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REFLECTIONS By Nelson Ounstan Belmont Stakes One of Worlds Top Races Needlessly Called Americas Epsom Derby Fair Play Line Made Belmont History Citation May Add Bull Lea to Sire List ListNEW NEW YORK N Y June 9 9The The Belmont Stakes which will be run for the eightieth time on Saturday is now one of the most important stake events staged throughout the world It has become a hall mark of quality for many of our champion three yearolds have joined its everglowing roster and many of those champions have gone on to be leading sires in this country Down through the years it has had very little help in the way of advertising and publicity for the owners of the beautiful Long Island race course have never been what is commonly known as publicity minded Here in America we deeply resent the English for their Jersey Act but for some reason or other we constantly stress the importance of British thoroughbred racing and breeding Just one of the ways in which this is done is to compare the Belmont Stakes with the Epsom Derby for seldom is there a renewal of the Belmont in which the public is not again re ¬ minded the Belmont Stakes is the only American Triple Crown race which coincides with the Epsom Derby They are both at one and onehalf miles Beyond this similarity of distance there is actually little that the two events have in common It is true that an Epsom Derby winner is highly prized and sought after in this country but it is also true that by test a Belmont Stakes winner is just as likely to become a great success in stud as one who wins the socalled English counterpart counterpartInaugurated Inaugurated in 1867 thus older than the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness the Belmont Stakes has enough tradition and sufficient famous winners to stand on its own record without constant repetition of the fact that it is Americas Epsom Derby Like all American events it was of humble origin for Ruthless who was one of the Barbarous Battalion earned but 1850 in winning the first running in 1867 In fact not until 1900 when Ildrim was the winner did it pay over 10000 that horse earn ¬ ing 14790 But in those early years there were many mighties of the early American turf on the winning bead roll and to mention just a few Harry Bassett Duke of Magenta Hanover Henry of Navarre Hastings and in 1899 Jean Bereaud With the name of Hastings who was the winner in 1896 we reach one of the most important chapters of the American turf Bastings sire was Spend ¬ thrift while his grandsire was Australian who was actu ¬ ally the first of the Fair Play line in this country and there is no male line which has so thoroughly pointed out that the Belmont Stakes is an American event than this Fair Play line even though it like most other lines was of English origin originFair Fair Play the son of Hastings was foaled in 1905 and in 1908 he was beaten by the undefeated Colin in one of the most colorful renewals of the Belmont Stakes On that day the fog over the Belmont course was so thick that it was impossible to take the time of the race Colin came very close to defeat on that day for easing up at what he thought was the finish line Joe Notter suddenly realized his mistake and droye with whip and heel to stave off the rush of Fair Play When Fair Play went to stud he became one of the greatest of American sires and also of Belmont Stake winners In 1920 the Belmont winner was Man o War by Fair Play 1924 Mad Play by Fair Play 1925 American Flag by Man o War 1926 Crusader by Man o War 1927 Chance Shot by Fair Play 1932 Faireno by Chatter ton who was by Fair Play 1934 Peace Chance by Chance Shot and in 1937 War Admiral a son of Man o War ran one of the most brilliant Belmont renewals since the race was inaugu ¬ rated His time for the one and onehalf miles was 228 a record that stood until 1943 when Count Fleet was the winner in 22813 22813The The only authentic record of Americas leading sires dates back to 1860 It was in 1861 that Lexington became the leading sire and then held that position until 1874 or for 14 years which is a feat never accomplished before or since in any country Lexington came on the scene too early to compete in the Belmont Stakes but he was repre ¬ sented by the four winners General Duke 1868 King ¬ fisher 1870 Harry Bassett 1871 and Duke of Magenta 1878 The first winner of the Belmont Stakes to become the leading stallion of this country was Hanover who won the renewal of 1887 and then went on to lead the sires for the four years from 1895 to 1898 inclusive Hanover was one of the greatest racers this country ever produced and also one of its greatest sires Still others who won the Belmont Stakes and went on to be the premier sire of the land were Sir Dixon Commando Sweep and Man o War Some of these horses have left their indelible imprint on the thoroughbred production in this country For a time it looked as if the line of Man o War was to die with him but it was in 1937 that his son War Admiral won the Belmont and then in 1945 that War Admiral joined the list of leading sires siresSince Since 1937 when War Admiral was the winner no member of the Fair Play line has graced the Belmont Stakes beadroll During the past quarter century many foreign stallions have been brought to this country and both they and their sons have sired the winners of many of our most important races Whirl away who won the Belmont in 1941 is by Blenheim II and in 1945 the winner was Pavot who is by Case Ace a son of Teddy Bull Lea who is by Bull Dog another son of Teddy was the leading sire in this country last year but he has yet to send a son to the winners circle in the Belmont Stakes His chances seem very bright this year for he will be represented by Cita ¬ tion the Calumet colt who has won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Should there by an upset in this race which is the third leg of the Triple Crown it may be scored by Escadru the chestnut colt by Challenger H who won the Peter Pan Handicap last Saturday Challenger II like Bull Lea is on the leading sires lit for in 1939 he was the premier sire of this country But as fn the case of Bull Lea he has yet to sire a winner of the Belmont There will probably be a few others in this years renewal but from all indications Citation will be a topheavy favorite and Escadru the second choice
