Evening star., 1938-12-06
By ROBERT HENRY.

Each fall when the wind is whip
ping about the deserted Maryland
tracks and the top flight thorough
breds have been bedded down for
the winter or shipped of to some
tropical merry go round. Editor Ed
gar G. Horn, of the Turf and Sports
Digest, sends ballots to 500 turf
writer's and requests their selections
on the various leaders in the equine
set.
This year it's no cinch to rattle of
the champions, but taking full ad-
vantage of difference of opinions
make racing" we tackle the task
with gusto.
Starting with the handicap divi-
sion, where the king of the turf
usually reigns, none can deny that
Seabiscuit deserves the crown. Any
doubt as to his supremacy was dis
PEELED when he conquered his only
serious rival, War Admiral, in the
recent Pimlico Special.
Proves His Superiority.
Meeting under conditions favor
able to both. the rugged Biscuit
clearly showed he was the superior
horse. Besides the actual results
of that match race, the best tip-od
regarding their relative merits was
supplied by Charley Kurtsinger,
War Admiral's rider. who stated his
mount simply was not good enough,
and lost to a faster runner.
But Seabiscuit has other efforts
which entitle him to the crown.
Conceding chunks of weight to all
his opponents, and smashing rec
ords here and there, the California
comet won six route tests and beat
the best campaigners in the land.
War Admiral, in earning runner
up honors, also stepped out to win
six races, and while not so bravely
campaigned as the champion, never
theless, did enough to warrant be-
ing placed second.
The 3-year-old group, often DOM
mated by one horse, is bit tough
er this year. Many Of the early
winners dropped out OF competition
before the season was half over. as
others gradually came to the fore.
Stagehand Is Selected.
While he did not win any of the
important specials reserved for run
ners Of his age. Stagehand prob
ably was the best of the lot. Start
ing his bid for national fame last
winter in California, the bay son Of
Sickle won the Santa Anita Derby,
then beat Seabiscuit in a record
smashing Anita Handicap. After
coming East the bay fellow won the
Narragansett Special and the Gov
ernor's Handicap before being laid
up for the year.
Jacola, undoubtedly the best dlly
in the country, ranks second to
Stagehand. In our opinion. AL
though starting late this summer
she won out of 7 races, taking
three straight at Laurel, which in
cluded a victory over Seabiscuit
In the Washington Handicap the
daughter of Jacopa beat a number
of runners in the older division
which Is quite some trick.
Several 3-year-olds might have
gained rank in this poll had they
stood training. However, such
horses as Lawrin, Kentucky Derby
winner; Dauber, Preakness winner
Menow, victor in the Withers and
Massachusetts, Handicap, and Pas
teurized, Belmont Stakes, all went
out early, and thus their true value
is hard to Judge.
Ell Chico Tops Juveniles.
The juvenile class, bit below par
this year, is another trouble-maker
The early flashes retired before be-
ing called upon to travel distance
while the late stars did not meet
many of the summer champions
Comparing them is matter OF
guess work.
The unbeaten Ell Chico licked
every ranking 2-year- -old with the
exception Of Challedon, the late sea.