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JUDGES S T A N D by charles hatton WASHINGTON PARK, Home-wood, HI., Aug. 19. All the talk here on the Homewood prairie is of Native Dancer, Eddie Arcaro, and the upcoming American. Derby. The Dancer profoundly impressed Chicagoans in the Classic, and it is perfectly clear from the slightly moonstruck comments on his prowess, he and "Plain Eddie" are going to be the most prohibitive sort of favorites when they combine their talents Saturday. The Sagamorean is said to have, created eight minus pools. You can imagine the hilarity among iconoclastic Jong-shot players were Arcaro to be beaten on him. But .for 10 per cent of a 00,000 stake and the opportunity also of going on record as the pilot of a colt who has won 17 of 18 starts, any jockey would gladly chance it. The Vanderbilt colt is "a pleasure to ride," Eric Guerin has observed, and after all, Arcaro is only too well acquainted with his habit of loafing. This seems his only trick, apart from winning races, and he ran on generously in his two latest sallies, the Classic and Travers. Meanwhile, Ben Lindheimer is setting the stage to accommodate a throng of near record proportions, one that may compare with Washington Parks Labor Day crowds. Native Dancer attracted Arlingtons second largest attendance for the Classic, and last week end gave Saratoga the greatest crowd in the history of the old Civil War course. It is understood the American Derby will be on TV nationally, as the Classic was, except for the immediate Chicago area. The course this week end becomes the focal point of interest for turf enthusiasts from coast to coast. And Tom Fool may give it such precedence again during this meeting, for he is expected to be shipped on for the 00,-000 Washington Park Handicap. AAA The American- Derby is not the richest race of the Turf Worlds Attention Focused on Chicago Highlights of the American Derby History Shut Out Attracts International Attention Pjincess Pat Looms As Battle Royal Chicago season, but it long has lield a special place in the affections of turfgoers out here on the Boule Miche. They love its fine old traditions, and perhaps a word or two about its history would not be amiss. The first winner, in 1884, at Washington Park, was Ed Corrigans filly Modesty, who was ridden by Isaac Murphy, the "Colored Archer." She was a chestnut with a blaze and at stud was the granddam of Regret, who had the same color and markings, and became forever famous as "the only filly to win the Kentucky Derby." Modestys likeness embellishes Washington Parks printed matter, and, incidentally, Mrs. Ben Lindheimer has hooked a rug of beautiful craf tmanship adapted from the original painting of Modesty for their cottage at the track here. There now are racing many descendants of Modesty and Regret, including all the First Fiddles, and it will be quite a good story if one day one of them wins the Derby. Then there was the 1887 renewal, in which the picturesque "White Hat" McCarty is said to have brought off a remarkable coup when an unlikely animal called C. H. Todd beat Miss Ford. Literally miles of copy have been written of the Derby of 1893, the race in which "Snapper" Garrison and Boundless kept the field at the post about an hour and a half, while the starter fined him repeatedly for breaking up his attempts at a start. With each fine, Garrison dismounted leisurely to note it on his saddle, while rival entrants fretted impatiently with their weight up. He literally worried them out of it. Then there was" the revival running in 1926. This was the first 00,000 Derby and Boot to Boot won a check that turned out to be rubberized. These and other rather romantic high- lights have made the American Derby one of the most colorful turf events on the entire calendar. And it may be Saturdays renewal will provide another of the more memorable chapters in its history. AAA Greentrees stallion Shut Out, sire of the American Derby winner, Hall of Fame, is attracting attention on both sides of the Atlantic this season. He may have sired the 1953 champion two-year-old filly for George Wide-ner in Evening Out, who won the recent Schuylerville with such authority. And he is represented in English two-year-olds racing by Robert Sterling Clarks Blow Wind Blow, winner of five consecutive races. Blow Wind Blow was, of course, bred in the Blue Grass. Bert Mul-holland showed us Evening Out during Belmont and while the veteran is much too experienced to make any boasts in her behalf, or any other horses for that matter, it was perfectly clear he like her. As he observed, "There is much Equipoise about her, and she is determined." Her knees are a trifle open, but have not been a source of trouble up to now, and she may go on being the best eastern filly. AAA The Midlands has developed several lively two-year-old fillies in Miz Clementine, Queen Hopeful, Greek Lady and Beanir. Except that Queen Hopeful was a mere nose before Miz Clementine, with Beanir close by in the Lassie, and Greek Lady gained a tie with Queen Hopeful in the Mademoiselle, and it is difficult to believe so many fillies can be actually outstanding. Usually a standout wins in Continued on Page Thirty-Nine JUDGES STAND 5 By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty-Fight Evening Outs bloodless fashion. But then the local fillies compensate for the absence of a youngster of superior quality by pro- ! viding some very spirited entertainment, j and what are called "good betting races." , The Princess Pat is next of Washington , Parks important two-year-old filly events, ; and in the present indicative Miz Clemen- 1 tine, unable to appear for the Mademoi- ; selle, will again have to be dealt with in this six furlongs. The Princess Pat is to be decided on August 26. With an added value of 0,000, it is one of the races which warrant the high market price for desirable . yearling fillies. We expect that later in the season the smartest of the youngster shown out here will meet the easterners in such events as the Matron, Selima, Demoiselle and Marguerite. A A A Turf ana: Armageddon, who exhibited good turf course form at Arlington, is to appear in Atlantic Citys Boardwalk Saturday. . . . Randall has valet parking. . . . New Jersey makes the mistake of barring children under 16 from the tracks. . . . What, price Godfreys yearling does not turn up on his TV show? Oh Leo appeared on TV programs in New Orleans. . . . The weight spread in the American Derby is 14 pounds, beginning with The Dancers 128. . . . Royal Serene.de is said to have cost the equivalent of 9,500.
