The Washington times., 1931-04-28
z WH|TNEYS,
BOSTW|CK
RIVALS
BY TOM THORP

DJ AONA u An
Is the famous Preakncss Stake
going to result in a three
cornered battle between ehe lead
ing younger sportsmen Of the
United States?
Present indications point to
c v. Whitney's Equipoise, John
Hay Whitney's Twenty Grand and
A. c. Bostwicks Mate, as three
leading candidates for the famous
classic on May at Pimlico.
For a long time it appeared as
If the Preakness would prove a
cut and dried family affair
between the two branches Of the
Whitney clan. Most of the early
support was for EquipoiSe until
his poor showing at Havre de
Grace last Saturday. Then Twen-
ty Grand was placed on even
terms with Equipoise.,
However, reports leaking out
Of PimlicO favor the A. G. BOSt-
wick colt to trim the Whitney
pair. Mate is said to be at the
very peak of his form. If these
reports prove true, then Equi-
poise and Twenty Grand have
q real tough rival on their
hands.
Mate showed this in his spark
ling race in the Belmont Park
Futurity last fall. But for an
unfortunate accident the son OF
Prince Pal-Killashandra might
have won the richest Of all
juvenile stakes.
Close Match Inspires
The fact that the leading candi-
dates for the Preakness and Ken
lucky Derby are owned by the
three most prominent youn g
sportsmen in America is sure to
lend additional interest to the
three-year-old classic. Nothing
inspires interest more than close
match among young competitors.
The world loves youth. older
competitors are too conservative.
John Hay (Jock) Whitney has
behind him the enormous wealth
of his late father, Payne Whitney.
Cornelius Vanderbilt IS onn "
Whitney can rally to his support
the great resources Of the fortune
left him by his father, Harry
Payne Whitney, and at the same
time call upon the Vanderbilt
family for additional support.
Sonny's mother was Gertrude
Vanderbilt, daughter Of the late
Cornelius Vanderbilt. A. c. Bost-
wick is heir to Standard Oil mil
lions.
Racing has witnessed many
great battles between huge for
tunes for the right to rule at
the sport. History is full OF
enormous sums being spent by
millionaire spOrtsmen to keep
their racing silks in the front
ranks. The late James Il.
Keene, William G. Whitney, Au-
gust Belmont, James A. Hag-
gin. J. X. L. Billings and many
other old time SpOrtSmen spent
fortunes in their endeavOrS to
keen their turf representatives
among the leaders.
What these old time rivals
spent is not going to be crop
in the bucket to what Will be
expended during the next few
years by the present young genera
tion of sportsmen. The untor-
tunate dropping of several OF the
leaders caused many to feel the
turf was about to find itself fac
ing a very serious situation IN re-
placing these old timers. How
ever, one glance at the leading
stables of the country is suftl-
cient to prove the younger genera
tion is not only going to replace
their forefathers, but they are
going to blaze a brand new trail
which will lead higher than any
before travelled by the turf sport.
Friendly
The rivalry is of a friendly ma
ture, j. H. Whitney, c. V. Whit
ney and A. C. BostWick are insep-
arabic pals. They play polo to-
gether, hunt together and go
around together. It is only when
their turf representatives meet in
the same contest that they are
friendly rivals"
Many who have watched the
Whitney boys grow up are pre-
dieting a close rivalry between
the pair. They can remember
how Jock and Sonny grew up.
There was great spirit of
rivalry from the very beginning.
whether it was mere toys in the
nursery or Shetland ponies it
was all the same.