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REFLECTIONS by nelson dunst an BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 10. That long-asked question, "Who will be the first to run the four-minute mile?" was answered last week when the long-striding young Britisher, Roger Gilbert Bannister, did it in 3:59. Year after year, we hear the same question concerning various thoroughbred records. Naturally the distance of one comes in for plenty of discussion and also the mile and a quarter. Back in 1913, Whisk Broom II. won the one-mile Metropolitan Handicap, to be renewed this Saturday, in 1:39, and later in the Suburban Handicap he ran the longer distance in 2:00 flat, establishing a disputed record that stood for many years. He carried 139 pounds and it was maintained that no horse could ever run that fast. When it was placed on the record books, it was widely predicted that such time would never be heard again. But the old saying that "records are made to be broken is a true one, for in 1950 Citation hung up the present American record of 1:33 for one mile and the same year Noor ran one and one-quarter miles in 1:58. These two records were made at the lightning-fast track, Golden Gate Fields in California, so the records have been whittled down by full seconds. On Saturday, over a sloppy track at Belmont Park, Jet Action was clocked in 1:36 in the Withers Mile, and we will wager that the distance will be run even faster in the Metropolitan on the week end. A year ago, Tom Fool defeated Royal Vale and Intent in the Metropolitan in 1:35. AAA Since his victory at Belmont last Friday, Native Dancer again becomes the most-discussed horse in the country. John B. Campbell has released the weights for the Metropolitan Handicap, and it was a foregone con- Metropolitan Attracts Handicap Stars Dancer Named for Hollywood Gold Cup Maine Chance Has Promising Juveniles Good-Sized Field Likely in Preakness Stakes elusion that the Vanderbilt champion would be the high weight at 130 pounds. Among those likely to oppose him are Royal Vale, who is working very well, and Straight Face, who won the Dixie at Pimlico last week end. There is still a. question whether the great champion will be sent to England for the King Georve VI. and . Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 17. Alfred G. Vanderbilt had nominated his horse for the 00,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, which will be run on the same day as the Ascot event. No less than 84 horses, including Determine and Correlation, were named for the Gold Cup at the California track, and, needless to say, the gray horse would be a great attraction if he were shipped west. No less than 22 foreign-bred horses were nominated for the Gold Cup, so it will have an international aspect. .AAA The schedule of Native Dancer is one of the absorbing turf questions of the day. After winning last Friday, he was fourth on the money-winning list with 53,670. The only horses leading him are Citation, Stymie and the Calumet gelding, Armed. As he needs but 46,330, it is likely he will become the second horse in history to pass the ,000,000 mark in earnings. If he remains sound and is not assigned crushing weights by the handicappers, it seems certain that he can accomplish the feat. In just seven of the races for which he has been nominated he will be shooting for over 00,000. They are the Metropolitan, Suburban, Brooklyn and Arlington handicaps, the Hollywood Gold Cup and Washington Park Handicap, and it is safe to say he will be named for The Jockey Club Gold Cup in the fall. There is every reason to believe that the Vanderbilt champion will be retired to the stud after this year and breeders will be anxious to send their best mares to his court. Few horses have gripped the interest of American racing fans as this one has, and his reputation will soar to new high levels if he is retired as the handicap champion of the year. AAA Mrs. Elizabeth Grahams Maine Chance Farm is expected to be powerful in this years racing. On Saturday, her new trainer, E. A. Neloy, saddled Fantine Busher to win the third race at four and one-half furlongs and then came right back in the fourth with Jet Action, who beat Buttevant and High Gun in the Withers. Fantine Busher was very impressive but, as is often the case, trainers tell us Maine Chance has better ones in the barn. The stable has a large string of youngsters, for it has nominated 14 fillies and 11 colts for the two divisions of the National Stallion Stakes. Mrs. Graham has not been as f requehta buyer at Keeneland and Saratoga in late years as she was formerly and most of her colorbearers are homebreds. Fantine Busher is a daughter of Mr. Busher, while the three-year-old Jet Action is by the Kentucky Derby winner, Jet Pilot, out of War Admirals daughter, Busher, who was Horse of the Year in 1945. Jet Pilot has a full sister named Bush Pilot, who is eligible for the National Stallion on May 19. Jet Action is eligible ior the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. While he. will be meeting better company that he did in the Withers, he is well entitled to his chance for a place in the sophomore sun. In the Withers he was ridden by Con tr eras, and while he alternated in setting the pace, it was obvious Continued on. Page Thirty-Seven REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Fifty-Two that he was a notch or two above his opposition. AAA It was not surprising that Gigantic and Hasseyampa were supplementary nominations for the Preakness, which is to be run on May 22. As the supplementary entries do not close until tonight, it is possible that others may be named despite the ,500 fee. And despite the absence of some topnotchers, the Pimlico event promises to be a real good horse race. Charles Whit-tingham, trainer of Porterhouse, reports that his charge is recovering from his bruised foot and that he will probably return to racing within a week or two. He is a nominee for the Preakness, but a somewhat doubtful starter at present. Correlation is at Pimlico and for the moment he must also be classed as doubtful. Those who skip the Preakness are likely to point for the 5,000 Peter Pan Handicap, which will be at a mile and a furlong at Belmont Park on June 5. This race closed with 94 nominations and on the list are many of the best three-year-olds now in training. This event can be termed a test for the Belmont Stakes, which will be run on June 12 at one and one-half miles. Belmont officials call it "the test of the champion" and they are not far wrong in giving It that designation. More often than not it points out the top three-year-old. i
