New-York tribune., 1920-09-05

close enough to Man O. War to make
the great chestnut son of Fair Play
Mahubah stretch his legs. 1t was
bad betting proposition any way one
cared to look at it. And probably no
race run ever saw less speculation.
Ambrose, who had the leg up on
Hoodwink,, is one of our very best
Jockeys when so disposed. ne was
fortunate on this occasion. He had
kloodwink on his toes when Mars Cas-
sidy presse4 the button. while Kun
mer was pulling up Man O. War. Out
shot Hoodwink to the break by good
length and q half. But Man O. War
was after him with such spirit that
Hummer almost lost . stirrup. In
haif q dozen bounds the great chest
nut, bit in teeth, had closed the early
disadvantage and was racing with true
Man o War spirit for the lead.
Hummer let the great horse down
only through the first quarter. It was
necessary, In order to take the shortest
possible route home to head Hcodwink
Tor enough to crowd over to the rail
before the first turn below the club
nc house. An eighth. would have suficed
In the break If Man O. War had been
given his way. He was fighting for his
head as they flashed past the judges
at the end Of the first eighth, and still
he held almost . lengths advantage
over doodwink. Man o. War, with the
worst Of the break. stepped that eighth
IN IL 2-6 seconds.
Man O. War Fairly Flys
But # he stepped the first eighth
Man O. War few through that second
furlong. As II to electrify the enthusi-
asts in the densely packed stands Kun
mer gave the big horse his head as he
flashed by the. judges. What Man O.
War did then those watching will never
forget: He pulled away from the fast
travelling Hoodwink az a great horse
would be expected to pull from a tired
platter at the end Of a heart-breakine
mile. With each succeeding giant leap
Man o War widened the gap between
himself and his challenger, until at the
end Of the quarter he was fully ten
lngths in front Of Hoodwink.
Oh, how Man O. War did race! The
crowd got the point instantaneously.
set a record. But the crowd stood
chestnut drew away. koodwinf was vas
doing his best to keep within hailing
distance, but every furlong saw him
drop further and further behind. And
flying out in front as he was Man
O. War was still fighting Hummer for
his head. But Hummer, once he had
taken the track safely, at the end of
a quarter took his mount in hand.
A Picture Of Might
Man O. War was a picture of ire
pressible might. What the horse could
have done if given his own way no. man
can ten. There was NO incentive for.
him to run as he swung round the Sec
ond turn into the backstretch. Hood
wink was laboring thirty lengths in
the rear. But still Man O. War carried
on. He ran through the sheer joy Of
running. He needed no pacemaker. He
was uot for a morning gallop, one
might think by the ease Of his stride,
the tnfaltering, rhthymical, enginelike
drive that covered so many feet a jump,
SO many jumps minute.
The first quarter tel!e the story Of
the race. 1t wasn't race after the
sixt%nIe. 1t wasn't exactly q process
sion. either, but race against time,
such as Roamer ran at Saratoga two
years ago. 1t was an exhibition Of all
that is great and noble and edifying
in the thoroughbred heart.
Further and further ahead thundered
this machine OF horse, without falter
or stay. The experts clocking could
scarcely believe the condolences whis-
pered by the stop watches. Furfong
after furlong these exulting Worship
pers watched in admiration, hoping rev.
erently that the killing pace would not
kill in this instance. For Man o. War
has already become national in
stitution.
AS we'll expect the tide to change its
ordered course as for Man O. War to
falter in this test. Hitting the far turn
he was more than sixteenth Of a
mile in front Of Hoodwink. And every
yard Of the way home he increased that
unbelievable advantage. When Man
o. War, running the successive fur
stop watch, flashed past the judges in
worlds record time Hoodwink was
still two lengths shy of the furlong
pole. Ambrose had a sickly and fool
jsh grin on his face as he hammered
down to the finish. He appreciated to
the full the hopeless task to which he
had been assigned.
Finishes In Good Shape
Clarence Hummer shares with Man
O. War the glory Of the greatest per-
running turf. 1t required the wizardy
OF a Tod Sloan to bring home even such
a great horse in such gorgeous shape
after such prodigious effort, for Man
O. War finished more resolutely than
he began.
He raced the first furlong in 12 2-5
seconds; he raced the last furlong in
IL seconds fiat. He came back to the
scales somewhat warm, but respiring
regularly as after warm-up. Hood
RUNNERS excellence in judgment Of
pace 10 attested in the rhythmic flow
Of furlongs in the accompanying box:
Man O. War delivered the greatest
, thoroughbred effort Of history; Kum-
mer delivered 9 race that will live with
It forever, or until red blood ceases
70 Aow. There are great horses and
great horsee. There 10 and has been
only one Man o. War.
Il may have been family pride that
lashed Man O. War to the superlattve
Of all his brilliant achievements. Per
haps he had q word with his scape-
! Tost brother. Playfslfow, Who was cool.
ing out not far OF as Men o War wal