The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-11-05

attractions feature this years re- neNal, such as dressage contests and Q horse that gallops back wards. (Yes, Algernon, it's former thoroughbred racer.)
 This years equine World Series combines horse show, fashion ex- hibit and society pageant into one glittering spectacle. Winners at nearly 400 outdoor shows held throughout the nation during spring and summer fight it out for national titles.
 There are contests for saddle, harness and gaited horses, hunters, jumpers, ponies and every other type of show horse. Highlighting the productions are spectacular in- ternational military jumping con- tests every evening and at four matinees.
 The National Horse Show marks the opening of New York's winter social season, affords society its first major opportunity to display latest trends in fashion. Exotic hats, gorgeous gowns, furious furs com bine to make the boxes look like a Fifth Avenue show window.
 The hoi polloi rub elbows with the elite at this years show. Ace cent is on entertainment for plain, everyday horse lovers and sports fans.
 America, Mexico, and Peru have sent teams of their best jumping horses and most skiliful riders to compete for international jumping championships.
 Even the German Army Is in- directly represented, four of the dozen horses ridden by the United States Army team having been captured from the WehrTnacht by U. S. forces overrunning Central Germany.
 Rascal, Ripper, Roll On and Two Star are ex-German war horses. Rascal and Nipper served as mounts for the German Army equestrian team.
 The U. s. Army team is headed by Col. Earl P. Thomas, veteran of two Olympic Games and many previous horse shows. Other mem bers, all of whom saw active serv- ice during the war, are Col. Frank lin P. Wing, Col. Milo H. Matteson, Col. W. H. s. Wright. Col Roy W. Cole and Lt.-Col Charles A Sym- roski,
 In other jumping contests civilian men and women as well as Army officers compete. These open jump ing events are the most democratic contests at the show. In virtually all other classes horse must boast a handsome conformation and quail fly as an equine aristocrat. In the open the only thing that counts Is the horses jumping.
 Vast, the horse that gallops back wards, is owned by Col. Hiram E. Futile of Fort Riley. Kan. who puts him through his extraordinary performance. Not only does Vast gallop the Corrigan way, but he changes leads and steps while doing so.
 Vast is the only horse in the world thus accomplished and Col. Futile can put him through his paces using only a pair of silk threads for reins. Vast was sired by Infinite out of Ming Toy.
 Col. Futile also has e former steeplechaser. Olympic, imported French thoroughbred. for his ex- hibitions in the dressage class, which means exhibition riding. Col. Futile bought Olympic for sl in 1929 from E. c. McVitty of Garden City, L. l., who sold the animal because 1t was accustomed to Europe's grass turf and found American courses too hard for it's feet. Today Olympic is valued at Sl5,O0O.
 Accent on youth also features this years show, with renewals of the Equitation class and the A.SP.C.A. Maclay trophy horse manship events, open to riders who had not passed their iTth birthday in le43-44-45, irrespective of their present ages. These championships were not held during the hiatus Of the National Horse Show.
 The Equitation is for amateur riders of saddle horses. judged on hands and seat, general manage ment and control of the mount. The A.SP.C.A. is a jumping con- test over eight obstacles not ex- eeeding three feet six inches in height.
 The National Horse Show dates back to 1883 at Gilmore's Garden, a rambling old car barn that had served as terminus for the liar. lem Railway at 18th Street and Madison Avenue. The structure was razed in 1890 to make way for the original Madison Square Garden.
 At the first show mules and don- keys. as well as horses, competed for blue ribbons. The feature at- traction was a contest among the city's fire companies Co see which unit could harness its horses fast est and dash away.
 Over the years the show hes evolved gradually from an exhibi- ton of genteei pcmp conducted in