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j ■* — New England — By Teddy Cox — Buster Bedwell Is Son of Famous Trainer Father Won Triple Crown With Sir Barton A Voice for Rigid Training Requirements SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., June 22. — Leonard Guy "Buster" Bedwell was brought into this world destined to become a thoroughbred horse trainer, j ■* but but in in following following in m the the path patn oi of but but in in following following in m the the path patn oi of his father, the late Harry Guy Bedwell, he inherited the task of striving to reach the pinnacle of this exacting profession. The sage of Savage, Md., was one of the immortals of the training ranks, along with Sam Hildreth, Jimmy Rowe, Max Hirsch, Jim Fitzsim-mons, Ben Jones and one or two others who were there at the top when the sport as we know it today day was was just just beginning beginning to to blos- — day was was just just beginning beginning to to blos- blossom. Old Guy was actually born in the West and for many years operated a livery stable" at Grand Junction, Colo., but he eventually settled in Maryland, where he made his mark as the great trainer that he was. The record shows that Guy led the winning trainers in 1909, and from 1912 through 1917. In 1918 and 1919, as the trainer for tne colorful Canadian turf figure, Commander J. K. L. Ross, Bedwell topped the trainers in money won. Until his death he commanded respect" from every horseman, even though there were many who didnt always appi-eciate his Tugged, brusque type of individuality. Buster, of course, served his apprenticeship under his famous father and he, himself, has held a trainers license since 1922. However, it must be admitted that he has never remotely approached the magnitude of his dad, even though he is generally recognized as one of the most able trainers now operating in this country. Buster is 54, makes his home atrLaurel, Md., but has been racing in New England, off and on, since the sport was brought back to life here. Record Speaks For Itself "I guess there are those who dont like sons to talk of the feats of their fathers," Buster was saying this morning. "But in the case of dad, the record speaks for itself. I think it was John E. Madden who said, opinions die, but the record lives forever. You check back and you will see in the record that there probably was never, and never will be, a trainer like dad. ■*uYpu, see, when he operated a livery stable out there at Grand Junction, there were no veterinarians around. The closest one" was in Denver, many miles away. When one of dads horses was taken ill, he had to serve as his own vet. Often, when he was puzzled, he went to the family physician for advice and theyd usually come up with the usual treatment for a human, only they would multiply the medication eight times for a horse. He came on the race track knowing more about ailments of horses than most veterinarians, and it wasnt difficult for him to switch to thoroughbreds." Guy trained Sir Barton, who won the first "Triple Crown" in 1919. He sent that colt after Man o War in their memorable match at Kenilworth, but Buster relates that his father never wanted the race to come off, for he says Sir Barton was a very unfit sore-going horse, who was suffering from brittle, shelly feet. Buster says Sir Barton wasnt within pounds of his best race, although he hastens to add that Man oWar probably was the greatest horse that ever lived. Buster adds that his father was of the opinion that Cudgel was the best horse he ever trained, while other brilliant performers he trained, were Boniface and Billy Kelly. More Backstretch Education Needed "Like our jockeys," says Buster, "they are making _ our trainers too quickly. It wasnt too many years ago when the board of stewards wouldnt talk to a man who did not have five years of education on the back-stretch. As a matter of fact, I think there should be a national board to handle all trainers applications. The judges on this board could be drawn from top-ranking racing officials and horsemen and there should be no political aspects associated with such a board. "There should be a written as well as a verbal test, but I think the first requirement should be that a man has worked around thoroughbred horses for a reasonable time. If he meets that requirement, and then passes the test, then I think he should be licensed in every racing state of the country without further questioning. If he runs afoul of the racing law in one state and is ruled out, he should be ruled off in all of the others." Buster has a rather modest stable here. In the past, though, he has handled the horses of the powerful Cherry Oca Stable, owned by the late David Toochin. He developed the good horse, War Knight, for Ethel Hill, and won a pair of stakes before turning the colt over to another trainer. War Knight later won the 46 Santa Anita Handicap. Buster also developed and trained Lady Maryland, the best filly of her year; Ringie, and a host of others. While it isnt necessary for him to bow to any trainer now racing horses in New England, he nevertheless is the first to admit that the "like father,, like son" adage doesnt apply to him. J r .» t i t. I A, »■ i * ,
