The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-27
TALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS

~ 1
~ thing about these upsets in
sports. You know, Of course, what
On upset is. It's a sure thing that
doesn't sure thing Tor you. Take
Eouipoise, the race horse, everybody
had been saying he was the great
est 3-year-old of the year, prac-
tlcalIv another Gallant Fox. IN the
future books, the boys had made
him a top heavy fayorite to WIN
the derby.
wen. he started IN q more or less
ordinary race over the weekend and 50
completely did he dominate his neld n
public esteem that you had TO bet -
70 via one on HMM case he won
what happened7 Nothing much, ex-
eept the greatest 3-year-oid Of the year
dawdled home a disg-acetul last Not once
was he in the running. There we're no
spo.ogetic circumstances. He got away
good. He was well ridden. He was never
IN trouble The only criticism that could
be held against him is that he was out
run. and in this particular race out
classed
Now lot Of strange things happen at
g race track. Some Of them are simple
Of explanation. Others aren't. From time
70 time you read that an owner, trainer
or Jockey has been ruled of for prac-
tees not deemed IN keeping with the
best interests Of racing. Generally these
exclusions follow the defeat Of some con-
spicuously superior horse.
1t IS interesting 10 note--and not at all
surprising-that the defeat Of Eaupoise
was absolutely unattended BY suspicious
circumstances The answer is that Eeul-
poise is attached TO a stable that places
workmanship above finances. fact gen
orally known to tie wagering public. rs
& consequence. when the crack 5-year-o!d
csrle waGdling home miserable last the
reaction Of the crowd was one OF SYM
pathy rather than indignation.
Evervbody agreed something must have
zone wrong. and when the examining
physician announced the colt had de-
ve.oped a peculiar aiIment which impaired
the normal function OF his hind legs there
was no discussion.
Indeed. the expert feeling seems 70 be
that in spite Of the defeat. Euuipoise is
stil the standoUt 3-year-old Of the year
and that he Will be the one to beat IN the
seasons important fixtures. Anybody can
have an of dav-Why not a race horse?
fshed last in the Chesapeake STAKES az
Hayre de Grace Saturday re WeS 10 toU gI.,
to be suffering from Kidney B 81 fo2
Anchors AWeign won, paying 9z4.<O AOE 20
so much for Eeuipoise.
THE night before this startling
Il upset Tony Canzoneri, a black
haired. grinning, swarthy Italian,
born in New Orleans, and developed
in Flatbush, knocked out Jack Chlo)
Berg Of London in three rounds IN
q bout for the lightweight cham
pionship Of the world.
This was all against the expert
dooe. In the advance odds Berg'
one Of the sturdiest young men IN
the trade, was Z to 5 favorlte 70
win from the supposedly ngnt mt
ting New Yorker. But it didn't Work
out that way. ..
How do they explain this upset
varfouslv. Some OF the boys tell you tI'ao
canzoneri. having lost his speed nao
st,rtsd 10 box for ia. footed POSITION.
THAT he gets set 70 punch now, and 'aaV
this gives him the power 20 knock men
ont. A power he couldn't command II MS
earlier DAYS when Re was strictly boxer
Of the tos-daaciag school. Plausible
enough.
Others remind you anything can happen
IN the prize night racke5-and especially IN
chicago. Berg was strong favorite. II
was a heavy betting fight. Tho set up
was inviting for a clean up. Maybe some
Of scarface's pals wanted TO see an early
knockout You know how the boys talk.
OF course, you don't have to listen TO
them. but quite number Of people do.
At any rate, it is evident that the race
track people can take an upset with
finer shirt of tolerance and credulity than
the fight mob. Here you have to
shot losing in the ring and the boys
promptly start whispering. But a l to
shot loses at the track and it is dismissed
as an of day for the horse.
Perhaps the explanation is that as day
In and day out proposition you will ind
more honesty Of effort at the track than
in the prize ring-or maybe what I mean
to say is that you find the policing
great deal more rigorous and stringent.
Il
NATURALLY no one should at
IN tempt to comment on the
merits of a prize fight which he did
not see. I have always regarded
Canzoneri as one of the best all
round little fighting men in the
game. But I never thought he could
hit
7 was not particularly impressed the
night he stopped AL Singer in one round
20 win the lightweight championship. It
didn't seem to me that Singer cared
great deal about hanging around That
night and that when Carzonert tapped
him he took the convenient way out.
stiu feel that way about the Singer knock
out but it must be that Canzoneri can
punch a little bit.
you see, I'm not placing any great
stress en- the Chicago whispers)
The records will always show that
Canzoneri stiffened Singer in round and
Berg in three and they still pay OF on