Evening star., 1938-10-30
By Charles NJ. Egan.

It is highly unlikely that young
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt could sue
ceed in making peace between the G.
/ O. and the A. F. of l.. But the
youthful squire of Sycamore Farm. in
his comparatively new role of vice
president of the Maryland Jockey Club,
is on the threshold of accomplishing
something just about as difficult.
He is bringing together War Admiral
and Seabiscuit in a special race at
Pimlico Tuesday-that is. of course,
barring mud and tendon trouble-and
any one who glances at the sports
pages now and then can tell you that
this feat equals anything Talleyrand
ever put over.
Ever since their 100000 match race
at Belmont Park was called of last
May-this was done when Seablscuit's
handlers and the tracks veterinarians
pronounced him unfit after more than
s25,000 had been expended by the rae
ing association for high-powered pub
licity and other necessary arrange
ments-most major race track OFF,
cials have altered Shakespeare and Mr..
Roosevelt just one letter and made
their nifty read, "A plague on both
your horses"
They were convinced, they let it be
known, that both Samuel D. Riddle of
Philadelphia the septuagenarian own
er of The Admiral, and Charles S. How
ard of San Francisco, who wasn't very
we'll known in the East until his
Biscuit developed into super horse,
had too much respect for the others
champion. Each owner had avoided a
meeting Of the horses on at least two
occasions. it was recalled.
Yet here the two great racers are,
ready to decide the equine champion
ship of the United States in race to
be run only about 40 miles from the
Capital in Just little more than 48
hours.
Truly. young Mr. Vanderbilt is a very
remarkable fellow
OF course, his family name did not
hurt him in dealing with the conserva-
tive Mr.. Riddle, who looks with a
kindly eye on the Vanderbilts, the
Wideners, the Whitneys and the Bel
monts. Particularly, the Belmonts. for
1t was Maj August Belmont who, in
the summer of 1917, sold Mr.. Riddle
for $4,000. the leggy, reddish colt
known as Man O War, generally con-
sidered the best horse this country has
known Man O. War Is War Admirals
sire and also Seabiscuit's grandsire.
Even with the advantage Of Mr.. Rid
dies personal regard for him, young
clear before the race was arranged
The master of Glen Riddle Farm was
anxious to retire War Admiral he
didn't want to run the risk of another
hasco like that Of last spring and he
had deep-seated grudge against
Pimlico despite his friendship for It's
young vice president.
It seems that back in 1926, the
track Handicapped at Pimlico assigned
1870 pounds to Crusader, a colt that
Mr.. Riddle always considered the
greatest of Man O. Wars sons until
The Admiral came along. Crusader
lost to Edith Cavell, carrying only
80 pounds, and Mr. Riddle never
entirely forgave the Pimlico officials
for what he considered an excessive
weight assignment.
For a number of years he did not
run his horses at the Hilltop track
but finally he relented and War Ad.
miral raced there twice last year. Ir
each case he narrowly escaped defeat
and Mr.. Riddle again was irked
this time at the way his horse was
handled by assistant starters.
Young Mr.. Vanderbilt overcame al
Of Mr.. Riddles objections and ther