Evening star., 1939-05-13
Greatest Colts
Crowd Roster
OF Winners
Only z FiIIies Race
To Victory in Long
Span Of Classic
BY GRANTLAND RICE,

PIMLICO RACE TRACK, BALT1-
MORE, Md, May 13 (N.A.NA).--
Great colts have won the Preakness
in the years that have gone rolling
by-and great colts have been beaten
in it. Here. on this racing strip on
hilltop. some of the richest turf
history has been etched by flying
hoofs. Another chapter was to be
written late today as the smallest
field for the classic in years raced
for the richest purse ever put up for
ear-olds-$71,O 900.
Start with Survivor, the winner of
the first Preakness, run in l873-two
years before the first Kentucky
Derby. Skip down the years past the
break from 1889 to 1909 20-year
lapse during which the race was for
gotten save by some sentimental
souls who at last succeeded in hav-
ing it revived.
Down to 1919. The winner that
year was Sir Barton. one of the great
est colts ever saddled. Sir Barton
had won the Kentucky Derby the
previous Saturday.
1t was muddled Preakness start
In which colt called Vindex was left
at the post and in which Milkmaid,
filly. broke on top. But Sir Barton
quickly caught and passed the filly
and went on to win, with Eternal
finishing second and Sweep On third.
Two Fillies Triumph.
Man o War was the winner in 1920.
Held out of the Kentucky Derby. Big
Red stormed to glory in the Freak
ness. With Clarence Hummer up.
he led by three lengths swinging into
the stretch and won going away. Up
set, which was to inflict his only
defeat upon him that summer at
Saratoga. finished second and Wild
air, Upset's stable mate. was third
Only one tilly ever has won the
Kentucky Derby-Regret, in 1915
CuriouSlv enough. the Preakness was
won by filly for the first time that
same year. Rhine Maiden grabbing
the cup and the purse
Only one filly has won since ther
Nellie Morse. in 1924. The weather
was vile that year. Heavy rains had
turned the track into bog "a hours
before the race.
Through the ooze and the muck
and the gloom came Nellie Morse.
trailed by Transmute and Mad Play.
Gallant Fox Gets Triple.
Sir Barton had won the triple
crown-the Derby. the Preakness and
the Belmont in 1919 Eleven years
passed before another colt hit it
Gallant Fox. in 1880. The Preakness
was run first that year.
Gallant Fox broke on top dropped
back, ran easily for while. then
overhauled all the others save Crack
Brigade, which finished second to
him in the Wood.
The charge down the stretch was
a thriller, but Fox was half a length
in front at the wire, with the fillv
Snowflake, third
There never was a greater Freak
ness than that of 1881. Judged off
the class Of the colts that battled
from the start to the judges.
The winner was A. C. Bostwick's
Mate, ridden by George Ellis. Twenty
Grand. with Charley Kurtsinger in
the saddle. was second. Ladder. rid
den by Schaefer was third-and
Equlpoise. guided by Sonny Work
man. was fourth.
Head Play won in a smashing style
In 1888, with Ladysman second and
Utopian third. In 1884 the great
Cavalcade was beaten by a nose by
his stable mate, High Quest.
Another Story by NightfaI.
Omaha, son of Gallant Fox. and
an easy winner in the 1885 DERBY,
was the outstanding favorite In the
Preakness and ran according to the
ngures. winning by six lengths from
Firethorne, with Psychic Bid third.
Omaha then went on to win the Bel
mont.
Bold Venture. Derby winner in
1886 III a great stretch duel with
Brevlty, but lightly regarded in spite
OF that, proved himself once more
oy winning the Preakness, finishing
ahead Of Granville and Jean Bart
War Admiral. most DISTINGUISHED
son OF Man O War. crashed through
In 1897 to beat Pompoon and FLYING
scot. Last year on dav as bad as
that on which Nellie Morse tri-
umphed. Dauber slogged through tho
mlre to win. with Cravat second and
Menow third.
And this year? Johnstown-
Gl!ded knight-Ciencia-Impound- -
Volltant? The choice here is Johns
1own.but the answer will be in by
nightfall. ~