The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-03

wear the same size foot-covering Runyon's OMNIBUS, a collection of short stories of and about New York's famous and infamous char acters, described in typical Rum yonesque fashion, Is some of the finest reading for relaxation that I ever hope to set eyes upon. It is truly LITERARY CLASSIC to me, because there's not SIPS word in the book, and the bellylaughs are as frequent as a stock salesman at a wealthy suckers front door.
 Regardless of what Damon
 Runyon has been doing to earn
 his daily bread these past five
 years, his famous poem to Earl
 Sande, comparable to the desig-
 nation of the FOUR HORSENIEN
 by Grantland Rice, will never be
 forgotten by those who like to see
 a blooded horse MAKE HIS
 MOVE at the sixteenth pole and
 win GOING AWAY. It was
 Runyon who wrote, in admiration
 of Sande's ability as a jockey:
 There was never so handy a
 guy as Sande,
 Bootin' those babies ;n.'
 VvVVVVV
 Now, it sems that Sande is the leading choice of the many WAR BOND BUYERS in New York who are currently engaged in voting for their favorite athlete through the medium of war bond purchases.
 For your entertainment. here with Is bit of background on one of the greatest little men who ever put feet in stirrups:
 The world of sport is busy buying war bonds and, in New York, cast ing votes for its favorite heroes. The late Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth of baseball, Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis, boxing and Earl Sande, famous ex-jockey and now trainer, are all being supported by the fans who cheered them on. A vote for any sports favorite may be registered by purchasing bond. Racing made a fine choice in Sande as its can didate, for throughout his career he typtfed the sportsmanship, hon. esty and gentlemanly qualities that made him an idol. Despite two stun- ming setbacks, his life makes one of the most interesting racing stories. marked as it is by outstand- ing brilliance in achievement.
 Sande was born at Groton, South Dakota, on November 13, 1898 and rode his first winner on January g. 1918, at the Fair Ground in New Orleans. The numerologiSt could find basis for predictions on Sande's life in the numbers 8, 10 and 20, even though books on the subject may not say so. Especially the '8" as the last numeral, for besides being born in 1898 and riding his first win- ner in 1918. he saddled his first win- ner as a trainer in 1928 and 1888 accomplished one of the greatest doubles at one track in racing an. nals-winning the Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Handicap with the crack three-year-old, Stage hand.
 After Sande had ridden Man O'War to victory in the 1920 Miller Stakes at Saratoga and then piloted Zev in the international race against Papyrus at Belmont Park in October, 1923. Damon Runyon wrote the now famous poem, There Was Never a Guy So Handy as Sande." From that time on he was 'The Handy Guy" In 1923. Sande rode 122 winners, 28 per cent of his mounts, and they earned $569.S94. then a worlds record. Tn 1880, he rode Gallant Fox in all his races and the earnings of $S08,275 con- stituted a new worlds record for one horse in one season. That feat has never been equalled.
 Increasing weight, the bugaboo of all raceriders, made roadwork a daily necessity. It finally weakened him so that he had to hang up his lack permanently. One of the most intelligent jockeys. Sande was close observer of the methods used by Sam Hildreth and other noted trainers and was ready for the train ing ranks when his saddle career ended.
 His popularity has not waned. Quiet, modest ard ever courteous, he has a legion of friends. That is very obvious at the Jockey Club ofiice. where the purchase of a bond is most frequeDtly 8 vote for 'HThe Handy Guy." often said to be the best jockey since the days of Fred Archer in England and Isaac Murphy in khis country.