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Weighing in By Evan Shipmon BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. L, N. Y., May 13. Continuity is one of the great advantages that English and French rac- ing possess over our American turf. In this . country, due to reasons inherent in the structure of our society, colors rarely outlive their original claimants; consequently, the life of even the most important racing stables is all too short, and we take dispersals of such strings, for granted. Long ago, the names that may be described as founders of thoroughbred racing in this country such names as Ten Broek, Alexander, Lorillard, Welch, Keene and Belmont disappeared from our programs, while the fact that the interest of the Whitney and Vanderbilt families spans several generations is cause for remark, rather than being accepted as the normal state of affairs. AAA True, John Morris "all scarlet" silks are registered with The Jockey Club, the same that in post Civil War days decorated the "Barbarous Battalion" and so many other champions, but Morris activities are confined, these days, to. the management of Jamaica, no horse carrying the famous colors since he and the late George Bull raced Volitant some dozen years ago. Even older are the maroon silks of Howell Jacksons Maryland Stable, these belonging to the family since President Andrew Jackson raced horses back in the 1830s, but, in general, the founding, prosperity and demise of the American racing stable or breeding: establishment all take place within the space of, at most, two decades. How welcome Jbhen is the success this season of young William Woodward, Jr., bearer of one of Americas most distinguished names; the stable that he has inherited is not only showing us good stake winners here but can boast the present favorite for the Epsom Derby, the race that Woodwards father made many a brave attempt to win. A A A Ambler II., a Kentucky-bred son of the imported French sire, Ambiorix, out of the late chairman of The Jockey Clubs Alabama winner, Vienna, is the colt with American Turf Colors in Brief Span Few Families Keep Racing Traditions Dancers Foreign Trip Seen Sporting whom young Woodward has high hopes of capturing the "blue ribband of the turf," while Nashua by the fashionable imported English horse, Nasrullah, from the Johnstown mare, Segula is the local star of the stable conditioned by the veteran "Sunny ; Jim" Fitzsimmons. We are forced to rely on accounts from abroad to form any estimate of Ambler n., but Nashua, winner yesterday of the Juvenile Stakes here at Belmont in the fastest time shown for five furlongs anywhere this reason, -is so evidently a good one that the stables prospects for the season could hardly be more favorable. The fashion in which the bay colt disposed of the .Youthful winner Summer Tan, once Eddie Arcaro called on him at the furlong pole could not be misinterpreted, and the highly regarded Summer Tan is not only fastL but, in the running of the Youthful, demonstrated good courage as well. In the Juvenile, this pair completely "outclassed their opposition, drawing some eight or nine lengths clear in the drive, while Gold Box, the Greentree colt who "had been favored over both of them in the wagering, was completely unable to cope with their brush. AAA It was pointed out in this space yesterday that modern racing stables are forced to seek out the large purses for their top horses, avoiding one another as much as possible, since the stables profit consists of that purse rather than, as used to be the case, on a large wager. With the present popularity of the sport, and the wide distribution of rich conflicting stakes, this condition, as we tried to show, does not make for keen competition and the butter is spread pretty thin when five or six important tracks all offer valuable fixtures every Saturday. The rule is for the "stars" to play hide and seek with one another, and if so-and-so ships out of town to such-and-such a track, you can be sure that the move was dictated by a tender regard for the stables bank balance. Every so often, however, an exception does occur, and then we have something like Noors and Citations San Juan Capistrano or Tom Fools and Royal Vales Suburban. This season, the excep tional race, planned on a completely disinterested level, will take place if Alfred Vanderbilt sends Native Dancer to England to compete at Ascot in the King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. AAA Let the cynic search as he will, there can be no motive behind sending Native Dancer to England in mid-summer beyond pure sportsmanship. There are other, richer races here for the gray champion, while his reputation, with us, is already secure as far as early success in the stud is concerned If Native Dancer- were to be retired tomqrrow, Vanderbilt could fill his book for the next three seasons at anyj price he chose, and an English victory will not add to that prestige, at least not in terms of dollars. Our personal opinion is that Native Dancer will not be bothered by the transition from dirt tracks to grass, or by any of the other peculiarities of the Ascot course, but we know that there are others, whose views we respect, who in no wise agree with us. In any case, the trip will be an adventure, and it will give the English their first sight of an American champion since John Hertz Reigh Count and William Woodwards Omaha. AAA While foreign racing is decidedly exotic for most current American owners, one should remember that not only was every one of the older names mentioned in the first paragraph of this column associated with the British or French turf as well as our own but in addition to William Woodward, that the Whitneys and Vanderbilts were also for many years, closely linked with foreign racing. At the turn of the century and up until the first World War, Whitney horses were shipped back and forth between Newmarket and Long Island, while during the same" period, W. K. Van-derbilts Chantilly Stable was paramount on the French turf, such champions as Sea Sick and Maintenon sweeping all before them. Had C. V. Whitneys Count Fleet colt, Counterpoint, trained satisfactorily during his four-year-old form, that stable fully intended a European trip for Reigh Counts remarkable grandson, the Ascot Gold Cup and the Prix de lArc de Triomphe both announced as his goals. If Native Dancer does go, the gray will be following a long and honorable tradition of reciprocal interchange between the two countries.
