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■■iiH REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan . BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y„ May 26. — The Preakness running is still being discussed, and considering its rough spots there is some wonderment that a disqualification did not follow. Having watched the race on television and seen two repeats of the pictures, we are of the opinion opinion that that the the stewards stewards were were justi- ■■iiH opinion opinion that that the the stewards stewards were were justi- justified in" allowing the decision to stand, but at the same time insist that Hasseyampa had met with interference. But it is difficult to see how the man in the stand could have disqualified Correlation and not have disqualified Hasty Road, the winner, also. The pictures clearly show that the California-bred was lugging in and they also show that Hasty Road was bearing out at the same time. Our own Palmer Heagerty, one of the foremost chart callers in America and a man who has seen thousands and thousands of races, had this to say: "Had Hasty Road kept a straight course entering the home lane there would not have been no crowding at that point. That Hasty Road was the offender was made quite clear by the pictures of. the running and it was also evident that when the Hasty House colt drifted out jockey Arnold Kirkland had no choice but to take up and head for the inside with Hasseyampa. The action, however, did not appear to affect the stride of Hasseyampa, who failed ot make up ground in the final furlong." AAA As we saw the race there was no fouling intended on the part of any one. The stewards naturally took that into consideration in making their decision. Willie Shoemaker may have found it impossible to get the most from - his mount, and while Kirkland was anything but "Frivolous" in making his claim we cannot see where Shoemaker was responsible for the situation that developed. St/7/ Discussing Roughness in the Preakness Should There Have Been a Disqualification? Stewards Used Good Judgment in Decision Disqualifications Can Be Costly to Owners Stewards are charged with the responsibility of determining fouls and they are competnent men whose judgment must be relied upon. It has often been pointed out that, there has never been a disqualification- in any of the "Triple Crown" races, but in this particular instance we do not believe that Correlation was to blame or that he should have been disqualified. Had they done so, the stewards, in all fairness, would have had to do the same with Hasty Road. As Hasseyampa did not make up any ground in the run through the stretch it is doubtful whether there would have been any other outcome of the race. Hasty Road is a courageous colt, and, as the race was run, he is entitled, to the honors and also the purse that went to the winner. AAA Disqualifications are always regrettable and have caused controversies that have lasted for years. They have occurred in a great many of the stakes run in this country, including the Metropolitan, Brooklyn, Suburban, Grand National Steeplechase,. International Steeplechase, Trav-ers and scores of others. Who will ever forget the Kentucky Derby of 1933, when Don Meade on Brokers Tip and Fisher on Head Play, fought it out with their whips in the stretch run? There had never been such an exhibition of rodeo riding in the Derby. While the horses were not disqualified, both jockeys were suspended. Following the race the belief grew that the stewards .at Churchill Downs would not disqualify a Derby horse, but they have denied such charges. Maryland officials have used good* judgment in the vast majority of cases.* There have been disqualifications in the Maryland Futurity, Maryland Handicap and, even that sporting event, the Maryland Hunt Cup. There have been disqualifications in the Derby Trial, the Kentucky Oaks and the Blue Grass Stakes. Back in 1931 there was an unusual case in Maryland when the Maryland Breeders Futurity was won bythe S. W. Labrot, entry of Toolbox, who finished first; Little Dinah, third, and Kings Pleasure, fourth. Because of a foul the officials not only disqualified the winner but the other members of the entry along with him. AAA For years no horse was disqualified in the Epsom Derby, except Running Rein in the scandal of 1844. It was found that the horses age had been falsified and that brought about a lawsuit that is talked about to this day. But in 1913, there was great excitement when the objection board was posted. Until then it appeared as if Craganour was the winner. The crowd waited, believing that a decision would be reached in a short time, but after a half hour there was a question as to who raised the objection and on what ground it was made. It developed that the stewards had objected on their own account, claiming that Craganour had jostled the second horse Aboyeur. After the backers of Craganour had been paid off the officials finally announced that Craganour had not kept a straight course and they disqualified him and awarded the race to the second horse, A parallel case would have been that of Hasty Road in the Preakness last Saturday, for the pictures do show that he did not keep a straight course in the stretch. For weeks after the English race fans discussed the Craganour case and many insisted that it was Aboyeur who had done the Continued on Page Thirty-Nine I REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-Eight bumping. One English newspaper reported: "There was some bumping, but by whom?" AAA Disqualifications in this country have been numerous and they include steeple-chasing as well as flat racing. In the Grand National Steeplechase of 1930, Arc Light finished first but he was* disqualified and the race was awarded to Tourist II. That cost Arc Light 8,350, the greatest sum a disqualified horse lost up to that time. That record, if you can call it a record, has since been beaten. In the Santa Anita Handicap of 1952 Intent was disqualified and the race awarded to Miche. The winning purse was 04,100. Here in New York, many remember when Equipoise was disqualified in the Metropolitan Handicap, and a few years ago, when Win or Lose had to forfeit the purse after winning the East View Stakes, when it was found that he was carrying five pounds less than the weight conditions of the race called for. There can be many different reasons for a disqualification, but the Preakness incident, in our opinion, is best left to the judgment of the stewards.
