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Reflections By Nelson Dunstan Americas Best Invader of England? Iroquois, Parole American Pioneers High Gun Should Like Grass Course NEW YORK, N. Y., June 9— High Gun is going to England and our colleague and close friend, Chuck Connors, commented on the foray in his ever-informa- tivp rnlnmn fhp nfhf r dnv Chunk likes nothing more than to write about the "paddock gang" and in his column he liad the boys asking: "Who was the best American horse ever sent to England for racing?" The answer was Colin, who was undefeated in 15 starts in this country. No man can argue against an undefeated horse, regardless of the country of his origin, and this writer cannot dispute that Colin was one of the best horses ever developed anywhere. Chuck cited Reigh Count and Omaha as the two best American horses of recent years who went abroad, and he is right in that. Reigh Count won the Coronation Cup of 1929, but ran second to Invershin in the Ascot Gold Cup the same year. After that race, John D. Hertz offered the owner of Invershin 0,000 to come to the United States for a match race, but the bid was not accepted. Omaha was beaten by Quashed in the Ascot Gold Cup of 1936 and two years late, Flares was the winner. The late William Woodward, who tried to win the Ascot race with many horses, finished second again in 1949, when his Black Tarquin ran behind Alycidon. Woodward was at Belmont Park when he heard of Black Tarquins defeat and all he said was: "I will try again." Air Travel Aids International Competition International racing has become of far greater importance since it became feasible to fly horses .from one country to another without loss of form. Some two years ago, the famous English trainer, Capt. Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, was in this country, and in talking of | the Washington, D. C, International, he praised foreign owners for sending their horses here to compete against our best and suggested that we send more of our horses to his country for competition. When we check the records we find that many more American horses have gone to England than English horses have come here. Back in the long ago, 1908, Rubio won the Grand National Steeplechase, and in 1922, Sergt. Murphy won the Grand National Steeplechase for "Laddie" Sanford. These were examples of American-owned horses meeting the best on the other side. The greatest victory for our country was when Battleship, who was American-bred, -owned and -ridden, was the winner at Aintree. He was a son of Man o War. But we can go back long before that, in fact, we can go back 100 years when Richard Ten Broeck was in England and with Starke and Prioress won the Goodward Cup and the Cesarwitch. That was actually the first "American invasion" and it was continued to this day. The history of international racing, so far as this country is concerned, dates back to Leamington, who was imported to this country and, until the arrival of Sir Gallahad m., was the best imported sire we ever had. Leamington gained his greatest renown at Erden-heim, now the farm of George D. "Widener, president of our Jockey Club for many, years. At that farm, near Philadelphia, the imported horse became famous, and much of the credit, in this writers opinion, was due to the superb broodmares stationed there. One was the immortal Maggie B. B. And even to this day when people want to impress you witih a pedigree, they will say: "In tail-female, this colt traces to Maggie B. B." That gal deserved her fame for she was the dam of Iroquois, the first American-bred horse to win the Epsom Derby. When the cable, "Iro-per-tow," was received in this country the New York Stock Evchange declared a half -holiday ia compliment to the American horse winning the Epsom Derby. Decoded, the cablegram read: "Iroquois first, Peregrene second, Town Hall third." Erdenheim Farm was a great stud in those early days. One of the best fillies ever raced in this country, Spinaway, was bred there and was sold as a yearling to the Lorillards, who constantly invaded the British turf. Onondaga, a full brother to Sensation, also was a very good, if not great race horse. Leamington Sired Many Famous U. S. Runners . Learning sired many famous American horses in addition to Iroquois, who carried the colors of Pierre Lorillard to victory in the St. Leger, Chesterfield Stakes and Derby. He was a product of Erdenheim Stud and, so, too, was Parole, who was out of Leamingtons daughter, Maiden. In England, they called Parole the "Yankee Mule," just as they slightingly referred to Tod Sloan as the "Yankee Midget," but both of them taught England that American horses and jockeys were not to be trifled with. Parole jaced in this country at three, four and five, scoring many notable victories. Then he went to England to win the Metropolitan Stakes, the Great Chesire Handicap and the Epsom Gold Cup. If ever there was an "iron horse," Parole was one, for he returned to this country and raced successfully at eight and nine. In all, he started in 127 races, winning 59, and being second in 24 and third in 15. So England cannot deny American horses in any way. Going back to Iroquois and Parole and coming down to Reigh Count and Omaha, we have a far better record over there than the English have over here. High Gun, too, should give a very fine account of himself on the other side. • ; . i. i , n 1 1 u t j s 3 i * u iii
