Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-30
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV BY FRANCIS sTANN
"A Warrior on the Eve

CHICAGO, AUG. 3O.-At the temperature was OF
degrees and the humidity appangy appropriate But with
wisdom compatible with his 81 years. Mr. Fitz had found
himself shaded breezeway between his tack room and
Nashua's stall and was content with the world.
There policeman guarding the stall of Swaps at
the other end of Stable behind the backstech Of Wash
ngton Park but only Sunny Jim Ftzsmmons and his
John keeping eye Nashua Finally John went of
to take nap leaving the old gentleman sitting in
chair wearing battered owhite panama and black high
top shoes with hooks and aceS both-he kind you don't
hardly get any
All morning sportswriters from all parts of the country
visited Mr. Fitz who chatted with unhaggng courtesy
although many Of the questions repetitious. For
Einstance:
"How many times have you trained horse for a match
race in your what is it. 81 years of training?"
F. This is the first time" Mr.. Ftz smiled Closest
came before was kind Of private rooted for seabiscut
against War Admiral"
NONE OF MIR. F1Tz' great horses Gallant Fox.
Omaha. Johnstown and few others had ever run
match and now, 81 years DID, there something
under the for FitzsmmonS.
well, not quite" he amended. II did ride in a match
race once None of you was born, I'm sure. when Billy
Garth sent for me one day while riding in Maryland
There was match at haf-me track in Virginia
and Billy asked to ride his horse"
How did come out?" visitor to his barn asked.
"Oh Billy could have ridden the horse himself We
easily They didn't need 1t pretty one-sided and
maybe that's why don't especially care for match races
y
AN INTERVIEWER ASKED: aAs@@%@
Mr Fz do you think there's any chance the Swaps
Nashua race being ne-sided?"
Anything happen" philosophical the old gafer
"but really think it will be very close We should
say that underestimate Swaps in the Kentucky
Derby. Too much emphasis Summer Tan, not enough
Swaps He got good lead u.s. but I'll say this for
him Once he lost it in the stretch he something extra
to call on"
What do you think of swaps?"
Ive never him on the track only the Derby
televson in New York he's got to be real good II
he beat Nashua
n WELL them asked another exactly what's special about
Nashua? In what any, does he differ from your other
great horses
fast but then he has trouble getting again guess
the major difference that Nashua the first
champion I've had Gallant Fox, Omaha and Johnstown all
became tops as 3-year-olds"
PARTY OF TOURISTS arrived and respectfully gazed
upon Nashua, whose head hung the STALL which
was just low enough to exhibit the beginning of his splendid
shoulder muscles BY this time Bart Sweeney assistant
trainer for Bear Stud had returned from lunch Mr.
Fitz quietly said:
Bart invite those people to come closer" This is I'M
common Hardly outsiders permitted past guard
rail that borders the walking strip of one side
while the stalls border the other
The rubberneckerS, well-dressed and properlv awed
apparently didn't hear Fz soft instructions and
thanked Sweeney profusey for the opportunity outsare
Nashua They didn't and retired, repeating thanks to
Sweeney and ignoring the old in the arm chair
when you compare this horse with some of the others
Mr. Ffz blandy resumed IT always think of his grand
father That was Johnstown. He is like Johnstown
than any of them"
Was Johnstown mean horse?" asked reporter "They
say Nashua is mite htful"
goodness, no. MI, Fitz exclaimed "Johnstown was a
me horse and this colt always been tractabe Some
where he got reputation for being mean but he wasn't
anything more than playful. He did rear UP once In
while and think Eddie Arcaro time got mad at him
s.. but mean, no."
4 SUNNY JIM-THE oRIGINAL-removed his hat and
showed the breeze to sweep his bald head while he
See WIN LOSE, Page AL