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Club of America, a , at the annual com State Racing Com month. Never Say : was brought to thi Hancock, Jr., of CI can-bred to win th in the silks of Pierri recently we told of it arrived in Ameri Stock Exchange an the downtown busi coming more inter foreign horses are ing American-bred; It is hard to vk will be in the next head of our race tr Lindheimer, John . Clark and Dr. Cha: that Dr. Strub is pi of the 00,000 Sa: the most attractive no longer is any no tainly is in the tu REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan V BELMONT PARK, Elmont. L. I.-N. Y., June 3. Americans were elated to read that Never Say Die, a Kentucky foal, had won the Epsom Derby. This horse came from Jonabell Farm of John A. Bell, Jr., the same young breeder who bred Battlefield, the two-year-old champion of 1950. Bell is now president of the Thoroughbred nd he will represent that organization mention of the National Association of tmissioners in New Jersey later this Die is a chestnut son of Nasrullah, who country for a syndicate by Arthur B. laiborne Farm. He is the first Ameri-e English classic since Iroquois scored b Lorillard back in 1881. In this column the now famous telegram which, when ia, caused the closing of the New York id the declaration of a. half -holiday in iness section. Racing is certainly be-national with each passing year, for ;oming to our shores and we are send-s to win Englands famous events. AAA 5ualize what international competition 20 years. Progressive men are at the acks, and we point particularly to Ben D. Schapiro, Dr. Leon Levy, John C. rles Strub. Recently, Oscar Otis wrote anning to go to Europe in the interests ti Juan Capistrano, which has become s grass race on the West Coast. There velty in 00,000 events, but there cer-rf races and the international events, Epsom Derby Outcome Thrills Americans Jonabell Farm Bred Never Say Die Grass Racing Takes Firm Grip Here Kaster Prospect for International Race on the flat or over jumps, that are now offered our racing public. Dr. Strub has planned seven sweepstakes on the grass, plus 20 overnight features for grass performers, It is one of the most elaborate programs ever devised, and shows clearly that Santa Anita is to become one of the most important turf tracks in this country. There has been some opposition to turf racing here, but there can be no denying that it is- taking a firm grip in this country, and that it will become more popular in the years to come. This year is the first in which New Yorkers have had an opportunity to view this novelty, if it can be called that, in many, many years, but the vast majority agree that it is a colorful spectacle and a welcome addition to flat racing programs. A A A On Wednesday, at Belmont, a turf race was .run that may have presented one of the best grass campaigners in this country. It was only a week or 10 days ago that Royal Governor, who goes on and on, ran a mile and three furlongs on the turf in 2:21, and it took some searching to find that the best time for that distance had been established at the old Sheepshead Bay track back in 1890. Kaster, a five-year-old gelding by Unbreakable, ran the same distance the other day in the astonishing time of 2:17, and that is a mark that may stand for a long time to come. Belmont officials have been well pleased with the experimental races on the turf that they have staged to date, and recently George D. Widener, president of the association and chairman of The Jockey Club, stated that they have been so satisfactory they will be renewed at the fall meeting. In this country we have been hoping for horses who would hold their own with the "furriners" on the grass and certainly Kaster shapes UP as one of the best possibilities we have had since the Washington, D. C, International came into existence. John D. Schapiro, president of the Laurel track, witnessed the running of the Epsom Derby in England. But on the same day those at Belmont saw a very good grass horse come into the picture. AAA Horses can become idols as well as humans and one that is coming up fast is Extra Points, winner of the International Steeplechase arid the Charles L. Appleton Memorial Chase. Through the years, many jumpers earned the admiration of the racing public, and certainly one of those was Elkridge, who was retired a couple of seasons ago. In seven starts over brush, hurdles and on the flat this year, Extra Points has won six races and was second in one. This horse was bred by Lazy F Ranch and is by Grand Slam, out of Briarhone, by Sir Gallahad m. The remarkable part of it is he is trained by Mrs. C. E. Adams and is ridden by her son, Dooley Adams, one of the best jump jockeys to come on the scene in many a year? unless we are mistaken. Judy Johnson claimed Extra Points for Ernest Belfi in 1942 for something like ,000. A year ago, he went to the post on 11 occasions and won four races. This year it can well be said that he is the most improved horse here in the racing over the jumps, and is very much a credit to the Adams family. He can pick up weight and take the fences in the manner of Good and Plenty and other old-timers whose feats are still remembered.
