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14 JL REFLECTIONS *y NfLS0N °ws™n NEW YORK, N. Y.. May 13.Just 30 years ago, Sir Barton became the first horse in history to win the "Triple Crown" of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. In the 30 years that have elapsed, seven horses have joined the "Triple Crown" roster, and they were Gal lant Fox, Omaha. War Admiral, Whirlavay, Count Fleet, Assault and Citation. Other horses have won the Derby and Preakness and then failed in the Belmont, and on this list is Pensive, the sire of Ponder. The question that thousands are asking today is whether or not Ponder, the surprise winner of the Derby, can go on to win the Preakness and, in the doing, add the famous Woodlawn vase to the diamond-studded gold cup that went to Mr. and Mrs. Warren Wright for the Derby victory. The Preakness was inaugurated in 1873, two years before the inaugural running of the Kentucky Derby, but there have been lapses in the race just as there has been in the Belmont Stakes. Regardless of that, the Preakness is one of the most coveted three-year-old races staged in this country today, and a victory in this event enhances the value of a horse when he is retired from racing and goes to the farm for stud duty. Should Ponder be returned a winner tomorrow, his chances of becoming -he ninth "Triple Crown" winner would appear bright for, judging by his Derby effort, he seems to be well suited for a race such as the Belmont, which is at one and one-half miles. AAA Not so many years ago, owners of three-year-olds started their horses in the Derby, sent them to Baltimore for +he Preakness and then rested them until the running of the Belmont Stakes. The rapid expansion of the American turf has changed all that, so, before the m Belmont will be run on June 11, they will stage the 5,000 Withers at Suffolk Downs on May 27, the 0,000 Jersey Stakes at Garden State Park on May 28, the 5,000 Peter Pan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 4, and, on the day that the Belmont will be run, Delaware Park will stage the 5,000 Kent, which is also exclusively for three-year-olds. Regardless of what we may think of this years three-year-olds as a group, there will be many opportunities for them to earn rich purses, for Pensive Won Derby, Preakness — Can Ponder? Many Events for Three-Year-Olds Ahead Nell K. Qualifies for Coaching Club Promising Juveniles ir Belmont Park Events many weeks to come. For, even after the running of the Belmont and the Kent, there are such races as the 0,000 Shevlin at Aqueduct, the 0,000 Dwyer, also at Aqueduct, and, in July, there are quite a few 0,000 races awaiting members of this division. Olympia will be a starter in the one mile Withers, but whether he will go to Jersey for the one and one-quarter miles Jersey Stakes remains to be seen. AAA The Coaching Club American Oaks is one of the few races for three-year-old fillies which have a value of 0,000 run in this country. There is promise of a large field going to the post in this event on May 28, for, when the Acorn Stakes was run at Belmont Park on Wednesday, no less than 16 fought it out over the one mile route. Although the Acorn had 5,000 in added money, it is regarded as a forerunner to the Coaching Club, which is at a mile and three furlongs. While Myrtle Charm, the two-year-old filly champion of 1948, was not named for this race, the vast majority of the best three-year-old fillies are on the list, including the Calumet Farms Wistful, the daughter of Sun Again who now shapes up as one of the best of her sex and age. The Acorn was won by the Spring Hill Farms consistent miss, Nell K., who scored by half a length over the duPont filly Gaffery. The latter was the winner of the Selima last fall and also the Santa Susana Stakes at Santa Anita. She was a solid favorite for the Acorn and, -while closing fast, just failed to get up to win from Nell K. Lithe, who defeated Gaffery in a previous start, quit badly, and it is doubtful if she will trouble the top-notch fillies when the distance is lengthened out to a mile and three-sixteenths. AAA With each day now, large fields of two-year-olds are going to the post at all tracks now operating and, with what little there is to judge by, quite a few of them ap pear worthy of their chances in the stake events ahead. At Belmont, on Wednesday, a group of 16 went to the post in the fourth race, and Mrs. Vera S. Braggs Fox Time was an easy winner by three lengths. On the same day, at Garden State Park, the two-year-old filly race was won by William Helis Bridal Shower, a nicely bred miss who is by Beau Pere — Dark Channelle, by Sir Gal-lahad III. George D. Wideners Rare Perfume won the Fashion Stakes in :512/5, which is just three-fifth of a second off Algasirs world record. The two-year-olds will have their opportunity in the Juvenile at Belmont Park next Wednesday and, later in the Belmont meeting, the National Stallion Stakes, which will be run in two divisions, the fillies meeting at five furlongs on May 25, and then the colts, also at five furlongs, on June 4. Those events, along with the Bay State Kindergarten at Suffolk Downs, and the Rancocas Stakes and William Penn Stakes at Garden State Park, will start to clarify the juvenile devision for the more important stake events to come. AAA Despite protests from every section of the country, the United States Remount will pass out of existence very shortly, as the budget made no provision for a continuation of this branch of the Agriculture Department. The first sale of these horses will take place at the Fort Reno, Okla., Remount Station on May 25. At that time, 155 of the 300 saddle horses that were attached to the Remount service will be sold at public auction. The Fort Reno group includes the German horses that were captured by the American Army in 1946. Many of them, of course, are now well along in years and it is doubtful if they will bring any sizable bid while under the auctioneers hammer. Just a year ago, the polo horses at the United States Military Academy at West Point were sold and the polo players of the Army team were bitter at the prices obtained for them. These sales are practically an admission on the part of the Agriculture Department that the horse is no longer a vital instrument in warfare, even though some of the cavalry units are being kept intact. The United States Remount performed an invaluable service to the farmers of this country, and it is regrettable that the "powers-that-be" in Washington did not take this into consideration when the budget was prepared.
