New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-14
RACELAND AND FIRENZI.
THEIR RACE IN THE GRAND NATIONAL
CRITICISM OF HANDIoAPs = RAcELAND's LACK
OF PERSONAL BEAUTY.

OF PERSONAL BEAUTY.
Mr. Belmont says that ne uttered complaint or
criticism OF the weight assigned Raceland in the
Grand National Handicap 1t was reported among
we'll known owners at Jerome Park Saturday that
Afr Belmont had remarked with emphasis before the
race that too much weight had been put Raceland
and that his horse could possibly beat Fircnzi
with 100 pounds up against the mares 100. But as
Mr. Belmont declares that he did not criticise the
handicappng that settles the matter and proves mat
the report had foundation. He certainly has been
known TO criticse some previous handicaps at o'or
tracks in plain language. and he had cr1ucSeu tis
one and found fault with It among his friends ne "ouu
merely have been following the universal oNP "
owners It is the standing joke OF the turi-'he
constant habit that owners have OF nndhs iH" "i,n
the Handicapped and complaining thai 700 niu'n
has been put on their horses "ehoi~I'' '1'9 -,
{ reasonably good natured but inc "'''i "NS o''o"
,oard vary influential and prominent owners use uie
,t,.oo.t and most vehement language IN susmanzing
handioaps. And this fault finding Is not conIheu !"
any one track TO any single hshdicappor, vi u" any
narticular handicapping committee prcN"ns
upon all tracks, and all owners lnuuiso III
:, times some much more frequently. OF course
msn others 1t has often been my amusing eA-
nor,cnce 10 hear an owner before a race protesting
,.rnestlv against the weight allored 10 hs hoIsc'
and asseverating before high heaven that the anh"
had no earthly chance of winning with such "elsn"
nd dhen a
Gallon home an easy winner Of that same hahdlcap
-,,b that same weight owners very rarely mean
m inpute any lack of good faith or any lack OF eA
,elent motives 20 handicappers, but most Vi nein
are very frequently free in descanting upon "ha'
they insist is a deplorable lack OF judgment oh 'e
mart Of the handicapping authority in not puhe loS
reight upon their horses. SO if Mr.. Belmsht hau
80 ta,lt with the handicapping of Raceand in
Abe Grand National, he would have been In good
.omnanv and would have confOrmed to practice
rbch is as comprehensive and anemorachg dS Is
DE turf itself
NJ pelron. annears 10 be sensitive because IT
s frankly stated in these columns that Raceland has
an ugly shape The racing writer OF Inc tribune
Uas among the first no celebrate lhe rehiarhHoi0
merits of Raceland. In fact, he has frequently 30
,rtored and exalted those merits as to provoke
,barply expressed dissent from the pens OF other
-scne writer's When Rsceland won the S9Dur
surely these columns were not ialnl OF coIu =" 80
praise Due commentator has been gwen Nun ~ nrlo
T. oTi his memorable achievements. lie Is horse
Of grand development in certain lines, Oh narNeoIds
Rf his most idoa,rous worshipper cannot claim that
nc is majestic, stately pretty or handsome rbPsns
The best geding ever in America, he has won
aures that wall endure HIS best races h sst While
he American turf Lasts. But he ia Is sl to
Flarly plain ~, and pa'1 a'raG %ss morse great
raceborse but he was anything but beauty III 40,
sence Of good looks RscSand resembles hcr ni be a. dee
To1rinc space with his prodigous strides, kaGeidno
ne is moi as symmetrical form or so pleasing to me
vision as IS that fascinating princess ~ INC u no
Saintv exquisite little FirenZi. Yet there Is no
reason for suppessng the obvious truth hS t
is moi personally prepOsSesslng NO iaII i; -
NAV pI71dces MIR Belmont the honor oil winning ulo
Grsnd National two years in succession win kacdaG
and far be ii from 10 detract loI rom -
,veI learned glory lie won the Grand Natohd! vi
Isso as he won it in 1888, after stubborn coiest Ill
which Firenz fairly beaten and SATURDAY Ns.or
was a brilliant one for Raceland NO one hds d
higher opinion OF Raceand than the "rIcI IaS,
.-ror,t eirss had FirenZ teen as thoroughly
.seae0ned As Raceland on SATURDAY haI sht IT,
ceiyed lust the preparation for THIS race thaI t
oot,ed bv means of his two strong races Win i1d's
I'D with Reporter within few days while Firenzi I
had had nothing but practical walkoyersl u N 81
",id have heen the winner of the Grand NsuOhdi Vi
SSsa and not Raceland. And this opinion Is lr,
respective of the comparative beauty OIL tne WV
horses.