Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-16
Win, Lose Or Draw
By FRANCIS STANN

AS HENRY McLENdORE once noted isn't easy to write
about Crand Rice zone apt to get all begged down In
sentiment Henry put it, and this was while Granny was
alive. that he has gone 1t is infinitely dfhcut
Rice was almost unbelievable He knew
the great and the small and treated them
alike. George M. Cohan described
Granny as "a yirile saint" McIemore, who
got to know Rice well after the famous
coumnist befrtended Henry when he was MN ~ M
unknown pronounced another occasion: Z
"Al I ask in the way Of an eptaph Is: d
He friend Of Grantland Rice and VI
Grantland Rice was his friend" M
Rice coveted friends. Enemies he had S##
none Years ago he dashed OF piece Of
verse; ''va Charon, the Ancient Boatman."
which he lamented the passing of Ring francis Siam
Lardner Don Marquis, o. o.. Mcintyre
and other word painters. Part of it went like this
Listen, Pilot. the last Of all
who knoDs aOhere the journey ends
Were the eand EN- uttsrs against The 0a
For friends are al t1at q little earth
GRANNY WAS THE PATRON saint Of young sports
writer's At World Series Kentucky Derby any other
throw fathery across the unknowns shoulders wait
until the group warmed to subject and then ask the
youngster what do you think?"
Such was the warmth his friendship that almost
Immediately part of the group talking things
with Wagner Whitney and Vanderbilt Jones and
Hagen Dempsey and to later write first hand
gratefully thinking of Granny.
Bob Considine will you this is Considine and
hundred others McLemore was cub he rode from
New to Athens Ga, berth TO cover the
Georgia football game Noting the lon7 lad at the
Rice introduced himself necessary,
and invited Henry to by his drawing room wen have
little bridge game going, he said, "and maybe you'd IKE
to play"
So Mc1emore with $115o in his pocket played bridge
with Rice Barton, Bud Keand sand another millions
aire whose name escapes me-" When it Barton
gave Henry check for $685. money than he had
in his life.
PRIVATELY, McLEMoRE GOT Rice aside told him that
he played the stakes offered to return the
check couldn't paid If I'd lost" he confessed Then
light dawned He asked Granny he had been secretly
backing him.
Rice smiled Sucker what do you tlink7"
Rice loved all sports and the people who played the games
After than years he continued to look forward to
each event if he watching it for the first time In
his younger days he played go and wen He would play
with anybody at the drop Of hat whether it be President
Harding Doakes But best OF all probably he liked
to bet on horses
He every tipster from Rhode Island
to Aqua Caente, bought tickets nearly every horse in
every and like not would wind ankledeep in
tickets after emptying his pockets following So
absorbed Granny that Of the tickets at his feet
were good causing more than few OF his friends to say
could pick through rannys discards every time he
went to track 1t would be better than owning license to
steal pocketbooks."
RICE WAS FAMILIAR figure at plush Santa Anita,
wntered often before picking the ball clubs in
training in Florida This story has been told here and else
where before, but it might bear repetition.
Granny favored little track at Oldsmar Fla not far
Tampa It is weahebeaten wooden structure with
palms dotted there the spintery barns
there gathered annually of the worst horses still
too old to 1t poor mans Charles Town.
Then this day at Santa Anita, just before Rces
departure for Florida There broadcast
the 100000 Santa Anita Handicap
asked Granny for interview before the classic When it
finished the announcer unctuously asked:
Mr.. Rice this is great day. And what is your favore
track, sir?"
Granny with the snow-capped mountains in the distance
the andscapng Anas track and the
of gtterng movie stars in their boxes just below dreamy
murmured:
Sunshine Park"
THERE ARE DOZENS indeed, scores Of Granny Rice
Stories all better than these humble few Space limitations
set up barrier heavy heart higher cherished
possession copy poem the battlehelds
World called "a Message Front Trench
1t went:
"When ing time and all tore,Dels said
To DhGt teW friends may still SurDiUe the fight,
shall not shrink to hear the ghostly tread
That signals Death is stalking through the night
To lead forth across the Mystic Moor
Unto the TaDern OF the Silent Land
But / shall snaie-dnd through the open door
We tUo shall 90, as good triends-hdnd IN hand.
There shall meet the friends ,pho'De gone before,
And tpe shall gather In room apart
And, cup to cup shall pledge the days OF gore,
Soul unto soul and silent heart to heart;
And there beneath the crimson rose that mods
And sways above u.s. free from toll and strife,
Well QuuG to you-forgotten by the Gods
Poor souls Oho hnger at the Inn OF Life.
Cords, Farm Heads Plan for Next Yeul
n. Associated Press attended the meeting with Bin
ST LOUIS. July lest Louis Devne and Manager HarI