Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-16

One ballny afternoon season or
two ago, Naturalist performed the
classic feat of his career. 1t came
about in a two-horse contest and
cost at least $4,000 to those who
had backed him as the surest thing
in all the world.
Stops Dead.
The event, handicap affair, was
designed to bring into competition a
field of star performers. About eight
were entered. When the other OWL
ers found that Widener had no in
tention of scratching Naturalist, they
did the scratching-all but one. For
they reckoned that Naturalist, then
at the top of racing form, would
make show of their thoroughbreds.
SO only one hoss, who was in for
a workout more than anything else,
faced the barrier with the old rogue.
When it arose, Naturalist flashed
ahead. The farther he ran, the
greater became his lead. Twenty
lengths in front, he turned the
stretch for home. And then-well,
10000 persons watched and saw him
do it, yet could hardly believe their
own eyes.
Having run about five furlongs ut
top speed, Naturalist d decided he had
performed days work. Or maybe
he belonged to some secret labor
union among the hosses and had
heard whistle blow. But no mat
ter the cause-Naturalist started to
stop faster than any other horse had
stopped before.
His jockey began to pound his
fanks with a whip. 1t did no good.
Naturalist decided he had done
enough runing for the day. He came
to a dead halt as the other horse
by. Then despite the ef-
forts of his jockey, Naturalist turned
around completely-was headed in
exactly the opposite way.
Refuses to Run.
The jockey fought him no more.
The race was long over. So the boy
let him have his lead to see what he
would do. Naturalist promptly
ambled to the inner rail, leaned his
head on it, much as man cups his
own head in the palm of his hands.
Naturalist, in dreamy eyed con-
tentment, looked for a while at the
field of daisies in the enclosure.
After while he seemed to have
his scenic lust sufficiently
for, without urge from the jockey, he
around facing the finish line
and sauntered along to the judges
stand to be unsaddled.
Just the other day he faced the
barrier with three of the fastest
horses in training. When the web
bing few up, Naturalist absolutely
.efused to run. He fought again tor
his lead-and because his Jockey
wasn't Hercules, he got it. Natur-
alist then devoted a few seconds to
looking over the luscious appearing
grass in the enclosure. Then-and
only then-did he decide to run.
And by that time the field was 50
lengths away-and Naturalist was
beaten.
Has Good Record.
The entire career of Naturalist is
with exhibitions of this kind
and redeemed by glorious per-
Iorfances when he wants to run. In
mood, Naturalist can carry a ton OF
weight over any sort of track and
from six to nine furlongs-and grab
4 purse for his owner. He has es-
.ablished many records during his
years as a performer and not all OF
hem are for eccentricity.
He's one of the most uncertain
betting propositions-and yet one of
the best that ever dug a hoof into
The turf The price laid against him
by the "bookies" is always gener-
ous because of his uncertainty. If
Naturalist was consistent horse,
he'd rarely have been better than
even money in any of his races dur
ing the past two or three years.
But he's the worlds champion
"in- -and-outer." So the quotes against