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tV,::::, ..;:., ..,-,■;■ . .. -■■ .!.:H:!W:I — ■• I Weighing In I By E van Shipman 1 Corinthian Prep for Imminent International Ancestor Rated as Chaser of Great Promise Shipboard, Training Well, Makes His Re-Entry -BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 11.— Second in Belmonts interesting series of through-the-field stakes, Thursdays Corinthian Steeplechase Handi- cap, should not only turn out a corking contest in its own right, but will almost certainly indicate both the nature and the strength of American representation in the imminent International, a healthy young feature that will have its first renewal at this spring meeting and that will bring our leading fencers to ~grips with a select group of invaders from Ireland, England, France and Italy. Thanks Thanks to to the the initiative initiative of of the the — ■• I Thanks Thanks to to the the initiative initiative of of the the National Steeplechase and Hunts, this International promises a race appealing to a much wider public than is customarily attracted by the chasers, and we are assured that the quality of foreign competition this year will make the race an even more exciting spectacle than was the inaugural, captured with comparative ease by our own Extra Points last May. Better acquainted now with the "flowing" nature of our infield course at Belmont, and with the type of horse they will meet here, the foreign contingent, we understand, has spared no pains in selecting a group that will adapt itself readily to our conditions, conditions that have their equivalents at several foreign courses, but that are by no means general over there. For example. Belmont has nothing in common with Aintree, and a spe-calist who might show very well in the Grand National might find himself left "up the course" in this International. Appleton Victory May Be Overrated When Mrs. Ogden Phipps well-bred Ancestor won last weeks Charles L. Appleton Memorial, the initial stake in Belmonts series, from the highly weighted King Commander and River Jordan, many devotees of chasing decided that she and trainer Pete Bostwick had a worthy successor to Oedipus in their barn, some of them going so far as to say that they believed Ancestor capable of meeting King Commander at even weights. Frankly, we did not see that race, but the fact is that Ancestor was in receipt of 28 pounds from King Commander — in our book, one of the best this division has revealed in recent seasons — and that is a far cry from meeting such a horse on equal terms, as he must when it comes time for the International on Saturday, May 21. Conserving his energies, the already tight and fit King Commander will pass up the Corinthian Thursday, so that his relation to the brilliant newcomer must remain a matter of conjecture. In addition to Ancestor, conservatively rated by handicapper John Cooper at 146 pounds this time, the Corinthian field is composed of Shipboard, 155; Neji, 155; Jam. 137; Beaupre, 136; Errolford, 135, and Curly Joe, 131. Montpeliers Belmont Grand National winner, Shipboard, who will start coupled with Beaupre, is making his seasonal debut, as is Ancestors running companion, the capable Neji, but reports of morning schools indicate that both chasers are in close to top form. Now a five-year -old, Shipboard is said to have matured and developed over the winter, but this fellow was* already a formidable campaigner last fall, as those who witnessed his National score at the direct expense of King Commander will attest. Whether or not Ship-less extravagant than they do at present. Jam Returns to Action Tuesday A casualty of last season who made a promising re-entry recently after a long absence, and who will attempt to confirm that good impression Thursday is Jam, once rated close to the top of the division. The trouble last spring was that he "ran down" badly behind, but his trainer, Morris Dixon, Jr., has apparently corrected the fault, and if he remains racing sound, this picturesque black horse will not have many chances at a stake as lightly weighted as he is for this Corinthian. Once rather notional in his manner of negotiating obstacles, Jam was letter-perfect when we watched his encouraging race here the other day, and if he had not been a little "short" — understandable under the circumstances — we felt that he would either have won or else made things exceedingly hot for the winner, who happened on that occasion to be none other than Ancestor. Perhaps Jam still needs another outing or two before showing his top form again. Occupied as we have been lately with the current three-year-old crop and its various vicissitudes, we have been able to pay but scant attention to the steeplechase and hurdle horses, although any reader of this column must be aware that we yield to none in our admiration for this specialty. Greeting the new season, we anticipate truly brilliant sport, our conviction being that never — at least in our time — has the standard of competition, as regards horses, training and riding, been as high here as it is at present. It would be idle to pretend that local chasing has not known its dark days, or even that it now enjoys anything like the popularity that it deserves, but, unless we are much mistaken, there is a new spirit abroad, one of healthy optimism, and we cannot help but feel that the patrons of Metropolitan sport will soon realize the folly •of relegating steeplechasing to the hunt meetings.
