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Show ' Pf TN THE opinion of George Widener, one of our ablest turfmen, foreign horses are never given a chance to win over here. "These foreign entries are sent over from five days to three weeks lefore the race," Widener said. "They should be sent over from six months to a year ahead of ti; e. Otherwise they will have no chance. "Years ago, I recall when Mead-: Mead-: owbrook was challenging for the cup. Harry Payne Whitney sent all the American ponies to England at least six months in advance. He said that it would take six months or longer to have tliem ready for their best work. ''Now we all know that most of Crantland Ricf the foreign horses we have seen run those from France, Belgium, Ireland, Ire-land, etc. are much better horses than they proved to be. Their air voyages were badly upsetting, and they had little chance to get in anything any-thing like real shape. "It is really a shame, and I hope that in the future, owners of all invading in-vading foreign entries give their thoroughbreds at least some sort of a chance." There isn't the least doubt about Widener's opinion. I could tell you about any number of foreign horses to prove his point. Argentina's Top Horse Some years ago, Charley Howard, owner of Sea Biscuit, bought Sorte-ado, Sorte-ado, winner of Argentine's triple crown. He paid $40,000 for the horse. After several weeks training, I saw his first start at Santa Anita. Sor-teado Sor-teado reared up and was doing a Jig on his two hind legs when the race started. Weeks later he was little bet- ter. But a year later, in New York, I sat with owner Howard while Sorteado broke a world's record for a mile and a half race. He beat War Admiral's best time by one-fifth of a second. sec-ond. "He Is the greatest horse in the world today," Howard said at the time. "He can outrun any horse I've ever seen." Sorteado went out lor a new record a few days later, stepped in a hole, broke a leg, and was destroyed. Neil McCarthy bought an Australian Australi-an horse known as Shannon II. He "was an Australian champion. He was an American flop the first few months. Now Shannon II is winning big stakes and beating such horses as On Trust. He's one of the best. Even Jimmy Jones told me he made a mistake in flying Armed to California five days In advance of his race. "I should have sent him three weeks ahead, since he trav-led trav-led by plane," Jimmy said. A race horse needs ample time to accustom himself to new surroundings, surround-ings, climate and environment especially after a long trip. If we sent our horses abroad, Including In-cluding Citation, under the same conditions, they would be run into the ground. Foreign owners should ither keep their thoroughbreds at home or give them from six months to a year to go after the rich purses they can win from Belmont to Santa Anita, from Chicago to Hialeah. Fighting Horses , John Partridge, the veteran trainer, train-er, was telling a story about Col. E. R. Bradley, the famous Kentucky breeder. "This was years ago," John said. "Colonel Bradley had hired a trainer train-er to help look after his fighting chickens and also his horses. The colonel was kind of proud of those chickens. "One night there was a private party where several of his game chickens were entered. They didn't look any too good. In fact three of his fighting chickens turned and ran. The trainer felt pretty bad about this, and naturally the colonel was angry. To have his game chickens run away was the last word. "Next day," John continued, "the trainer started across a field. There were several horses around, Including Includ-ing two of Bradley's stallions. The two stallions began fighting. The trainer rushed over and tried to separate them. He didn't do a good job. Both were badly cut up. '"Wfhen Colonel Bradley heard about it, he was furious. He sent for the trainer and gave him a terrible ter-rible bawling out. Then he fired him. " 'This is the best break I ever had," the trainer said to the colonel, 'For this is the craziest place I ever worked. I don't want any part of It.' " 'What do you mean, the craziest crazi-est place you ever worked?' the colonel said. " 'What's wrong with it?' " 'I'll tell you what's wrong with it,' the trainer said. 'I've been three weeks at this great Bradley place in Kentucky, and all I've seen is running chickens and fighting horses.' "I don't think it is necessary for me to say," John added, "that Colonel Col-onel Bradley not only didn't fire the trainer but gave him a nice raise." |