Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-18
SPOTLIGHT
ON
SPORTS
Of This and Thot, Mostly Nashua
By CHARLES M. EGAN


NASHUA Is MUCH MORE than 1855 horse-of- year
that's for In the first place it's fairly certain that
stories concerning horse before attracted
such wide variety of fact it's good bet thai
the great thoroughbreds sale last week for 81 200
more comment Skid Row that it did Park avenue
Even before the tragic death of Nashuas William
Woodward E the colts match with Swaps at Chicagos
Washington Park last August held top spot among the
years sport stories Many might in favor of the
Dodgers World Series triumph and the feaS of Johnny
Podres Duke snder but the feeling here is that the
country Just stirred up about the NaShua-Swaps
match
Next year both the Dodgers and Nashua will be back
in the headlines battle along with the Yankees Rocky Mar
ciano and lot of old football favorites but the Olympic
Games in Australia eclipse them ALL However since Mel
bourne Down Under and the reversed the
Oypics proper won't get under way until November and
their early 1856 publicity be limited to the Winter Games
in Italy and, of course Yves Santees eligibility status
ON THE OTHER HAND, barring injuries. Nashua will
get off to flying start because in the McLennan and Wild
Handcaps at Haeah in February he'll be taking Gead
aim Citations all time money of 81 760
The colt for which Leslie Combs two three friends
paying out than million and quarter is only
$140345 shy Of Citations bundle and the McLennan and
Widener provided total of $780, 900 in added money.
Everett Clay, Hialeahs imaginative publicity head, has
hit the jackpot with Nashua cinch to make the
most of it. Ev ought to be able to make the
ment of the weights for each of these two of the
major sports stories of any given day.
Incidentally it's the weight gimmick that makes Nashua
future as racerso unpredctable He's big powerful colt
derb Discovery years ago the handicappers
literally drove him of the Discovery carried
l39 pounds to victory in Saratoga handicap at mile and
sxeenth but unplaced in the race year
later with the weight boosted to astonishing 4 pounds
GLANCE AT THE RECORDS is enough to show what
Nashua will be up against his owners hope to get
back as much oneorh Of that fantastic purchase price
out Of their champions earnings In the last 40
years. the only 4yearods the annual list of money
earning horses were Seabscuit 1887 Crafty Admiral
in 1851 Seabscus total $168 $50 while in more lush
period Crafty Admiral totalled $277y225.
surprisingly the records show that several of big
money earnersgengs in at least three
at than they did in their first year the handicap ranks
Armed led the country with $S76325 6year-od l947
after earning $2S825 in 46 and only
Another geding the still active Social Outcas has won
about S90000 in % this year. than twice the
mighty satisfactory $l92675 he piled up 4year-o
1854 Back in the days when purses small the great
Exterminator also geldng earned 2805 5yearod
1920 That was just dollar than twice
the $26,402 he won the year before.
OF the big money colts Styme earned $225,375 in 10
races at and $238650 in 20 at S. In 1947 6year
he took down $2975 in 10 Moor led the
money list with $s46s4O 5year-od in 1885, but had to
beat Citation four times to make It, Two years ago. Tom Fool
took honors from Native Dancer by
winning an 10 of his 4yearod But his earnings
that season totaled only $25s355.
ALL OF THIS MAKES it unlikely that Nashua's new
owners expect to to get than fraction Of their money
back in racing since there only half-dozen so
races OF any consequence, the
Laurel International and Pmlico Special Give Of Tom Fools
10 in SO forage events Combs and his
colleagues probably will retire Nashua when the weights get
too and cash in big stud fees sales the great
horses progeny.
While on the subject Of money, wonders why the
Detroit Tigers front office denied that story about the Kansas
City Athletics Offering 100000 for Al Kalne at q the Amer
lean Leagues champion batsman With most of his baseball
life ahead Of him. Kane ought to be worth than
third much Nashua the lushes part of whose racing
career would to be behind him. Furthermore, the
100000 offer for the young outheder bona de one
according to those who should know.
GEORGE WEISS, the Yankees general manager. may be
devoid Of sentiment but he appears to have turned the other
cheek to those who blasted him for letting Pitcher Eddie
Lopat go to the Orioles last summer. The 37year-old
Lopat has just been signed Of the Richmond club
in the TrpleA International League, and Weiss who
recommended him for the job
The word is out unocially that only perfect tenpn
rolled before viii be shown January on
WAs teevised SERIES Championship Bowling whose Tv
rating is said to be amazing" Yogi Berra and Phil Rig
Zuto next year will join long list of ball players engaged
the bowling business Their plant will be at Clifton NJ
wasn't at all surprising to learn that the Redskins
the National Football Leagues top defensive against
rushing allowing average of 80 yards per carry
surprising to that Joe Kuharichs gained an
1000 yards in rushing, third behind the Bears
Browns Bob Pelegrini and Ed Vereb, co-captains of
Maryands foobaers, will be among the 10 outstanding
Pennsylvania football products who'll be guests Of the Dappe
Dan Club in Pittsburgh February IL.