Evening star., 1942-01-16
Whir|away's Chance
To Set Coin Mark
Dealt Big Blow
Seobiscuit's Detects
Among Epic Dromus
Of Coast Oval
By GRANTLAND RICE,
lr>.isl Coryeanondent of The Star

8DeElal CORRESPONDENCE Ol 1Hc 0tet.
ARCADIA. Calf, Jan. Is N.A.
NAD.-There still are millions OF
flowers-blue, white and crimson
banked around the neighboring
landscape. Orange trees still keep
their places around various boule-
wards. Trainers and grooms and
other old time horsemen, their num-
bers badly depleted. stare moodily at
the snow-capped mountains. Here
and there horses still are galloped IN
dailv workouts. But they no longer
move up around the back stretch.
They no longer come swinging into
the home stretch. head and head,
on their way to the wire.
This is the greatest ghost track
IN the history Of racing. Only q few
weeks ago more than $4,000, 900
worth Of thoroughbreds was ready
to run before great crowds for more
than 4 million dollars In purses.
The mutuel machines were geared to
handle their $35 900 600 share Of a
seasons take.
But the doom of Santa Anita
the temporary doom-was sealed
the second that Jap planes struck at
Pearl Harbor. The thud OF thor
ouehbred hoofs around these parts
has been drowned by the guns that
blaze from the jungles OF the Far
East to the sands of Libya.
A Flood Of Memories.
Sitting In the elevated press box
again it was easy enough to shut
ones eyes and see the fleet, game
6eabiscuit back in action.
There was the day, some years
ago, when he came laundering into
the stretch for the 100000 Handi-
cap to have Rosemont nip him at
the wire in photo finish.
A year later one could see the
same Seabiscuit almost knocked to
his knees at the start in his second
100000 test. He was caught in
a jam early, more than l6 lengths
behind. And from that spot he
ran the fastest half mile ever known
to regain his place around the front.
In spite of this terrific effort, car
rying 100 pounds, he still had
enough to move head and head with
Stagehand, which was under only a
pound impost. But once again
the great Biscuit was beaten by
inches or even less.
I could recall again the day he
broke down and hobbled off the
track on three legs His time was
over. But after years rest on the
Howard farm the old campaigner
was back again in 1910 for one more
shot.
Biscuits Sons Must Wait.
This time, before the raving ranks
of more than 10000 spectators. he
at last came through to set new
all-time money-winning record Of
around s430,000 before retiring to
let others shoot at his new mark.
There were six or seven Of his colts
waiting to run this winter, to pick
up where the old man left Of When
they will get their chance to run is
beyond anybody's guess.
Santa Anita has known more
than its share Of great horses
Seabiscuit, Kayak II, Discovery,
Cavalcade, Equipoise, Rosemont,
Challendon, Stagehand and others.
For the campaign of 1912 there
was a new challenger for Seabis-
cults all-time money mark. His
name is Whirlaway. The Warren
Wright-Ben Jones entry was hot
on the trail for Seabiscuit's record.
I've never seen him look 50 we'll"
y-viv,r a n
accident I don't believe any horse
could have beaten Whirlaway in
the big Handicap. Maybe I'm
wrong about it, but after the rest
We gave him you could see how
anxious he was to run again. But
1t was something that couldn't be
helped"
Brann and Howard Lucky.
Owners William L. Brann and
Charley Howard were lucky enough
to have Challedon, Pictor and Mo-
land entered in the $4,000 Widener
Cup race early in March at Hia-
leah, where Whirlaway isn't on the
list.
Both Messrs. Brann and Howard
believe they have first -class chances
to win the Florida classic. although
both will discover a horse named
Alsab is not any too easy to take.
Outside Of Whirlaway. Ben Jones
had many other possible or proba-
bic winners in training when the
blow fell. The Warren Wright
horse handler was looking toward
the biggest season in Calumet his
tory with his 1912 start at Santa
Anita