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mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ■■■■Jfc-JM REFLECTIONS *y NELS0N dunstan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 25.— Native Dancers victory in the Preakness Stakes will go down in history as one of the most thrilling renewals of the event. At Louisville, in the Kentucky Derby, the son of Polynesian almost overtook Dark Star in a sensational stretch duel. At Pimlico, the surprising surprising Jamie Jamie K. K. almost almost overtook overtook ■■■■Jfc-JM surprising surprising Jamie Jamie K. K. almost almost overtook overtook Native Dancer, the "almost" being but a neck. Not since the War Admiral-Pompoon stretch battle in 1937 had a Pimlico throng been in such a state of excitement. With • four victories in the classic, Eddie Arcaro never rode more brilliantly than he did on the horse who was closing on the champion. On the train from Baltimore to New York after the race were groups of owners, trainers, jockeys and newspapermen. Naturally, the one subject of conversation was the race that had been run just a few hours before. In one group was the veteran trainer, John Partridge, and his missus, Eddie Arcaro and a few newspapermen. "I was astonished when you came on with Jamie K. and all but grabbed it from Native Dancer," one scribe said. "I wasnt," Arcaro retored, "for I knew I had a much improved horse, but my one regret is that I was forced to make my move sooner than I had planned." When rked what horses he thought would oppose Jamie K. in the Belmont Stakes, he answered: "I dont know, but if only Native Dancer and Jamie K. go to the post, it will be one whale of a horse race." And then he added grimly, "And dont sell Jamie K. short." AAA / "Eddie is right," John Partridge said. "Jamie K. is an improved horse and will continue to improve in future racing. Just before the Flamingo in Hialeah, he was taken sick and, although he ran third in the Florida Derby, he had not fully recovered when we brought him to Long Island. He is like a boy who is still in the awkward stage. Jamie K. Enters Three-Year-Old Reckoning He Will Improve Says Trainer Partridge Arcaro Not Surprised by His Performance Says Native Dancer Is Good But Not Great In no sense of the word is he a beauty in appearance, but he has size, fine driving power and is still developing. Some people consider Crowfoot, his sire, unfashionable, but I cannot agree with that. A fashionable horse is one of good pedigree and he is by Blue Larkspur, out of Ann Ern, by Bridge of Ern, and that is good breeding. A former mating of Crowfoot and Sea Elf, who was by Halcyon, resulted in Nell K. and she was not only a good stake winner, but justified the mating which produced Jamie K., who is a full brother to Nell K. I do not intend to start Jamie K. again until the Belmont Stakes and then, if all goes well, I will take him to Delaware for the Leonard Richards on June 20. I do not believe in overracing a good horse and with 10 races already under his belt, I plan to take him along very slowly. He is eligible for stakes here in the East, and also those in Chicago, but we will wait until after the Leonard Richards before planning further. In my opinion a horse should be limited to 18 or 20 races annually." AAA A few days before the running of the Wood Memorial, Arcaro made the statement that while Native Dancer was a good horse, he had yet to show that he reserved ranking with Man o War, Count Fleet or Citation. So, one of the newspapermen asked, "Have you changed your opinion?" The jockey answered: "No, I have not! Native Dancer is good — he is real good — but I am more convinced now that he is not a great horse. I did not see Man o War run, as he came along before my time, but his record speaks for itself." Through the years, Arcaro, sensibly, has refrained from commenting on horses he did not see race, but usually he limits himself to those that he rode and those that opposed his mounts. Johnny Longden, always maintained that Count Fleet was by far the best horse he ever rode, and Arcaro says the same for Citation. "While I did say that Native Dancer might later prove his right to an equal rating with those three great horses, I do not think his showing in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness has warranted a higher rating than that of a good horse. Citation could do things that Native Dancer cannot do. Just review the records of Man o War, Count Fleet and Citation and you will see that Native Dancer cannot be compared with them." AAA Taking only the Preakness, the records substantiate Arcaro s statement. Man o War did not start in the Kentucky Derby, but eight opposed him in the Preakness. Upset was punished all the way, but "Big Red," after being rushed to the front and setting his own pace, finished with plenty left in reserve with his opposition in Indian file up the track. Count Fleet won the Preakness by eight lengths in 1:57%, and Citation won by five and a half lengths in the slow time of 2:02%. But all three horses were in complete command of the situation, in contrast to the bitter struggle Native Dancer had on the week end. Partridge had been patiently listening and finally he said : "You fellows have not even mentioned the greatest of them all, and that was Exterminator." The trainer of Jamie K. has been on the race track for 60 years, and while he has seen the majority of the great horses, his enthusiasm for "Old Bones" is keen. "Exterminator was big and he was awkward, but he got the job done," continued Partridge. "Jamie K. will probably never be in his Continued on Page Thirty-Six REFLECTIONS By NE£sON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty class as a racer, but in his awkwardness and his powerful stride, he reminds me of the horse that I still believe was the greatest of them all." AAA A newspapperman said: "I suppose you will say that Jamie K. is the best horse you ever trained?" Thet rainer smiled and aswered: "No, indeed! I believe the best horse I ever trained was Burning Blaze who won the Eastern Shore Handicap and other races in 1931 and beat Burgoo King often enough to lead us to believe he would have won the Kentucky Derby in 1932 had he not been injured and withdrawn from the race. Colonel Bradley once wanted to bet 0,000 that Burgoo King could defeat Burning Blaze, but when Dick Nash and his brother, Pat Nash, asked that the wager be made 00,000, the deal fell through." As Partridge recited stories of his earlier days, one scribe remarked: "You must be well satisfied with your horse winning 5,000 second money in the Preakness?" The veteran -trainer smiled, and said: "I am very well satisfied — I can remember in years gone by when I would have been well satisfied to win 5 second money." Partridge has been around for a long time an during his career has trained many good horses. The Derby duel with Dark Star and Native Dancer added interest to the Preakness and now, the stretch battle between Native Dancer and Jamie K. in Saturdays Preakness has everyone wondering what will occur in the Belmont. "Lets wait and see," said Partridge.
