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REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 21.— The Preakness was virtually "no contest," for when a horse takes command, as Bold did,, to win by seven lengths, he. towers over his rivals In all the welter of talk about the "muddled" standing of the three-year-olds, one truth stands out, andtthat is we have a good three-year-old who is going to make his presence felt in the important events still to be rim — and there are many of them. The Preakness result demonstrated the popularity of the Brookmeade Stable, for, as we left Pimlico, many people stopped us to say, "A finer outfit couldnt have won it." No horse could argue with Bold on Saturday. The Brookmeade Stable is indeed one of the bulwarks of the American turf. Another point that impressed us, was that despite the comparatively small crowd of 24,863, it was Marylands own race. The vast majority of those present were natives of the Old Line State. With New Jersey and Delaware racing in her hair, Maryland has had a rather tough time in the present-day racing picture. But the Preakness has an appeal for the people of Maryland that even the Kentucky Derby, before it, and the Belmont Stakes, after it, cannot surpass. Bold was the winner, and so too was the Brookmeade Stable and also the grand little State of Maryland. The Black-Eyed Susans of the winners wreath were painted dandelions, but there was nothing phony about the Marylanders reaction to their greatest horse race. AAA Virginia also played a conspicuous part in the Preakness outcome. Last year, Hill Prince, a Virginia-bred, Bolds Preakness Victory Proved His Class Virginia-Breds Score Rare Preakness Double Where Do Three-Year-Olds Go From Preakness? Del mans Oaks Filly, How, Class-of Sex, Age was the winner of the Preakness over the Derby winner, Middleground, and Bold came right back to duplicate the performance of the Chenery colt. Hill Prince won the Preakness as an odds-on favorite, while Bold was the third choice. Repetoire. was undobutedly the sentimental favorite, but he stopped to finish last when his early bid availed him nothing. Bold was actualy winning his first stake, for he was disqualified when he won the Endurance Handicap at at Bowie last fall. Bold was foaled at Mrs. Isabel Sloanes Brookmeade farm at Upperville, Va. Counterpoint, who was second to Bold, is another feattier in the cap of Count Fleet, who came into great prominence this year with the feats of Count Turf and County Delight, but Bold also brings to the fore his sir6, By Jimminy, who was the champion three-year-old of 1944. the year in which he defeated Old Kentuck and, of all things, a horse named Nelson Dunstau. AAA Now that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness are history the question is, "Where do the sophomores go from here?" There are some rich races in the next two weeks, but the big objective, of tourse, is the Belmont Stakes, at one and one-half miles, on June 16. Two weeks before the running of the Derby we made the guess that like 1947, when Jet Pilot won the Derby, Faultless took the Preakness and Phalanx the Belmont, this could be a year when three different horses could win the "Triple Crown" events. No less than 91 three-year-olds were nominated for the Belmont on January 15, when entries closed. But there were many who did not start in the Derby nor in the Preakness. While virtually every three-year-old of prominence was made eligible for the Belmont, the status of a large number has not been definitely settled. This list includes Battlefield, Uncle Miltie, To Market, Jumbo, Battle Morn, The Battler, Bugle-drums, Away Away, Lord Putnam, Roughn Tumble and others who could inject themselves into the three-year-old picture. Even after the running of the Belmont, the three-year-olds will have a long way to go and the ratings could undergo quite a change before the American Derby at Washington Park, the Travers at Saratoga and the Lawrence Realization on Long Island. Up to now the three-year-olds have had a field day in beating one another and they may continue to do so, making it a difficult season to select a champion in November. Only time will tell. AAA Before the Belmont Stakes is contested, three-year-old fillies will have their innings in the Acorn at Belmont on May 23 and in the 0,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on June 2. The filly ranks have a much more definite contender for honors than the iblts have in Herman •Delmans How. This daughter of Princequillo was an impressive winner of the Kentucky Oaks. The day before the running of the Derby, Delman and Horatio Luro, the trainer, debated whether they would scratch How from the Oaks as she had developed quite a fever earlier in the week. In the Oaks she defeated many of the better Continued on Page Thirty-Five REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-Four fillies in the country and she did it in such a manner that she strikes us as the one to beat in the Acorn, if she goes. But more so in the Coaching Club American Oaks, for which she is being pointed. The Coaching Club, at a mile and three furlongs, suits her perfectly and a victory would point her out for filly honors of the 1951 season. Thoroughly game, she impressed this writer and many others, by the easy manner in which she drew away from so many who were considered the class of that age and sex. ▲ ▲ A Starter George Cassidy is of the opinion that the new strip-webbing being used these afternoons at Belmont Park to start the steeplechase and hurdle races will do until something better comes along. Cassidy did not grope for superlatives in singing the praises of the latest gadget but was quick to admit vthat as soon as the jumpers get accustomed to it, centerfield starts are going to be a lot better. The new device is an extremely elastic strand fastened to a steel rod or pole placed in the ground and held by an assistant starter at the starting line. When Cassidy, from his vantage point a few feet in front of the line drops the flag, his assistants lets go the strand and the field is on its way. The assistant starters are enthusiastic about the new webbing, claiming that horses are attracted to it and as a consequence do less lunging, which heretofor has been a plague to the boys who make their living wrestling horses into position. As might be. expected, there was some complaints, by a few owners and trainers of jumpers, but Cassidy is used, to this and took the beefs in stride. Strange to say, the majority of the jockeys who broke from behind it were quick to let Cassidy know that it was all right. On a recent afternoon, Ashley Cole, chairman of the New ITork State Racing Commission, went into the centerfield, accompanied by the commission secretary, Harry Millar, for the purpose of observing the new device under actual racing conditions. Cole asked a lot of questions, and from his manner he would hazard a guess that commission approval of the new steeplechase starting barrier will be forthcoming.
