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REFLECTIONS *y NfLS0N dstan NEW YORK, N. Y., June 7.-* -The eighty-first running of the BeTmont Stakes will be run on the week-end and whether Ponder, Palestinian or any other horse wins it, he will add his name to one, of the greatest asad-rolls of any race staged in this :oun-try. The Belmont is often re! erred to as "the true American Derby," due to the fact that it is run at one and one-half miles, the same distance as the Epsom Derby. It has had many thrilling renewals, great jockeys and famous horses, but it has also had its great stallions, and two that stand out are Lexington and Fair Play. Lexington, as breeding students know, performed a feat that will probably never be equalled when he led the American sire list on 16 occasions, 14 of which were in succession. He was the first horse to sire four winners of the Belmont Stakes, namely, General Duke, 1868; Kingfisher, 1870; Harry Bassett, 1871, and Duke of Magenta, 1878. In 1875, a horse named Leamington toppled Lexington from the sire throne, and this imported horse was also to play his part in the early years of the Belmont Stakes, for he was the sire of Saunterer, winner in 1881. AAA Many sires were to earn fame through the Belmont Stakes in the years to follow Lexington and his sons. To our way of thinking, Fair Play stands out, but, for the beginning of his story, we must go back to the year 1858 when Australian was imported to these shores and soon after that proved that he was to be a success in stud. Three of his sons who became Belmont stake winners were Joe Daniels, Springbok and Spendthrift, the last being the winner in 1879. Spendthrifts son, Hastings, was to further contribute to the success of this line r, by siring Masterman, the winner in 1902, and Fair Play, who, thcugh he ran second to Colin in the renewal of 1908, was to later outclass the horses who defeated him by becoming one of the greatest stallions in Belmont history. That renewal of 1908 was one that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. On the day that the race was run, a heavy fog hung over the courser Lexington, Fair Play Made Belmont History Blind Hero Sired Four Winners of Stake Colin Was Almost Beaten by Fair Play Fair Play Line Has Fine Belmont Record and Joe Notter, who rode Colin, very nearly threw the race away by thinking that he had won when the finish line was actually about 30 yards away. Realizing his mistake, Notter rallied his horse and won by a very short neck from Fair Play. AAA Fail- Plays defeat by Colin in the 1908 running of the Belmont Stakes did not deter him from showing his class in the Lawrence Realization and other events. He developed into a very handsome stallion and became the premier at the famed Nursery Stud, where he stood until 1925 and, then, upon the death of Maj. August Belmont, went to Joseph E. Wideners Elmendorf Farm. He first led the winning sires list in 1920 when his youngsters won 69,102 which, in those years, was almost a record. Fair Play found a golden cross in mares by Rock Sand, the winner of the Epsom Derby of 1903. From a mating with Mahubah, he begot Man o War, one of the greatest race horses and stallions this country has ever produced. In 1920, and opposed by only Donnacona, Man o War won the Belmont Stakes to earn but ,950. In 1924, Fair Plays son, Mad Play, was the winner of the Belmont, and, in 1927, another son, Chance Shot, was the winner over Bois de Rose. Chatterton, a son of Fair Play, added another score for this line when Faireno won in 1932, and, just two years l%ter, Peace Chance, who was sired by Chance Shot, entered the winner circle. AAA Man o War closed his turf career by defeating the older Sir Barton in a match race. No horse since Sal-vator had aroused such public enthusiasm as "Big Red" and, from the day of his retirement, he was regarded in this country as Ormonde and St. Simon were in England. He began service in Kentucky as a four-year-old. and his immediate and sustained success as a sire added to his prestige as a race horse. In his first crop were American Flag, Florence Nightingale, By Hisself and American Flag was to become the Belmont Stakes winner in 1925. In Man o Wars second crop was" Crusader, Mars, Edith Cavell and Taps. Crusader was to win the Belmont Stakes of 1926 and for many years was regarded as the best horse seen on the American turf since his sire was retired. Then came a lapse and, also, the oft-heard statement, "Is Man o War through?" But it was in 1937 that one of his best sons was to come on the scene in little War Admiral, who was not only to win the Belmont Stakes of that year, but was also to win the "Triple Crown" and then give the racing world hope that the male line of "Big Red" was to be continued. While his lustre was to be dimmed with his defeat by Seabiscuit in the Pimlico Special, he went on to complete a caieer with 21 victories in 26 starts, and was only unplaced on one occasion. AAA Admirers of the Fair Play line have awaited patiently for a son of War Admiral to win the Belmont Stakes. The chances seemed especially bright this year when Blue Peter and Mr. Busher were rated as the two top colts on John B. Campbells Experimental Handicap. That neither of those colts have been to the races this year is a well-known fact, so there is hardly a chance of a member of the Fair Plays bringing further glory to the line. As we said in the beginning, Ponder and Palestinian will be two of the favorites on Saturday and, as the Calumet horse is by Pensive, who in turn was sired by Hyperion, a victory for Ponder would be another feather in the cap of Calumet. Palestinian is by Sun 1 Again, so here, too, would be a victory giving credit to a stallion standing at Warren Wrights Calumet Farm in Kentucky. There will be other horses, of course, to oppose this pair in the Belmont, and just one of these is Old Rockport, who won the Santa Anita Derby and, just last Saturday, ran third in the Peter Pan Handicap. He is a son of Carrier Pigeon, who, in turn, is by Equipoise — undoubtedly one of the greatest horses seen on the American turf in the last 25 years.
