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Reflections By Nelson Dunsian = Withers One of Great Three-Year-Old Races Only Two Have Won Triple Crown, Withers Vanderbilt Sale Feature of Belmont Meet NEW YORK, N. Y., May 11.— The week-end feature as the Jamaica meeting closes is the Withers, one of the oldest and most important events for three-year- olds in this country. Inaugurated in 1874 at Jerome Park, it was named for David Dunham Withers and has been won by some of the foremost horses of their times. From 1905 until this year it was run at one mile at Belmont Park but the Greater New York Rac-• ing Association switched it to Jamaica at one and one-sixteenth miles. Since its inaugural, it has been won by Aristides, Duke of Magenta, Hanover, Domino, Colin, Sir Barton, Man o War, Alsab, Count Fleet and to come down to later days, Native Dancer and a year ago Traffic Judge. Usually sandwiched between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, it has a winning beadroll that is comparable to those of the Triple Crown events. Whoever wins it this year will earn a" "place irr-;history even though not successful in the Derby, Preakness or Belmont. Only two horses have won all four events. The first was Sir Barton, who won the Triple Crown in 1919 and also took the honors in the Withers. That feat was not duplicated until 1943 when Count Fleet won the four races. Many horses who won two Triple Crown events triumphed also in the Withers, one being Man o War in 1920. Elmont Opener Features Toboggan Cap New York racing moves over to Belmont on Monday with the Toboggan Handicap as the feature. One of the highlights of the 48-day ,meet will be the sale of the horses of Alfred G. Vanderbilt on May 21. Vanderbilt is offering many valuable horses and one that is likely to evoke spirited bidding from all sides of the ring is Sometime Thing, a daughter of Discovery, and a splendid prospect as a broodmare. He is also selling 18 two-year-olds, 12 colts and six fillies, by some of the most prominent stallions of these years. In our opinion, the two-year-olds will be the backbone of the sale and there is no telling what Almond Eyes, a full sister of Native JJancer, will bring. Always a great admirer of that tremendous weight packer, Discovers, Vanderbilt has bred many daughters who have been fine producers. Native Dancer is by Polynesian out of Geisha, by Discovery, and was a colt entitled to ranking with the best ever developed in this country. Many of the sales two-year-olds have not been, given an opportunity to show their full capabilities. We believe that with horses in such great demand today and with their pedigrees and the conformation they will be eagerlysought. Nashua is about to wear the money-winning crown. If the weight is satisfactory and Sunny Jim believes him to be in top shape, he will start in the Camden Handicap at Garden State Park a week hence. As of now, he is only ,145 behind" Citation in earnings and one victory would send him ahead of the Calumet champion on the money-winning list. How far Nashua will go in earnings is a question of how often he will race this year. There are many opportunities for him before the weight-for-age events in the fall. Regardless of how he will be rated among the world champions, he is likely to establish a money-winning mark that wijl put all future champions to a task. It now appears that the syndicate formed by Leslie Combs II. did not pay too much for this son of Nasrullah who should prove a great asset when he becomes a sire at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky. What Determines Thoroughbred Greatness? The controversy about whether Nashua is a "great" horse leaves us puzzled. We remember an occasion when we were with John Hervey Salvator when he was asked, "How do you determine greatness?" Hervey hes- -itated for a moment and then said, "I will not attempt to say what made Man o War a great horse. I will say, however, that a good horse is one who can pick up his weight and carry it over a distance of ground in any kind of going." Certainly Nashua will always be ranked, with Citation and Native Dancer, as one of the more modern champions and we believe that in the final analysis he will be regarded as one of the truly great horses of the American turf. As we have stated in this column, Nashua cannot be held accountable-for the quality of the horses sent against him. We wonder on occasions when we have expressed our admiration for Man o War and someone says: "All right, who did he ever beat?" Nashua is in exactly the same position but it is our firm conviction that 20 years from today he will be classified as one of the great horses of these times.
