Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-05-28
!, WIN, LOSE OR
VDNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Even Longest . Still Tim Tam

ABOUT THIS TIME of the year the casual racing buff
might be thinking of the Belmont Stakes out OF habit
and with special emphasis because after 10 years colt
that already had the Kentucky Derby and Freak
figures to win. Actually the next big race will be
Fridays Carter Handicap, and about that one in
later piece Let's find the pieces of what would have been
the Belmont.
What has wrecked the Belmont Stakes as prime at
traction is Tim Tam At long last, Caumets latest pride
and Joy has run out of opposition. His opponents in
Florida and Kentucky and Maryland have become be-
levers
Silky Sullivan you remember didn't wait to be asked
to return to California He may have started packing
after the Preakness probably did Also after the
Preakness the former Liz Whitney put this Were
shipping Gone FishinD to California. We've had all Of
him Tim Tam that want"
Even the Lincoln Road people, who were so
thusiastc when their colt was beaten by only half
length in the Florida and Kentucky DerbyS have given
up their speed horse Belmont threat Something
ese-Noureddn, perhaps, or Nadir, he gets fitcan
chase Tim Tam.
THE LAST OF THE TRIPLE CROWN races, the
Belmont also is the longest It's mile and half and
that's way to go for a 3-year-old. Win this and
hike the stud fees Racing aiconadoS claim that winning
all three-&he Derby Preakness and Bemont-is the
toughest feat in sports Could be but not this year
Tim Tam romps the thin field that is about all
Belmont can hope to expect.
The claim that winning the Triple Crown is an ex-
ceponal feat is valid It's been possible since 1875
yet only eight horses-a coltS-have done it, Citation
was the last one back IN 1913 Sir Barton was the 1rSt
in 1919 In between there Gallant Fox $780, Omaha
Q935), War Admiral Q93D Whirlaway 94D Count Fleet
1943) and Assault (1946).
The odds against any colt completing the magic cycle
this spring forbidding Pimlico Charley Johnson
penned the of the Preakness ALLOWING for brief
lapses in the histories of the Preakness and Belmont
there have been rs chances for Triple Crown winner
In addition to the eight who made it, only 20 others have
had the formula of luck and ability to win two of the
three races"
OF those 20 horses Mr. johnson carefully points out,
did not start in of the Triple Crown "for
various reasons including injuries OF the II Others
failed in the Preakness tripped up in the Derby
(Pensive) made miscue in the Belmont"
TIM TAM HAS BEEN LICKING speed horses. Lincoln
Road and Jewels Reward is another fast one al
though the barn has got to admit fatty that he's really
fit or isn't. Who else has Tim Tam got to lick?
hard loser apt to suggest that outsider might
win the Belmont and he might have pont-a Counter
point, if you'll pardon the pun This happened in 1851
Do you remember Counterpart? In the Derby he
bum Finished 18th. He didn't win the PreakneSs al
though he second but Counterpart took the Belmont
And then he licked the 4yearod Hill Prince, after Hill
Prince had been named horse of the year" in 1850
Counterpart was voted the title in 1851.
You don't beat such as Tim Tam, but the people who
Hnvariably wind up with the mney invite you to try