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. j I j : | : ; REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-Eight Phar Lap, whom he considered the greatest racer the world has even known. AAA There can be no doubt that photography and the use of the calibrated board gives us far better measurements of a stride than was the case in the days of Man o War. If Native Dancer actually strides 29 feet, it is some five feet longer than that of the average thoroughbred. One has only to look at Native Dancers powerful hind leg muscles to realize that he has terrific driving power, and that is probably part of the reason for his winning 11 straight races before his defeat in the Kentucky Derby. While reams have been written about his pedigree and the fact that is was "suspect" so far as stamina was concerned, the Kentucky Derby was a feather in his cap in that he negotiated one and one-quarter miles at top speed, and was closing like a bullet on Dark Star. Life Magazine footnotes say: "In another of his huge strides he might have won." If Life made that two or three strides, we would be inclined to agree. But the fact remains that there is a finish pole, and the race ended right there. Eric Guerin gave some people a belly laugh when, after the race, he was credited with saying: "I dont think my horse liked the track." Imagine a horse running one and one -quarter miles like a wild horse, to be beaten a head in 2:02 not liking the track? Regardless of all that, Native Dancer does have a tremendous ground-devouring stride.
