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Reflections By Nelson Dunstan Derby Trial Final Test for Candidates Nashua, Summer Tan Set for Sixth Duel Finest Racing Manual Is Now Available NEW YORK, N. Y., May 4.— With the Derby Trial won by Plying Fury now in the record books candidates for the classic will take things easy until the bugle calls them out about 5:30 EDT o*clock on Saturday afternoon. In this paper on Tuesday, Churchill Downs ran an ad which was titled, "The Dempsey Vs. Tuhney of Racing" and, of course, it referred to the Belair Studs Nashua and Mrs. John Galbreaths galiant Summer Tan* who has Won only one race of the five in which these colts have measured strides. Arcaro will be back on Nashua and this com bination, along With the starting of Summer Tan, will cause some owners- and trainers to stay in the barn. In their ad, the Kentucky Derby officials mentioned Swaps, who will be ridden by brilliant Willie Shoemaker; Jeans Joe, Honeys Alibi, Capt. Harry Guggenheims Flying Fury and Racing Fool, and, in our opinion, that just about sums up the contention in the "Run for the Roses." However, it is going to be a big upset if Nashua or Summer Tan is not decorated With the blanket of roses in the ceremonies that follow the running. Calls Equine-Heart-Breaking a Myth At Belmont last Saturday a well-known horseman said to this writer, "If they continue to send Summer Tan against Nashua they will eventually break his heart." To our Way Of thinking, this breaking-heart business is a myth for the simple reason that equine hearts do not break. Back in 1919 Man o* War defeated ~ John P. Grier by two and a half lengths. At Aqueduct in 1920 Big Red defeated the Whitney horse again by a length and a half after John P. Grier raced alongside him for the entire distance. Indeed John P. Grier assumed a slight lead between calls in the stretch but faltered in the last 70 yards. They met for the third time in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga and Man o War set a terrific pace in tile early running. John P. Grier endeavored to keep pace with the leader but tired badly in the stretch and finished eased up. The Cry went up that "Man o* War has broken Griers heart." That was refuted the following year when John P. Grier established a track record. That belief was just as ridiculous in our opinion as the possibility of Nashua breaking Summer Tans heart. It would not surprise us if the Galbreath colt gave the son of Nasrullah the fight of his life in the Derby. The 1955 American Racing Manual is at hand* and as we have said before, we again believe that it is the best issue we have ever received. Between the covers is the most complete fund of information about one sport that possibly could be published." Most of the * material is exclusive in this wonderful work, which not only covers the 1954 racing season but gives the history of every major stake event run on the American turf and the most important ones in England, Ireland and France. The book leads off with a section, "The Gallery of Champions," these being the horses selected by the Daily Racing Form and Morning Telegraph workers in their annual poll on the best horses in each division. Thai is followed by a masterful review of 1954 races written by our colleague, Evan Shipman. The veteran Charles Hatton wrote the section, "Best Horses of the Year," and this makes highly interesting reading. It would be impossible in one paragraph; or even column, to detail the many features of this book which answers virtually every question about racing and breeding in this country. Not a day passes that this writer does not refer to the American Racing Manual. We would be lost without it. We recommend that you place your order early as the printing of this book is always limited. Visitors to Inspect Yearling Crop Following the running of the Derby, many of those who witness the event will journey over to Lexington to inspect the yearlings that will be offered at Keehe-land and Saratoga in late July and August. Friends in the Blue Grass have been telling us about what they consider the outstanding youngsters. We advise a Visit to the farm of Miss Mildred Woolwine for a Igoksee, as Chuck Connors Would say, of a colt by JNoor out of the crack racemare, War Flower; the Hnfearco colt at Spendthrif t Farm and, at the Almahurst f Farm of Henry H. Knight, a youngster by War Admiral out of Earshot and a beautifully bred colt by Citation out of Miss Brief. Mereworth Farm Of Mrs. Waiter J. Salmon and Walter J. Salmon, Jr has exceptional colts and fillies in the large group they will offer at Keeneland. The only Hyperion colt to be offered at Keeneland or Saratoga this year is at the Maryland farm of Harry s. Middendorf, who came into thoroughbred breeding through long association with cross-country sport in his native state. Now a Boston investment banker, he is developing a small farm at South Hamilton, Mass. He will send the Hyperion colt to Saratoga and the dam is ofRosy Legends family which produced Dante and Sayajirao.
