The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-05-16
TODAY'S
SPORT
PARADE
BY HENRY McLEMORE
United Press STAFF Correspondent


New York, May 10 - (U.P) -
The question Of how great O race
horse Bimelech is was settled, once
and for oil, with the arrival In the
big town Of Colonel Edward Riley
Bradley, the master Of Idle Hour
Farm.
The Colonel had been here
scarcely long enough TO order @
new supply Of his famous gates-ajar
collars before announcing that
Bimelcch would not start In the
WIthers mile at Belmont park on
Saturday unless the track were fast.
~ q matter Of fact, the Colonel
went tlrther than that. He made II
clear tAat Bimelech would pass up
all Of his major three-year.old en-
gagements unless nature were kind
and provide o dry, quick as-light-
ming footing ut least an hour Or
two before post time. Cuppy tracks
like the one Bimclech found at
Louisville, when he was beaten by
Gallahadion In the Kentucky Derby,
are out. SO are muddy tracks,
drying out tracks, slow tracks, and
even just good tracks.
Fast Track Only
In short, Bimclech Is choosey
fellow. Like JohnstoWn OF q year
ago the son of Black Toney and La
Trionne Is q champion In restrict
ed sense only. He hasn't 1t In him
10 go out on any given day and ac-
cept any given track and take his
chances against any given horse.
The old colonel must be getting
old, indeed, for only few minutes
after he had said Bimelech would
demand a certain type OF racing
stripe, he spoke Of his colt as a
true champion. Now I am not one
TO argue matters OF the horse with
the master OF Idle Hour. While !
have spent more than the budget
allows In what Is known as "im-
proving the breed" I have never
owned q racing stable. My silks are
not known on any track In the
world, and I have yet to have the
thrill of standing In the unsaddling
ring and getting roses In my hair.
Still. know what sports cham
pion Is.
A real champion, that Is.
A real champion, be he man or
beast, is one who does not have a
handle with care" tag on him. A
champion can go IN the rain or the
sunshine, over the sprint distance
or the ,ong route. He Is one who
needs to know nothing more than
the time and place of battle.
To say horse who can't go In
the mud or on an of track Is a
champion Is to say that boxer Is a
champion who can only guarantee
to beat men who promise not to hit
him with left hand. You might
just as well give the National Ten
mis- singles title to fellow who
could win only II opponents prom
ised not to lift lobs when he came
to the net. Carrying 1t still further,
how much would you respect
world champion baseball team that
got the title only because the oppo-
sition was considerable enough not
to employ hunts or home runs?
Sny vi GREATNESS
Abviously, the colonel's claim that
Bimelech Is a true champion Is
wishful thinking. He isn't q cham
pion of any sort at the moment
Many q horseman will tell you thai
not until a thoroughbred picks ur
weight and goes mile and hall
has he any right TO distinction
Bimelech never has gone that far
He'll get his first whack at the LONG
run when-if The track Is good and
Just 10 his liking - he goes In the
Belmont stake.
This may all sound like heresay
from q man who spoke SO gl0wingls
OF the colt In Kentucky. and who
predicted that he would win thu
Preakness despite his defeat In thu
Blue Grass. But when colts owner
comes right out and says his pride
needs the aid OF nature 10 win, ther
there Is but ono conclusion. He 4
not good enough 10 stand on hii
own.
And champions must do THAI o.
they aren't champions.