Evening star., 1953-10-29

so, either. Francis Siam
But The Dancer had just been able to extend him.
there's telling what Fool might have DONE If the
gray champion could at him in the PIN
Hco Special it might have resulted in unprecedented
clocking. .-.
TOM FOOLS TIME in what to prove his farewell
impressive it He had only Navy Page and
Aerted to beat and they put in the first few
strides With Jockey Atkinson looking his shoulder
forward, by eight lengths
in 1855 fifth of second better than the Pmlco record
for mile and siXteenhs, distance the his
toric PreaknesS.
ironical that Tom Fool didn't win the Kentucky
Derby the PreakneSS the Belmont He didn't in
OF these In the spring OF 1882 when he was the
of Menow-Gaga by Bull Dog, fever and took to
prolonged coughing spells Whitney and Mrs Payson
erly locked the door to his STALL
But the Derby PreaknesS and Belmont don't constitute
the only Triple in racing There another composed
of the Metropolitan Suburban Brooklyn Handicap and
the real judge of horseeh will tell you this much tougher
to win because of weight assignments In the of Tom
carried the record high weight of 1876 pounds in win
ming the Brooklyn at mile and quarter In another of his
II consecutive winning efforts he captured the Carter while
carrying 35 pounds and equaed the track record at Aue
duct too.
SIR BARTON BECAME the first winner of the Derby,
Preakness and Belmont Since he the 3yearold Triple
Crown in 1919 others have duplicated the feat But
when Fool the handicap Triple Crown last
he doing something other horse had accomplished in
40 years, since WhiSk Broom II.
Fool playing second fiddle earlier this year. in
public estimation to Native Dancer The real knew
Tom Fool for what he was truly great horse The casual
racegoer and the housewife who listens TV Saturdays
knew Native Dancer far better
Perhaps it because The Dancer gray horse.
Perhaps because The Dancer being 3yearold
in the beStknown Perhaps it TV
trained him often Perhaps it because he
bumped badly in the Derby that he finished second for
the only time in his young life Perhaps it because his
name had more to recommend it than Tom Fool
Most likely it combination of all of these things.
For there doubt that Native Dancer generally
exciting gray drawing
He most of his coming from behind Tom Fool
made it look too easy.
TOM FOOL WAS A PICTURE horse from the moment he
stepped onto the Saratoga track 1851 to win maiden
Few horses if any, cut such magnificent figure the
hogany bay. He had everything, looks and class.
Breeders store by looks but frequently horses that
short conformation who erratc lot better
than picture horses In respects Tom Fool much
like Citation, handsome and efortless in motion
Jim Fzsimmons, oldest and probably beS-known of all
trainers Sad "orseS like people They have per-
SonatieS"
During Citations heyday Stablemate Coatown packed
more crowd appeal He was described ratyknobbed,
but he could turn burst of speed that Citation
showed although Ben JONES' who trained both that
Citation could beat Coaltown at any time land any
distance.
WITH HIS LONG, FLOWING TAIL Whirlaway made a
pretty sight he minced onto track but strict
conformation fauted him. Whirly, his chuckle-
headedness and stretch running dynamite at the box
office
People liked Assault club footed because of an
early accident He box Office tool Extermnator bony
gaWky real ugly duckling had tremendous following
The all-time personality champ War; it's gen.
orally agreed He played to packed houses Joe Stevens of
the famous catering firm have said best day
he commented:
Man O. War would morning at Saratoga and
we'd sell more champagne in the clubhouse than during
whole card of races in the afternoon"
Tom Fool wasn't that kind of box-ofce attraction But
he was just as great or greater than who
toned You've heard of ball players ball player? Maybe
the to describe T. F. is to call him