The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-01
TODAY'S
SPORT
PARADE
Rx HENRY McLEnEORE


UNITED Press stan COrresp0ndent)
Los Angeles, Feb. 1-(UP)-Sea-
biscuit has been scratched from so
many Santa Anita races because of
rain in the past week, that it was
rumored here today he would be
shipped to New York to make his
first comeback attempt in Madison
Square Garden.
Unconfirmed reports said that
Owner Charles 8. Howard would test
his handicap champion In a mile
gallop on the Gardens indoor track
against a brilliant field of milers
such as Glenn Cunningham, Lou
Zamperini, Archie San Romani, and
Chuck FenSke.
The only thing that is holding up
the shipping Of Seabiscuit to New
York is an impeachable rumor that
there is a leak in the Garden roof
and that In case of rain a few drops
of water might drip through and
spot the red and white Howard silks.
'BOO"
SeabiScuit' S latest withdrawal from
d race came yesterday, and when his
declaration was announced shortly
before he was to go to the post In
the sixth against field Of assorted
articles named Heelfly, Viscounty,
Firobzepore, Bubbling Boy and Hys-
terical, there was boo Of such pro-
portions that it shattered electric
light bulbs on the tote board and
withered the less hardy flowers Of
the infield garden.
1t didn't bother Mr.. Howard, how
ever. He is used to boos after
scratching Seabiscuit. He operates
on the principle that Seabiscuit is
his horse and that he has the right
to handle him as he sees fit. It has
been said that Mr.. Howard has no
intention of allowing the customers
to dictate to him until they start
PAYING for the hay and grain for
his stable; footing the bill for trans
portation and jockeys; and picking
up the tab on his losses at the
end of the year.
Sold for $1,000
Mr.. Howard has the feeling that
the customers became interested in
Seabiscuit little too late. He can't
understand why, If the boys and
girls are SO fond Of him, they didn't
buy him in 1895. He was up for
sale at something like $1,000 at that
time. OF course, the fact that he
had four bad legs (Which is the
maximum number of bad legs horse
can have) and a record SO spotty 1t
could have passed for Wesley Bar
RVS face (remember him? or am I
dating myself?) might have had
something to do with the Biscuits
being unnoticed at that time.
7 am in complete accord with Mr..
Towards stand. After all, he brought
the horse along from a common
platter to the position he now holds.
So he must know something about
the horse. You don't take Grip
pied, tired, and worked-to-death
horse and maneuver him into the
second biggest money winner Of all
time by blind luck. If he decides
that Seabiscuit would he endangered
by running on slippery track. who
are you and you and the man in
seat 6, row A, of the clubhouse
stand to question his Judgment?
After all, the four races Seabiscuit
declined to enter in the past week
were worth only a total Of $15,500.
That isn't haircut money, mind you,
but it is only half of what he needs
to pass Sun Beau as the biggest
money winner of all time, and only
a seventh or so of what the Santa
Anita handicap Of March 2 is worth.
Mr.. Howard would be on the mailing
list of all the psychiatrists if he
gambled Seabiscuit's soundness on a
cheap race when fortune Is just
around the corner. And mean just
around the corner, too, because if the
game little cuss comes up to the
handicap sound he'll take 1t all.