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BETWEEN RACES By Oscar Ot/s PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 16.— Last year this writer brought to light a considerable amount of new material concerning the horse Preakness, for whom tomorrows classic here is named, and perhaps the high point of that research was to disclose that the world-wide indignation which followed his shooting by the Duke of Hamilton in England because the horse became savage in the stud, had a direct bearing on a movement that led to more humane treatment for horses everywhere. Further investigation reveals that Preakness became a champion the hard way, had his ups and downs in the fortunes of the turf, which was perhaps a harbinger of things to come in the race named after him. For, like the horse, the Preakness Stakes has seen its bad times and its good. For its first 17 years, the Preakness seemed -to be attached to a rising star, and it was a magnet for the thoroughbred greats of the era. But, in 1889, it became necessary for the Maryland Jockey Club to cancel racing entirely, and to this day Marylanders pay tribute to the steeplechase set for keeping racing alive until the sport could be restored to its rightful prestige in 1909. Upon the revival of the Preakness on its home ground, it remained "just another race" until 1918, when a remarkable sequence of events lifted it to its present prestige, a prestige which has been enriched from year to year since. In 1918, the race was split, with War Cloud and Jack Hare winning their respective divisions. In 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse to win the "Triple Crown," and, in 1920, Man o War blazed to victory in the initial race of his three-year-old campaign, a campaign which, subsequently saw him win, in rapid order, the Withers, Belmont, Stuyvesant Handicap, Dwyer* Miller, Travers, Lawrence Realization, Jockey Club, Potomac Handicap and Kenilworth Gold Cup. AAA The day when racing started to be transformed from the sport of kings into the sport of the masses might be reckoned without too much argument from- the 1920 Preakness. It is certain that Man o War did much to fire the imagination of the American public in the thoroughbred and Preakness Called a Cart Horse Classic Has Had Ups and Downs Man o War Won 1920 Renewal Little Items on Maryland Race in thoroughbred racing. The changes in rules in the format of racing have been much more marked, and in favor of the public, in the 32 years since Man o War than occurred in perhaps a hundred before: Be that as it may, Preakness did not start as a two-year-old, and made his first ap* pearance under silks in the Dinner Party Stakes in Baltimore in 1870, his appearance occasioning a great deal of comment, most of it adverse. People impolitely asked his owner, M. H. Sanford, point blank if "he expected to beat Foster with a cart horse." Preakness was an enormous colt, but people who called him a cart horse did not know that the family of his dam, Bayleaf, were generally inclined to race best When high in flesh. The track was fetlock deep in mud and the "cart horse" not only seemed at home, in the going but beat his field handily, Foster finishing third. Preakness later displayed an ability to pack weight, winning the Baltimore cup at eight with 131. AAA The Preakness upset in the Dinner Party Stakes also established a precedent for the race until the modern Preakness came into being in 1918. From 1873 through 1917, only four public choices were able to score. In the last 32 years/ some 17, or just over half, have returned to the, charmed circle. The records since 1920 would bear out the claim that the Preakness is just as important as both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont as a crucible for the testing of blood worth transmitting throughout America, for some horses who, for one reason or another, were forced to miss the Derby, have done a great deal to enrich and improve the American thoroughbred line. Once again, Man o War set a precedent in this respect. It is also true that the record of the "Triple Crown" winners at stud has been impressive, for two, War Admiral and Count Fleet became leaders, Sir Barton and Gallant Fox were more than acceptable, Whirlaway was not a sensation and was sent to France, while Omaha and Assault were mediocre, the latter proving near sterile. The jury is still out on the other "Triple Crown" winner, Citation, but judgment can be made here only in 1955 and ►1956. We always reserve final judgment on a sire until his offspring have had a chance at three. However, Calumet Farms Paul Ebelhardt is optimistic enough about Citation, and if the demand for services be taken as a criterion, so are all other breeders in the United States. AAA Little items about a big race the Preakness: Citation is the only supplemental nominee to win the Preakness. . .General Milton A. Reckord, president of Pimlico, is staging his second Preakness for the American racing public, and voices the hope that there always will be a Pimlico and that the Preakness will remain its constant star of destiny. . .Pre-Preakness traditional activity remained much the same, with the annual meeting of the Maryland breeders, the yearling show on the lawn in front of the old clubhouse, but the "Back Again" Purse, for yearlings shown the previous year, had to be called off, and will be run this fall. . .Directors of Pimlico will consider the suggestion that because business is up this spring, the value of the classic be restored to 00,000 added. This would bring it in line, momentarily, with the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont. AAA Bill Corum, president of Churchill Downs, will see the race from the press box in his old role as working sports writer... The California horse, Arroz, is not named for the Belmont, unfortunately, as he seems like a true cup horse, and regardless of the outcome of the Preakness, ships Monday to California to point for the Westerner, Gold Cup, and Sunset at Hollywood Park. . . .One of the best human interest stories of this years Preakness concerns 18-year-old, 196-pound Ivan Puhich, of Seattle, who hitch-hiked here from California to get a job as hot walker for Arrozs trainer, Wally Dunn. If Arroz wins, he will get a stake whicli will help him on one of the most bizarre careers we have ever heard of , combination of a horseman in the morning, prize fighter of an evening. Puhich, only recently discharged from the Marines, fought some 22 bouts in the service, including eliminations in the all-Navy championships. He is not a green pea with horses, either, having grown up near Longacres and walked hots there before entering the service. . .It has become traditional with the Baltimore* dailies to remark that prices are not raised here during Preakness week.
