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► . . : — : Shipman Heralded _ * As Great Writer Prominent Turf Folk Pay Tribute to Columnist Who Was Known Here and Abroad Persons prominent in t he various branches of racing paid tribute to Evan Shipman, Daily Racing Form columnist, who passed away Monday morning following a long illness. Their statements follow: George D. Widcner, chairman of The Jockey Club: "Im terribly sorry. I always liked Evan very much. He was an excellent writer and his descriptions of races and other matters were uniformly fine. This is not only my own opinion, but many people have expressed similar views to me. Your newspapers and the thoroughbred sport have lost a very valuable man." James Stewart, president of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations: "Evan Shipmans death is a great loss to all racing in America. He was an outstanding reporter and commentator on turf affairs and was always constructive and sincere. Racing people will always remember him as a writer of rare ability and absolute integrity." Irving Gushen, national president of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association: "News of Evan Shipmans passing is a tremendous blow to racing. He was one of the best informed and fairest turf writers of our day. He was highly respected, which is saying much in such a highly competitive field in which there ai*e so many controversial discussions and where well-founded opinions mean so much. Most of the- horsemen admired him for his fairness." Eddie Arcaro, president of the Jockeys Guild: "Im shocked. That man was a great writer and must have been a great student. I dont believe there is anotner with his knowledge of breeding and racing, both with the trotters and the runners. You would never have thought, from his stories before and after a race, that he was a man who ever made a bet. Shipman just gave you all he knew about horses and racing and that was more than any other writer I know about." Clarkson Beard, president of the Thoroughbred Club of America: "It is with keen regret that this news comes to me and to other members of the club. Mr. Shipmans death is a great loss to racing as a whole. My personal feelings are that Evan Ship-man was onebf the finest and most thorough writers on breeding, pedigree and racing performance and in this, I am sure, most will agree. He had an unusual ability to evaluate pedigrees and to analyze performances of goooV horses in good races." Marshall Cassidy, executive secretary of The Jockey Club: "In his love and understanding of the animal, I think Shipman was the greatest turf writer of our time. I dont know another writer who had the same feeling for the horse, for all horses. In some ways, he was like Joe Palmer, with less wit, perhaps, but a wider scope and deeper knowledge of the animal as an individual. There are some of his pieces which I have kep that I think are deserving of classic classification. I dont know how he can be replaced, because Shipman belonged to a school of devoted writers about racing and race horses that is disappearing." Amory Haskell, president of United Hunts and Monmouth Park: "We are all naturally very upset to hear of Evan Ship-mans passing. His column will be missed not only by tflat racing enthusiasts but also by steeplechase fans. Mr. Shipman had an extensive background of racing and breeding and his loss will be keenly felt." Leslie Combs II., owner of Spendthrift Farm: "I have always had great respect for Evan Shipmans opinions and the manner in which he expressed them. His death robs the sport of a qualified observer."
