Evening star., 1938-03-10
SANDE RATES HIM
GREATEST Of ALL
May Hit $4OO, 900 Mark in
Year or TWo-HaS Long
Rest for Derby.
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

LOS ANGELES, March 10.-They
said there would never be another Man
O. War. Perhaps not. But there is
horse named Stagehand now on his
way to more gold and glory than even
Man O. War ever knew.
Stagehand has two months in which
to rest and come along for the Ken
tucky Derby and the Preakness-and
Stagehand also has fellow by the
name of Sande to bring back the
razor blade edge that cut down the
gallant but unlucky Seabiscuit Satur-
day. Sande thinks Stagehand is the
greatest 3-year-old of all time-and
will prove it before the year is over.
The colt is the winter book favorite
at odds varying from 4 to l to 6 to /
to win the Kentucky Derby.
No one can deny the fact that young
Mr.. Stagehand has blown himself to
gaudy start. I've never seen horse
that could move along the stretch any
faster than Col HoWard's champion.
When you figure new track record
IN blazing time after a fairly slow
start, you get part of the answer. He
may not have the opening charge
that Man O. War had. but he can
match him with the wire in sight
Man o War at his best-War Admiral
or any one else from the peak form
OF 3-year-old stars.
Unlucky Seabiscuit.
The wonder is that Seabiscuit hasn't
cut his own throat. Two photo fin
ishes-a difference of inches-in two
successive 100000 races where each
time he was nipped in the last half
stride. Don't forget that Seabiscuit
also was breaking the track record.
Even that wasn't good enough. Every
time Seabiscuit sees a camera there
must be red CLINT in his eye and
murder in his heart. The recording
camera has been plain poison to this
great thoroughbred and he may get
out an injunction at any moment.
They may beat him, but the margin
eye to catch it.
A matter Of IL inches in two races
foot of air-has cost him close to
100000. This is high price for
space anywhere you look But no
one can say he isn't out there run
ming when they hit the stretch. He
simply couldn't spot phenomenal
2.vnor-n1H an
3-year-old was breaking a track record.
Nelson Howard's Gosum was the
next hero, a 108-to-1 shot outrunning
IA horses, including Aneroid, which
just week ago had beaten Seabiscuit.
1t Was a Great Show.
All in all, the fourth running of the
100000 was a brilliant show from
every known angle When you have
close to 10000 people betting more
than $1,500,000, you have a dramatic
basis to start with.
In addition to this, when YOU have
such race as Stagehand and Sea-
biscuit offered to the packed-in null
tltude, you get about all the action,
excitement and color that an occasion
can hold without spilling over.
While War Admiral was out for an
exercise gallop, Stagehand and Sea-
biscuit both were setting a record to
keep from being parked a length or
more away. That battle down the
stretch brought on a thrill that will
be remembered long time. 1t was
one Of those things that only break
out at rare intervals.
Both Nick Wall and Wolf got every
split second their two champions had
to give-a statement proved fully by
the watch.
Sande's Angle.
I'm looking forward now to the
Kentucky Derby and the Preakness
Sande said today. II think Stagehand
Is, too. At least I've been trying to
tell him about it. How would that
look for the first five months of the
year-the $50O0O Santa Anita DERBY
the 100000 Handicap-and more
than another 100000 added in Ken
lucky and Maryland? I think it will
pe that II Stagehand isn't hurt. +
don't see how they can beat that much
stamina, speed and gameness packed
into one piece of horseflesh.
"Stagehand is a great competitor
and. on the side, he has all the physical
qualities that are needed to back up a
stout heart. He has the chance to
pass the 100000 mark in the next
year or so, with any luck at ALL"
Sande, one of the greatest of all
Jockeys, now is one of the top train
ers In the game, and the combination
OF the handy man and the handy horse
Will be something to stop.
Copyright 1888. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, 1nc.)