Reflections: No Letup in Discussion of Match Race Difference of Opinion Makes Racing Country Widely Divided on Sophomores, Daily Racing Form, 1955-06-27

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Reflections By Nelson Dunstan No Letup in Discussion of Match Race Difference of Opinion Makes Racing Country Widely Divided on Sophomores NEW YORK, N. Y., June 25. In the last week or two our mail has increased and it was largely due to talk of the proposed match between Nashua and Swaps. We- stated in this column that such a match is not possible until the fall and that we thought a much better race would be one engaging Nashua, Swaps, Helioscope and High Gun. Most of our letters, however, dealt with a meeting between the two three-year-olds and, to our surprise, they came from every part of the country. It is natural that East-eners and those in California should be "het up" over the match but we have had mail from such places as Miami, Detroit, Galveston and Hamilton, Ontario. William Samuels of New "Dorp, Staten Island, writes to say: "No one can blame the two owners for completing their schedules before talking seriously about a match. But we can dream, cant we? If they ever do meet, I believe Nashua would reverse the Kentucky Derby outcome. It is my belief that he is the best horse to come along since. Citation, Native Dancer and Tom Fool. I have been handicapping horses for 30 years and my pick would have to be Nashua." Veteran Horseman Fayors Chicago for Race It is surprising to us that so much difference ot opinion appears in these letters, but that is what makes horse racing. An interesting letter from a man who knows his horses came from Charles R. Fleischmanri, well-known New York owner of thoroughbreds. Fleisch-mann bought his first horse, Tony ..Bonoro, back in" May, 1907. He tells us about Superman, by Commando, winning the Suburban. It is his opinion that a three-year-old is as. capable in June as he will ever be. Like " the others, he has the proposed Nashua-Swaps match uppermost in mind and he says: "I found, your article setting forth the difficulties of arranging a series of matches between Nashua, and Swaps very interesting," particularly as. to what would happen to the later s matches dn case Swaps were again to beat Nashua and possibly though, not probably very easily in the first race. That possibility and its consequences never occurred to me. As the saying goes, youve got something there. Why wouldnt just one match race at Chicago suffice at some distance mutually agreed upon, thus equalizing, more or less, the length of the journey each contestant would have to make? If Swaps were to win again, the proper evaluation of the horses would be established. If Nashua should be victorious, then the result would be a powerful incentive for another meeting." Arthur Jerome Wright of Pasadena, Calif., "writes: "Neville Dunn of the Thoroughbred Record made the statement before the Kentucky Derby that in his opinion Nashua deserved ranking with Man o War, Citation and other great horses of the past. I know you did not see Swaps defeat Determine in the Cali-fornian but, if you had, I am sure you would agree that he is as good a horse as any we have seen in this country since the days of Colin; it is unfortunate that these two horses cannot meet until the fall, although, like a good vaudeville show, the best of the program comes toward the end. It is my opinion that Swaps would be the winner at any distance up to a mile and a quarter, although I see no reason why he would not be just as hard to beat at a mile and a half. Lets hope they do meet in the fall for, as you stated, this would be one of the best naturals of the century. You Boys in the East may think you have the best horse, but there are many of us out here in California who think differently. I have been attending the races since 1906 and I believe I have not seen a better horse than Swaps in all that time." Texans Believe Swaps Would Win Again .Most of us are inclined to believe that Texans bother little with horse racing, but, writing from the Gulf Towers Hotel in Galveston, .Walter A. Bailey says: "Yes, sir, way down here on this island we old horse players play horses. We, read the Chicago Racing Form and argue the same as do you fellows in New York. Right now, we are arguing about the merits of Swaps and Nashua. I think Mr. Woodward is a very wise man and I hope he does not allow public clamor to sway his opinion and get his horse beaten twice by Swaps. Swaps will beat Nashua every time they meet. Nashua will follow Swaps just as Blue Swords followed Count Fleet because always, one is faster than the other." We believe it was Confucious who said, "any fool knows that one horse can beat another," but he failed to say which horse. Our opinion of the outcome has been asked often. Well, we have no opinion. We look upon them as two very fine horses and, before their careers are ended, they might even be judged as "great." Swaps won the Derby and left no doubt as to his superiority on that particular day. What another meeting would bring about is a quetsion, and we would much rather leave it to the race than to attempt to guess the outcome. Saratoga Returned to Delaware Park DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 25.-Montpeliers Saratoga, hero of the Leonard Richards Stakes, has been returned from Narragansett Park. The Blenheim n. colt appeared to be coasting to victory in the Providence Stakes at the Pawtucket track when he "propped and ducked" to the outside, antics which caused him. to be disqualified from the place award. t


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