Derby, but a very close second in the Preakness. Lord Boswell is a son of imported Bosworth. Like Bold Venture, Lord Boswell is a colt by a horse brought from the other side, but out of an American mare, Flying Gal, by Sir Gallahad III. Horses by imported sires have been prominent down through the years. It was in 1930 that Gallant Fox, a son of Sir Gallahad III., became a "Triple Crown" winner by taking the Belmont, and then, when sent to stud, he sired two Belmont winners in Omaha 1935 and Granville 1936.
