The New York herald., 1921-07-14
AGED NATURALIST UP
TO HIS OLD TRICKS
Sulks at Post and Refuses to
Race in Feature at En-
pire City.
ny HENRY v. KING.

Joseph Z. Wideners OLD and i'll tenn
yesterday afternoon at the Empire City
track. He refused to break or race with
his field in the Fleetwing Handicap and
came home long after the other con-
testants had been returned to their
stalls. The stake went to the Rancocas
stables Dominique. with his stable mate.
Krewer, in second place. Arnold Roth
STEMS Gladiator was third.
Naturalist's Behavior was not a sur
prise to 2e regular racegoers. All
who have watched the horse since he
began his racing career know that he
will not break from the outside in a
small field or race at his best unless he
has at least half a dozen opponents.
Last year. while racing against r. T.
Wilson's Hannibal. he logged along for
half mile and then stuck his toes in
the sand and refused to bulge. In his
morning trials he refuses to work alone
and all the whips and spurs in the coun-
try won't make him do anything he
doesn't want to do.
More than a decade ago Walter
House had horse which refused to race
from an outside position. He was Law
ton Virgins. After standing still sew
eral times the stewards issued an order
that he was to have an inside position
II he drew it and one in the middle of
the field II he drew an outside one.
After this order was issued the horse
was never left at the post and always
ran bang up race. Perhaps 1t would
be a good idea if the stewards here
issued a similar order in regard to
Naturalist. It would prevent unkind re-
ports, help everyone concerned and do
no one any harm.
Whether or not Naturalist would
have been returned the victor even II
he had been on his best behavior Is q
matter of conjecture.
The Rancocas pair were powerful
horses They had speed galore and
covered the short six furlong route in
the fast time of :0s 3-5.
Dominique beat his stable mate by a
scant half length, but that was because
Buddy Ensor on Krewer allowed him to
do so. Krewer was much the best in
the race. He could have won ealloping.
but when Ensor saw his stable mate go
to the front he eased up Krewer. When
Gladiator seemed TO be catching DOM
Unique. Ensor started to ride Krewer
again, fearing his stable mate would
home a neck Ill front Of the Rothstein
giant.
The Rancocas Stable made II double
when Timbrel led home a big field OF
cheap juveniles in the fifth. The black
son Of Zeus was much the best He
was practically left at the post, but un-
der a slashing ride by Fator he raced
after his field. and standing long half
drive for five furlongs won easily from
S. A. Clopton's Dare.
John f. Madden's colcrs were borne
to victory in the opening event when
his Surf Rider beat a good field OF
youngsters. It was this son of Super
man and Sea Spray which defeated
Samuel Riddles Oceanic at Aqueduct
last week. Despite that impressive race
he had few friends Mr.. Madden was
confident he would win and told his
friends and acquaintances to place a
small wager on him.
Fator broke him in front, and despite
q dozen challenges he held command TO
the end. At the Judges he was three
parts of a length in front Of Harry
Payne Whitney's Yankee Maid and was
running much stronger than all of his
opponents. George Odom's Modo was
third.
Thunderstorm had the time OF his life
beating a band of platers in the third
race. He Is not at the top of his form
and only a hustling ride by Ensor en-
abled him to win the purse. The old
fellow raced all winter in Mexico and
seems TO be in need of a rest. After he
landed home. three parts Of length
ahead of Biff Bang. S. A. Clopton and
Woods Garth bid him up from $500 to
s7,coo.
American Boy led home a field or
platers in the second race, and Edgar
Allan Poe, carrying the silks OF the
Xalapa Farm. beat a big field or
maiden three-year-olds in the final.