The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-19
Bimelech, Great Bradley Colt, May Never Race Again
BY JACK GUENTHER United Press Racing Editor)

Saratoga Springs, N. Y, Aug. 19- UP)-The story of the old man and his young horse is finished-but the Gods of the turf forgot the happy ending.
 Instead of closing on note of happiness, the story ends in heart break. Instead of closing victory, it ends in the wake of defeat. And, instead of proudly riding the breeze like a banner of triumph, the green and white silk of Idle Hour farm droops sadly at half-mast today. Bimelech has said goodbye to the tracks.
 Bimelech, of course, is the young horse. A year ago he was hailed as another Man O War. The satin- coated son of 8 royal thoroughbred family was great then; he had raced to six consecutive wins without a defeat, he had earned $135, ,09O in 10 minutes work and he was the short est future-book favorite in Ken- lucky Derby records.
 Only once in a lifetime does such 8 colt come along, and the old man |-Col. Edward Riley Bradley-knew his good thing when he saw it. The Colonel had waited 4U years for this dream horse. He had watched his bright hoops roll home four times at Churchill Downs and dozens of times in the richest races in the land but always he had waited and waited for the one who would be the best of them all.
 Sick Man
 Bimelech was that one. He start ed life when the Colonel was flat on his back on a sick-bed, his heart weak and his health failing. Each time the colt went to the post the Colonel grew bit stronger. All through the summer it went that way and finally when the red and brown shades of autumn coated the countryside the aged Kentuckian left his bed for good.
 ''This is the greatest horse I ever have owned" he said at the end of the year. "He is faster than Blue Larkspur and Bubbling Over and Burgoo King and Behave Yourself. He is so fast that TOW I challenge any horse in America at weight for age and the owner can name his bet"
 Nobody took that offer but Bime- lech's Derby odds went down and down. He started the year with two triumphs and soon it was whispered from Del Mar to Hialeah that here was the horse of the ages. Then the old man was battered with with a double-shock. First he suffered a relapse and couldn't go to Churchill Downs. Next a longlegged beauty named Gallahadion ran his baby down in the stretch and the victory streak was snapped at last.
 Derby Accident"
 The Colonel climbed off the floor from that one and a week later he sat in box high above Pimlico and saw Bimelech win the Preakness in runaway. His 80-year-old face crinkled to frighten away a tear the Colonel told the world he had known his colts ability all the while, and that the Derby was just an acci- dent-pure and simple.
 Even as late as this, the story could have ended happily. But it didn't. Instead Bimelech was hum- bled twice in his next three races and instead of second Man O. War he became just another good horse. But the Colonel still held the title in the wrinkled palm of his hand and he planned to take it for good in the Travers. Then the gods turned away and drowned, and there the story closed.
 Bimelech stepped On a pebble Saturday morning. A short time later he was withdrawn from what might have been his climax race. Two hours later the Colonel told the news. Bimelech had seriously inc jured his foot: he would not appear on the tracks again this year and might not appear again ever.
 The old man said the retirement was just temporary, but as he said 1t he knew that they seldom-if ever --come back.