The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-10
BELMONT RACE
REMAINS CAGE
OF GREATNESS
Stake Early in June Seems
to Be Headed for New
Popularity
By JACK GUENTHER
UNITED Press Racing Editor

NOMUCW 4AVoS AG0CAAk EsuAWVKI
New York, UP) The Belmont
Stake is Americas only true coun-
terpart of the famed English Der
by. Inaugurated in 1867, 1t is the
Oldest Of the three races which COM
pose the triple crown. Run at the
true Derby distance Of a mile and
half, it Is the longest. And while
slightly less valuable than the Ken
lucky Derby and the Preakness, it
is the most distinguished.
In recent years, the Belmont
Stake has been the last of the great
S-year-old races run each season.
This years date has not been set,
but the 72nd Belmont probably will
be held on June 8, For this reason
it often is the most important race
Of the three, because the late bloom
ers have had more of chance to
develop and because every once in
a while horse will win the Derby
and then the Preakness and come
up to the Belmont with a chance
to complete a slam.
Won by Turf Greats
The roll call of winners includes
such great horses as Johnstown,
War Admiral, Granville, Omaha,
Peace Chance, Twenty Grand, Gal
liant Fox, Blue Larkspur, American
Flag, zev, Man O. War, Sir Barton
and Colin. One reason for this Is
that most of Americas prominent
racing men who breed their own
horses live in New York. The Bel
mont, run at Belmont Park in New
York, is essentially a breeders race.
Within the past so years more than
half Of the Belmont winners were
sired by horse which ran, one two
or three In the event before.
An owner must nominate his
horse at least two years before the
Belmont Is run. Names of 1855
youngsters were sent along when
the race closed in December, 1889,
and LOT of them still are eligible.
Only colts and fillieS may run, as
geldings are banned. Among those
LOT are included the real blue blood
ed young horses of 1910.
Most of them have been entered
for either the Preakness or the
Deeply, too. The top contenders are
Bifnelech, Andy K, Asp, Bashful
Duck, Bold and Bad, Boy Angler,
Call to Colors, Calory, Carrier
Pigeon, Corydon, Ekwanok, Fenelon,
Flight Command, Merry Knight,
Roman, Ship Biscuit, Straight Lead,
and Wool Wool. The notable absen-
tess are Roman Flag, Rough Pass,
Dit, Royal Man, Barnet and Epat-
ant. Unlike the entry opening, the
Belmont cannot be entered by any
horse not nominated before he has
passed his first birthday.
Purse $25,OO0, Added
The race itself always has been
considered the best test of the g.
year-old horse because of its ex-
tended distance. 1t Is run at scale
weight of 1875 pounds for purse
of $4,000, added. The net to the
winner usually approximates $4,000,
although 1t rises or falls, depend
ing on the number Of nominations
which builds up the added money.
At the moment, Bimelech Is the
long-range favorite for the Bel
mont, just as he Is for the Kentucky
Derby and the PreaknesS. He is bred
for distance and has proved his en-
durance by turning in his best race
at the mile and LIS route Of the
Pimlico Futurity. But the odds are
all against the son of Black Toney
in his quest for the triple crown
because only four horses in history
have managed to win it-Sir Bar
ton, Gallant Fox, War Admiral and
Omaha.
Crowds Not Impressive
While horsemen always have con-
sidered the Belmont the most i'm
portant race in the nation, the
public has regarded it coldly. The
largest crowd ever to witness a
Belmont running was less than
10000 spectators-little more than a
third of the number of people who
annually watch the Kentucky
Derby.
This year, however, this attitude
is expected to be changed. The
bookmakers have been replaced by
mutuels in New York state and the
Wideners have been replaced by the
affable Alfred G. Vanderbilt as
president of Belmont Park. Between
them, these two changes should be
instrumental in returning to the
Belmont stake the popularity en-
joyed two score years ago.