Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-19
Nashua Wins to Get His Million
But 3 Rivals Give Backers Scare
SociuIOutcust
Loses byHeod
In Fast Finish
By CHARLES M. EGAN
Sports Editor Of The Star


Sports Editor Of The Star
MIAMI, Feb. 18.-Nashua be.
came full-fiedged millionaire
at un-drenched Hialeah this
afternoon, but he had to hang
on like grim death to nose out
three game rivals in one Of the
greatest horse races ever seen
Four driving, charging thor.
oughbreds swept across the fin
ish line together in the goth
running of the 0,000-added
Widener Handicap, and it wasn't
until after the photo was devel-
oped that it was known that
Nashua had won by head from
the fast-closing Social Outcast.
Sailor. who had pushed Nashua
Ito the limit all down that long
Hialeah stretch, was third, an
other head behind. while Find.
the early pace-setter. was fourth.
Ia neck back Of Sailor.
Back Of these four the order
LOT finish was FL Chama, Jamie
K, Sea o Erin, Man Of Destiny
and Prince Moor. Except for Sea
10 Erin, who was second for
about three-quarters Of a mile,
none Of them ever figured.
Crowd Gives Ovation
The crowd Of 1896 - more
than 5000 over the previous at
tendance record-gave Nashua
land Jockey Eddie Arcaro q ire
|mendous ovation when the re-
suit was flashed on the infeld
board.
The outburst was 50 spon-
|taneous that 1t seemed that even
those who had gone down swing
ling with Social Outcast and
Sailor must have joined In.
The applause for Nashua didn't
end after he left the winners
circle and went back to his quar-
tiers in Barn A. Bart Sweeney.
foreman for Sunny Jim Fitz-
simmons. Nashua's 81-year-old
trainer. said a crowd Of more
than 100 ranged around the
walking ring while the great
horse was being cooled out. Many
in the gathering snapped pic.
lures while others clapped and
cheered as Nashua was being
sponged and walked.
A Tired Horse
Nashua, running for the first
time In the orange and blue Of
Leslie Combs II, head Of the syn.
dictate that bought him last De-
Icember. was q mighty tired horse
at the finish Of the mile-and-a.
quarter grind. But the 500, 800
he earned today sent his purse
money to $1.038,015. This Is only
SAT. 745 less than the $1.085, 100
Iamassed by Citation. the only
other horse ever to exceed the
million mark.
Nashua's first race since the
tragic shooting last December Of
his former owner. william
woodward. jr.. did more than
attract Florida's biggest racing
crowd Of all time. This throng
did a lot Of sweltering through
out the warm, humid afternoon,
but it did quite a bit of betting,
too. for the $2.783,676 wagered
was more than $4,000 over the
previous record Of $2,574.320. set
on Widener Day in 1854.
Backed Down to . to s
Although he hadn't raced
since last October's Jockey Club
Gold Cup at Belmont Park and
undoubtedly needed the race"
as they say on the ba@kstretch,
Nashua was backed down to 2 to
5 and paid only $3.50, $3.50 and
l$2.l0. Social Outcast, coupled
with Find as the Alfred G. VAN
Iderbilt entry. went off at Z to z
and returned $3.50 and $500.
Sailor. the Rrookmeade Stables
battling representative. closed at
10 to and paid $3.50 to show.
But it is doubtful If too many
Of those in the big crowd were
thinking entirely of money as
they watched the thrilling stretch
struggle. They were seeing q
racing classic, and they were well
aware of it. Neither the quality
of the horses nor the nature Of
the race was reflected by tho
running time Of 200, q second
of the track record.
Fractional times for the dis
lance were :23h, :463s, l:l04s,
1865 and 400.
Nashua looked like an easy
winner at the top of the stretch,
as most people expected him to
pull away from Sailor, who had
been pushing him hard all the
way, with Find holding the lead
on sufferance. But the horse
that brought $l,25l ZOO at auc-
ton two months ago may have
been a little short because of his
long layoff.
At any rate. he couldn't pull
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