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Joe Hotter Who Piloted Colin to Win In 1908 Belmont to See Todays Race Son of Commando Came On Again to Whip King James In Thrilling Stretch Duel BELMONT PARK Elmont L I N Y June 11 Joe Notter now well past middle age is a short round grayhaired indi ¬ vidual This weekend he will be an in ¬ terested spectator as the field parades postward for the Belmont Stakes Notter in his more youthful days was considered one of Americas better jockeys and he rode the unbeaten Colin then racing for James R Keene to victory in the same stake in 1908 Notter will remember that race until his dying day and to the vet ¬ erans of the turf who witnessed the thrill ¬ ing stretch battle through the driving rain and murky mist when Colin came on again through the ankledeep slop to dispose of King James in the last few strides it will remain one of the greatest of all finishes Colin was not a sound horse at the time of the Belmont believe it or not he was bowed At the direct demand of James R Keene trainer Jimmy Rowe started the son of Commando and Pastorella PastorellaContrary Contrary to most commentators Notter declares that when Colin got to the front a furlong from the finish he pulled him ¬ self up and only when the whip was ap ¬ plied and horses were alongside of him did he again settle to his task Most ob ¬ servers said Notter misjudged the finish line The Belmont Stakes at that time did not finish at the winning post used for other races but a sixteenth of a mile beyond The races were run the English way or clockwise the reverse of the pres ¬ ent custom customWhen When Notter returned to the winning circle the applause that usually greets such a winner was lacking The crowd sheltered under the stands and clear of the driving rain voiced their appreciation in a more silent way Colin was held at odds on in the wagering and due to the murki ness it was impossible to distinguish the start or make out the colors as the field sloshed through the going A head back of Colin at the finish was Fair Play the sire of Man o War WarTrainer Trainer Louis Feustel and Joe Notter friends over the years have had many dis ¬ cussions over the relative merits of the two colts but Notter to this day insists that Colin could have whipped Man o War as a twoyearold or a three yearold and maintains that opinion against the almost engulfing weight of opposition Notters opinion as to the merits of the two colts is also shared by many horsemen who saw both colts when at their prime primeColin Colin started once more after the Bel ¬ mont when he took down the Tidal Sfakes at Sheepshead Bay He raced the mile and onequarter of that race in 04 win ¬ ning easily by two lengths with Notter looking back for his contention and re ¬ tired the only unbeaten colt of class in American turf history 15 for 15
