Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-24
Nashua Beats Summer Tan
By Neck in Thrilling Wood
Third Finisher
Is Is Lengths
Behind at End
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON
stai stan Correspondent

BY LEWIS r. AICH1SON
Star Star Correspondent
NEW YORK. April 23.-With
one eye on the Kentucky Derby
two weeks hence. and the other
on the flashing hooves Of Sum-
mer Tan, William Woodward's
great Nashua caught Mrs. John
w. Galbreath's color bearer at
the end of a tough mile and one
eighth at Jamaica today to add
the 31st running Of the 100000
added Wood Memorial to his
growing collection Of turf
triumphs.
There may have been better
races, but not many, as Jockey
Ted Atkinson. substituting for
Eddie Arcaro. brought the big.
headstrong son of Nasrullah-:
Segula barreling through the
stretch to catch Summer Tan, q
weary pace-maker, and win by
neck. The time was 1905 over
a track that was labeled fast, but
still looked a bit soft from last
nights heavy rain.
Nashua paid a surprising $40
to win as Summer Tan went OF
the 13-to-20 fayorite with the
crowd of 41,721. Each paid $2.10
to place. There was no show
betting. Even SO, Jamaica of
ficials had to make up the differ
ence of a $3,5l2.70 shortage in
the place pool.
Third Horse Far Back
1t was a five-horse field, but
the other three were far UP the
stretch when the two Swear
Odds swept past the wire. In fact.
it was a full Is lengths from
Summer Tan back to Mrs. Doro-
thy P. Belz's Simmy, the third
f1nisher. Rokeby Stables Cup
Man was fourth, with the Lazy
F Ranch's Door Prize far back
in last place.
The big crowd-50,000 had
been expected, but a coast-to-
coast telecast and broadcast may
have held it down-had eyes only
for the first two horses. Any one
of the last three could have
dropped dead and would never
have been missed.
If it was a preview of the
Derby. as the experts presumed,
you can save railroad fare to
Louisville. because Nashua left
no doubt that he'll beat Sum-
mer Tan any time. at any dis.
lance. And that isn't taking
anything away from the son of
Heliopolis--Miss libby. for he
ran a good race. gave his best,
and simply wasn't up to the task
of holding off Nashua.
First Wood for Rider.
It was a popular victory all
around, the seventh Wood Me-
mortal winner for 80-year-oid
Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, ewho
trains Nashua. But it was the
first score in the Wood for At
kinson in Is tries, and the vet
eran rioer smiled and doffed his
cap in acknowledging the thun-
derous cheers coming into the
winners circle.
The roar of the crowd as the
two picture-book thoroughbreds
hattled down the stretch was
strangely akin to that of fight
mob when a heavyweight cham
pion has the challenger reeling
and moves in for the kill. It
couldn't have been the thought
OF financial gain at Nashua's
modest price, for it was the 50
bettors yelling. screaming and
jumping with pleasure as the
red polka dot silks of Belair
surged to the front and went
under the wire a sure winner.
Even Arcaro, who would have
ridden Nashua but for a 20-day
suspension. got a belt out of the
finish. Eddie lost the winning
riders 10 per cent of the net
purse Of $75.l00, but didn't seem
at all unhappy. He had no COM
ment for publication after the
race. Having been hired to
cover" the event for q weekly
sports magazine, he preferred to
reserve his observations for his
article.
On to Louisville
Fltzsimmons, who has told con-
f1dants that Nashua may be the
best horse he ever trained, am
nounced before the race that the
temperamental colt will be Ship
ped to Louisville next Saturday
In time for a workout over the
Derby route. Nashua will not
run in the Derby Trial. Fitzsim-
mons declared. Today's race was
his final tune-up before making
his bid for the first leg of rae
ing's Triple Crown.
Arcaro will be asked to 20 to
Louisville in time to exercise
Nashua. His suspension ends
May 4. assuring him of a ride
in the Derby.
In chalking up his sixth
straight victory--his 10th In IL
starts with two seconds-Nashua
seemed to give Atkinson more
trouble in the post parade than
in the race itself. He bucked and
bowed, danced and pranced and
seemed to resent the slow Jog
to the far end Of the egg-shaped
track. Like Arcaro. who calls
Nashua unusually hard to handle.