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■■■■■■■■1™""™ REFLECTIONS *y NELS0N ounstan NEW YORK, N. Y.. May 11.— The Withers is the feature event at Belmont on the week end, and ever. though it is not one of the "Triple Crown" races, it fits h- perfectly wit*! those three classic events. Back in 1919, a maiden, Sir Barton, was to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and anu Belmont, jaeiiiiuiiu, and, um, for iw good guuu measure, uieaouie, ■■■■■■■■1™""™ and anu Belmont, jaeiiiiuiiu, and, um, for iw good guuu measure, uieaouie, he added the Withers to his score. The race is sandwiched between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, but since 1919 only two horses have been able to win all four events. They were Sir Barton in 1919 and Count Fleet in 1943. Native Dancer is a candidate for the weekend race, but Harry Guggenheim stated on the week end that Dark Star will skip the race and will meet the Vanderbilt champion for the second time in the Preakness, which is to be run at old Pimlico on May 23. Regardless of the outcome of the Baltimore event, this has been a season in which the three-year-olds have highlighted the sport, especially since the Vanderbilt colt was beaten by Dark Star in the Kentucky Derby. There have been all sorts of reactions to the race at Louisville, but the fact remains that Dark Star took the lead, set his own pace, and then staved off the stretch threat of the colt who has been compared with Man o War, Count Fleet and Citation. Native Dancer may yet come through to be the horse we all thought he might be, but the Pieakness should determine any question of supremacy between the two. AAA Jumping around the country, this writer has not been able to see many of the two-year-old races that have been staged to date. We did, however, see the Youthful at Jamaica. And on Wednesday the Juvenile Stakes will be run over the Widener course at five furlongs at Bel- Native Dancer Week-End Star in Withers Race With Dark Star Preakness Natural Juvenile Stakes to Advance Two-Year-Olds Royal Vale Best Invader Since Noor Arrived mont. Revolt, winner of the Youthful, impressed us as a very likely youngster, and he will be in the Juvenile, which is one of the oldest races run in the countiy and has produced some of the outstanding racers since 1874. On the roster are Sensation, Tremont, Broomstick, Try-ster, Blue Larkspur, Equipoise and, in more recent years, Sun Again and Lucky Draw. Last year, the winner was Fort Salonga. It was our misfortune to miss the Fashion at Belmont, in which Evening Out was the winner. There are so many two-year-olds that have yet to make their debut that it would be pure guessing to express any opinion on the mid-week feature at the Elmont course. The Juvenile will lead to the National Stallion for fillies on May 30 and then the colts on June 10. From all accounts, Evening Out was very impressive, but the racing at Saratoga and at Arlington Park is the best index on two-year-olds of the season. On some occasions we have seen several juveniles come along in the summer or the fall to upset the applecart in the baby division, such as Challedon, who did not make his appearance until late in the year. This could be, and probably will be, another year when each succeeding month will bring additional colts and fillies to be reckoned with. AAA It now appears that in Royal Vale we have another invader who, like Noor, is going to make a solid impression in American racing. This horse is in the capable hands of Jim Ryan, a believer in allowing a foreign racer time to find his legs before competing. In 1952. Royal Vale started seven time and was unable to win. In his eight starts this year he has visited the winners circle five times. He is now as much at home on our dirt tracks as he is on the grass courses, and, it will be recalled that in the Miami Beach Handicap last winter he equaled the North American record of 2:38% over a turf course for one and one-half miles. He then switched to a dirt course and won the Bowie Handicap. He then came to New York to defeat Cold Command, One Count and Crafty Admiral in the Gallant Fox Handicap. Last Saturday, under a rousing stretch ride by Jack Westrope, he turned back Cold Command and Crafty Admiral for the second straight time. Doing this he moved around horses at the top of the stretch to win by almost two lengths under stout restraint. How good he is remains to be seen, but he is a shot in the arm for the handicap division that is none too well furnished with name horses. AAA Possibly you noticed on the other day a photograph of Tony DeSpirito and Miss Doris Cristofore, the bride-to-be of the handsome Italian, who created a worlds record when he rode 390 winners last year. On the same page, however, was a resume of what the jockeys have accomplished nationally this year. Willies Shoemaker was far in front with 142 winners. Harold Keene was second with 96, and DeSpirito third with 87. Since then, Shoemaker has added to his fast-mounting total and it appears that he is the lad who may be the first to reach the remarkable total of 400 or more winners in one year. While Shoemaker is probably the most silent little man that has come into racing in recent years, he is also one of the most accomplished reinsmen. He continues the skill he displayed when he was a sensation along with Joe Culmone in the 1950 season. Shoemaker is one Continued on Page Forty REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-Four of the most natural race riders this writer has sefin. He goes along in his own quiet way, matching his skill against the best jockeys in the country. He continues to compile an amazing number of victories. After winning 388 races in 1950, he came through with 257 in 1951 for a two-year total of 645 against the record of 722 victories amassed by Walter Miller in 1906 and 1907. AAA Some jockeys have led the lists two years in succession, the roster including Vincent Powers, Ivan Parke, Johnny Adams and Johnny Longden, but none have been able to approach the mark established by Miller. DeSpirito smashed all marks for one season with 390, and to break Millers mark he must visit the winners circle 332 times this year. Regardless of his ability, he has a stern task awaiting him to register 245 more wins for the rest of this season. Shoemaker appears to be a dangerous rival for DeSpirito. He won 315 in 1952, and with 142 this season, has 255 to go for the rest of the year. He is competing with tougher riders than DeSpirito, who is confining his efforts to New England. We are talking here, of course, of the number of races won, for Eddie Arcaro has been the leading stakes rider for the last three years, and indications are he will be at the top of the list again this year. We have had many money riders through the years, but Arcaro has led the list seven times and has taken a long lead in this department this season. He created an all-time record in 1952 when his mounts earned ,172,404.
