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RE F L E C T I O MS by nelson dunstan SARATOGA, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Aug. 19. The longer this season goes the more it adds to the thought that fall racing must decide many of the questions that are now controversial. The other day a prominent racing official asked the question, "How, we wonder, will Native Dancer be considered among the past great horses of the American turf?" And then again the proposed meeting between the Vanderbilt champion and Greentrees Tom Fool is the number one question of the moment and although no official announcement has been made, it is still our opinion that they will meet in the Sysonby Mile at Belmont Park on September 26. The three-year-old championships are fairly well clarified, for with Native Dancer and Grecian Queen we appear to have the pair, although a defeat in the Alabama would cause a setback for the Whitaker miss. The Diana Handicap is being run here today and then they will clear the decks for the Alabama on August 26 and in which, at one and one-quarter miles, so many champions of their years have been pointed out with, of course, the Ladies Handicap and other fall events playing a definite part in the voting that comes later. Saratoga racing has been the medium of some small fields this season and although 32 were originally nominated, we doubt if many will come out to oppose Grecian Queen in the Alabama. This daughter of Heliopolis has a fine record to date and it is our opinion that she will move down to Long Island as the miss they will all have to defeat if they are to challenge her claim to the crown. AAA To get back to the question regarding Native Dancer, we believe it is still toojearly to pass on his final standing among the top horses of the American turf. He has still to match strides with older horses in weight-for-age .Fall Racing to Decide Championships Grecian Queen Sure Alabama Starter Is Native Dancer Equal of Former Greats? Porterhouse, Turn-to in Week-End Duel events, and while he stands out as one of the great three-year-olds of the century, we doubt if his final standing can be correctly judged until he engages such horses as Tom Fool, Royal Vale and still others of the older ranks. Years ago, a New York sports writer conducted a poll as to which were the 20 greatest horses of the American turf. It caused all kinds of controversy and especially so when Man oWar won by only one vote over Sysonby. Since those days there have been many horses to come up who would earn consideration on such a list. Two that immediately come to mind are Count Fleet and Citation. Many people are of the opinion that Tom Fool is one of the best handicap performers to be seen in many a year, and it is just a question how he will perform against the three-year-olds, who are generally supposed to have the best of it in fall racing at weight-lor-age. It maybe that when this season is over the hot stove league will go into session to bring the "20 greatest" list up to date and endeavor to thrash out whether Count Fleet, Citation, Native Dancer and Tom Fool are not entitled to listing. As horses of different periods cannot be compared, it is all a matter of opinion. But very interesting, nevertheless. AAA The eyes of the racing world will center on Chicago this Saturday as Native Dancer is now at Washington Park awaiting the running of the 00,000 American Derby. A victory in this race will send him far higher on the money-winning ladder. Jamie K., who gave the Vanderbilt champion a real race in the Preakness and Belmont, was beaten in Chicago on Monday and will not go postward in the Derby Saturday. Native Dancer has caught the fancy of the American people and due to television, has become one of the most popular horses of all time. Sir Mango, who finished second to the gray colt in the Arlington Classic, was the winner of Mondays race over Jamie K., and he now shapes up as one of the foremost opponents to Native Dancer on the week end. Mrs. T. M. Daniels Ace Destroyer, who defeated Jamie K. in his start previous to that of Monday, will also go to the post. Whether Native Dancer will return here for the Saratoga Cup on Friday, August 28, is very doubtful, and it is just our opinion he will be returned to Long Island to await either the Sysonby or the" Lawrence Realization. A A A As matters stand today, the two-year-olds must carry their rivalry over to the fall for the settlement of championships. Evening Out has been unbeaten in three starts and a victory in the Spinaway on Friday will send Mrs.NGeorge Wideners daughter of Shut Out to Long Island as the one they will all have to beat. It is our impression that the Hasty House horses will come East after the close of the Washington Park meeting at Chicago and Queen Hopeful now appears the only one standing in Evening Outs way of a clear-cut claim to the title. The same holds true of the colts for there has been such a severe coughing epidemic here that there are quite a few who will not show at their best until the sport moves downstate. Word comes from the West that Hasty Road, who is also owned by Hasty House Farms, is an exceptional youngster and that he will more than hold his own when he meets the eastern colts in the sectional rivalries that come with the fall season. Hasty Road is eligible for the Washington Park Futurity and that race Continued on Page Thirty-Nine REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-tight must be awaited, as a yardstick, for a victory would send him on from Chicago as the outstanding colt in the Midwest area. There are still others who will be invading New York and who are expected to scrap it out with those in the East. A Last Saturdays running of the Saratoga Special has caused no end of controversy insofar as the relative ability of Porterhouse and Turn-to is concerned. At the finish; Llangollen Farms Porterhouse was a length and a half in front of Turn-to and it struck, us that lie was the better colt of the pair. The disqualification followed, and, while the stewards saw enough to set back the Llangollen colt, it remains that another race between them is necessary to decide the issue. They will have two more opportunities to meet here for both are eligible- for the Grand Union Hotel Stakes at six furlongs this Saturday, and the Hopeful on August 29, the last Saturday of the meeting. While their meeting will highlight one or both stakes, there are still so many other high-class youngsters, now campaigning at Saratoga that the races cannot be conceded to them. Fisherman, Card Trick, Diving Board and many others have had to be withdrawn from previous events due to coughing and there is a question whether they will be ready for the two races immediately ahead. If not, they will have to be given consideration in the many two-year-old events on Long Island and in New Jersey. Add to them the many such as Summa Cum, who have yet to make their debuts.
