The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-25
Today's Sport
 Parade
Ry LACK GUENTHER


 Pinch. Hitting for Henry McLemore
 New York, Aug. 25-(UP)--In the hush of the paddock rings under Saratogas spread of trees or in the less select circles of Hells Kitchen bookie shops, racing conversation is growing more confined. The domi- ilant topic is Kayak II, and let the superlatives fall where they may.
 The Eskimo name of this South American horse may be an odd one but along the Pacific slopes from Agua Caliente to Longacres 1t is g familiar one, with numerous ram- ifications. To horsemen 1t is syn onomous with black magic; to bettors 1t is the open sesame to almost certain profits; and to spectators 1t conveys 8 picture of lop-eared beast with sausage-skin and dis dain for anything that runs.
 Reverses Usual Path
 Kayak II is owned by Charles S. (for Seabiscuit) Howard, a soft spoken San Franciscan who reversed the usual path of progress. He threw over the automobile for the horse. Howard left his auto salesrooms for racing with little preparation, but he made it pay. He bought Sea- biscuit for $7,200. Seabiscuit ran over everything in sight, won the 1887 and 1888 handicap titles and earned almost $350,000.
 When the Biscuit broke down in February the wise guys said Howard was through and that if he stayed in racing he would lose all he had won and more. But while Seabiscuit still was collecting gold cups How ard was poking about the bargain counters of Buenos Aires. His agents picked up colt for $7500, brought him to San Francisco, and schooled him to take his stablemate's place when the time came.
 The time came in the $100,00 Santa Anita handicap and Kayak was the horse. He won the prize after the Biscuit muffed 1t twice. He also won the $50000 gold cup and broke Seabiscuit's mark in doing 1t. Now the man who knows both horses best, Trainer Tom Smith, says Kayak II is the better of the two.
 So in three years Howard has won s500,000 and, barring an aocident to Kayak, come November he should win his third straight national title. These are important, even unusual, attainments. But-stop us if you've heard this before-their implica tions go deeper than either money or titles.
 Racing is essentially gambling enterprise. It is no less a gamble for a Whitney or a Vanderbilt to pay $20,000 for yearling than for the butcher to pass $2 through a mutuel window. The hope of profit is the motive behind either transac- ton.
 But gambling is a nasty word, so the trade invented the pleasant fic- ton that horses run to improve the breed. This theory has been ad- vanced for 200 years and men have spent their lives and millions to for ward 1t.
 StuuIe0 blOOu Lines
 A few. like William Woodward. 1 have studied blood lines for years | to match strains in the pursuit of this advancement. Others have used | horses merely as expensive, fashion, able toys. Regardless of the merits ,f either case, what of this theory | 3f improvement of the breed when | applied to Howard, the johnny 'ome- lately who ran an investment | f SIS, 900 into $500, ,000-? His horses | vere no fiukes. eeabiscuit rates as one of the great lorsee of history. Kayak II, with | hree more years to run. is carrying | a spectacularly. Another Howard | Sorteado, may develop | ito the greatest of the three.
 Maybe Howard is just straw in | le wind or maybe he was born with | Midas touch. Yet, with minimum | ;pcnse this San Francisco business an sinRle-handedly has spread Rled the handicap division for | rec straight years and his horses one e three legged cripple and the her ipp-eared bargain from Ieuos Aires---have beaten almost ury top- flight horse produced by ! 3 men who spend their lives iizs~ 7ving the breed.