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JOHN B. CAMPBELL — Racing secretary at all New York tracks, picks best of Belmont Stakes winners whom he has I seen. ► ; Campbell Rates Citation Best Of All Belmont Stakes Winners Also Classifies Whirlaway, Assault and Count Fleet as Tops Among Those Hes Seen BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 6. — John B. Campbell, racing secretary and handicapper for The Jockey Club, is generally conceded the palm as the most astute of present-day students of thoroughbred form. The New Orleans veterans opinion of the Belmont Stakes winners he has seen, is clear and concise, with Citation being rated the best. Campbell says that he never saw a race at Belmont Park until he became racing secretary of the New York tracks in 1935, with one exception. That was Mokatams Suburban in 1931. Campbell has an especial reason for recalling that handicap. "I motored down with 6 to bet. There were five horses in the Suburban that year and I bet my 6 on Audley Farms horse, Gallant Knight, I guess it was." Campbell chuckled. "He got left at the post." Though Campbell has only seen the renewals of the Belmont Stakes since 1935, j when Omaha, whom he considers a "good," but not great horse, the man with the mighty pencil saw many of the other, classic winners when they triumphed in other stakes at other tracks. He particularly remembers the Preaknesses won by Sir Barton and Man OWar, but you get the impression that while Campbell will accord them both greatness, they do not pass Cir tation in his esteem. Campbell recalls Harry Payne Whitneys Johren, a son of Spearmint, who won the Belmont in 1918 as one of the best. "Johren was one of the best distance horses I ever saw," he says. "I believe the Latonia Derby was the best race I ever saw him run." Didnt See Gallant Fox The veteran had now opened his copy of The American Racing Manual to the pages detailing the history of the Belmont. "Crusader was a good one," he mused. "I didnt see Gallant Fox and I never thought that Twenty Grand was the horse he was cracked up to be." Passing over War Admiral without comment, Campbell came to Whirlway, then added Count Fleet, Assault and Citation. "I think those four were the four best winners of Belmonts that I saw," Campbell said,, adding, "Count Fleet stopped there, while Citation went on. And I dont think Whirlaway can be classed with Assault. His race at Jamaica Butler Handicap 1947 was as fine a performance as I have ever seen." "If you consider Assault a great horse, then you probably wouldnt, shrink from using that word about Spartan Valor, since you asked him to carry more weight in the Suburban," is was suggested. • "I certainly wouldnt," Campbell said. "Spartan Valor has done great things. Why shouldnt he be called great?" Leaving Campbells office, you stop in the scale room, where jockey Dave Gorman is sitting out a race. The conversation turns, as it readily does when Gorman is involved, to Counterpoint, winner of last years Belmont Stakes. "You know Veitch says hes the best horse he ever trained, and I guess hes the best horse Ill ever ride," Gorman said. Then he added, "People dont give Counterpoint the credit he deserves, but I dont think any three-year-old ever did any more than he did last year." Like the Arab, ypu silently folded your copy paper and stole away, not having the heart to remark that John B. Campbell had not mentioned Counterpoint in his review pf past Belmont winners.
