The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-17

This is Travers Day at Sara
toga. The Travers is Oldest OF
all the stakes events run annually
in the United States. Only the
Kings Plate at Woodbine in To
ronto, and a ike-named event
at Blue Bonnets in Montreal
antedate the Travers on the
American continent.
Perhaps you recall that in
July Of 1920 James Rowe, trainer
of the Harry Payne Whitney
horses, announced that he be-
ueved he was through trying to
beat Man O. War with Upset.
John P. Grier and Wildair. Said
it simply couldn't be done, and
that trying it was only running
his trio of really good Whitney
colts. The statement came from
Rowe a few days after Man O
War had run John P. Grier rub
ber-legged in the Dwyer Stakes,
and John P.'s pulse had not yet
returned to normal.
But in the weeks that followed
Rowe got an idea in his head that
a bit of generalship might beat
the big Golden cyclone, whom he
detested with a hatred that was
almost beautiful. Rowe picked on
the TraverS as the spot to knock
Man O. War from his champion
ship pedestal, and shot a double
at him in John P. Grier and Up
set. No other horse owner cared
to participate-just the three colts
ran.
At the rise of the barrier it be-
came obvious that Eddie Ambrose,
remembering John P. Grier had
raced to-for-toe with the champion
through the first mile Of the
Dwyer, and actually had Big Red
headed at that point, was out to
accomplish the same stunt, while
Joe Rodriguez lay far back with
Upset, hoping the pair up ahead
would run themselves speed drunk
when he would come Looping along
and harvest the grapes.
For perhaps five furlongs-
about half of the mile-and-a-quar'
ter run-Man O. War led John P.
Grier by only a short length, with
Upset some eight or ten lengths
in the rear. The pace was fast
and steadily growing hotter. There
appeared an excellent chance OF
the James Rowe plot" That vet
eran trainer and his horsemen
friends could scarce restrain their
hopeful enthusiasm. Each Of them
had a conquering cheer on his
lips, ready to let loose the instant
Joe Rodriguez should turn Upset
loose and set sail for the leaders
But Howe had reckoned with
out John P. Grier-and equine in
telligence. HorSemen know that
horses recognize one another. &. .
know too that many a horse thor
oughly beaten by another has lost
heart, is overcome by an inferior
ity complex, and in future, after a
brief "try at it" land failure to
gain the upper hand), will make
no further effort to beat his faster
rival.
And so now, in this 1920 Travers
Stakes. John P. Grier had gone
out willingly enough to take one
more crack at the Golden Cyclone
But toward the end of the back
stretch John P. apparently de
cided he could fin q lot softer
task than trying to beat Man o
War, wherefore he simply short
ened his strides, literally backed
into Jockey Ambrose's lap-he'd
had enough, and there would be
no two ways about it. Ambrose
knew his mount and wisely re
Trained from pulling his whip.
Man O. War bounded on-with
the alert Joe Rodriguez, noting
John P. Grier'S sudden surrender
mildly laShing the sides of Upset
in a futile effort to get within
striking distance Of the flying
chestnut. Not a chirp came from
the lips Of Rowe and his friends,
only deep chagrin, resignation to
the inevitable. showed ON their
faces.
On came Man O'War by as
much margin over Upset as
Jockey Andy Schuttinger willed
and at the end he only was
cantering in one of the two
fastest mile and a quarter ever
run at Saratoga. Upset was sec
ond. even farther ahead of John
P. Grier.
Unopposed by Man O'War Ii
later races, John P. Grier per