The Washington times., 1933-08-24
EQU|PO|SE
STANDS OUT
SUPREME
BY TOM THORP

rate Cornelius Vanderbilt Whit
ney's celebrated American cham
pion, Equipoise, golden-heartec
son of Pennant-Swinging, the
greatest thoroughbred foaled ir
the history of racing in the United
States. EquipoiSe is a predomi'
nant favorite to win the $25. 5.000
Hawthorne Gold Cup here today
The record established by the
famous champion compares mos
favorable with the accomplish
ments of his many predecessors
for the title of greatest of all time
Even such illustrious turf idols
as Man O. War, Exterminator
Sysonby. Colin, Kingston, Pur
chase, Grey Lag. Roamer, F'riar
Rock, Whisk Broom I'd, Fit7
Herbert, King James. Superman,
Irish Lad, Tenny and Gallant
Fox fade partly into an eclipse
when the many magnificent deeds
Of the present American cham
pion are matched up with the
traditional accomplishments OF
these once great stars of the turf
Fourth Money Horse
True it is Equipoise has only
worked his way to fourth position
on the American list of money
winners. But the c. v. Whitney
champion is what is known as a
"hard luck" horse. He has met
with more unfortunate accidents
than any champion in the his
tory Of the sport. Just when he
was about to take the bit in his
teeth and breeze by all rivals so
far as the money winning record
goes he was taken down with an
unfortunate ailment as a 3-year.
old. A quarter crack caused his
retirement from the rich Ken
lucky Derby in 1881.
Last season, after establishing
q worlds record of 1874 2-5 for
the mile out at Arlington Park,
he was taken down with a severe
case Of collie.
Looks Like Greatest
On Saturday last he was
forced out of the Saratoga Handi-
cap with a bruised right front
hoof. But for these unavoidable
injuries he would unquestionably
be far out in front of all rivals
50 far as money winnings are
concerned.
What makes Equipoise look
like the greatest thoroughbred
ever foaled in America is the
easy way in which he defeated
the fields sent against him. It
matters not whether they are
Eastern, Southern, Northern or
Western rivals, the golden-hearted
son of Pennant-Swinging tumbles
them over like bowler, scoring
q clean string of strikes.
We have no star worthy of the
right to be whispered in the
same breath with the celebrated
C. v. Whitney champion. He
stands out like the north star
in the heavens, to guide all rivals
along a path to future greatness.
EQuipoise is not what might be
termed a "big horse" Rather
he is of the useful type, stocky
and perfectly formed. He weighs
about hundred pounds less
than Man O. War at the time
the famous Fair Play thorough
bred was making turf history.
The Glen Riddle Farms cham
pion was much taller and
chunkier than the Whitney title
holder. But turf authorities,
both foreign as we'll as Ameri-
can, have pronounced Equipoise
the perfect type of thoroughbred.
He is sure to prove invaluable as
a sire in the stud after complet-
ing his racing days.
Equipoise has the smoothest
stride witnessed in many years.
Old timers are unable to recollect
any champion that ever had more
frictionless way of covering
ground than this five-year-old
star.
This no doubt is why he has
the greatest racing stride of all
time. A measurement of his
enormous strides discloses to be a
few inches longer than the giant
bounds of the immortal Man O.
War. A tape put on his strides
measures out to 26 feet 4 inches,
the greatest credit to a thorough
bred. The Whitney champion
takes 216 and 47-100 strides while
In full flight in covering the mile.
Has Fine Head
Another noticeable thing about
Equipoise is the great depth be-
tween his ears and eyes. The
celebrated writer, Arthur Bris-
bane, was the first to call the
attention of authorities to the
value of depth between the ears
and eyes in judging the qualifi-
cations of a thoroughbred. He
pointed out that the brain of the
animal is found between the ears
and eyes. This contention is
sustained by an examination of
our best thoroughbredS.
One never found a narrow
headed horse anything but ordi-
nary. All great champions pos
sess wide foreheads. They are
intelligent looking animals.
Equipoise has one of the finest
formed heads that has ever
graced a thoroughbred. There is
great depth both between the
ears and eyes. Also there can be
found both fire and intelligence
in the deep brown eyes of the
celebrated American champion,
especially when trainer Thomas
j. Healey tightens the girth on
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