Evening star., 1960-04-22
WIN, LOSE OR
NNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Not Lourers Biggest, but Oldest

SINCE TV-VIEWERS version of a prize fight is
apt to be distorted the draw decision that marked the
Gene Fumer-Joey Giardello affair in Bozeman, Mont
the other night will contested Frankly the feeling
here is that neither Fumer Gardelo Paul Pender
can fight much, which leaves the haowed mddleweight
division three-fourths deep in medocrity
In the meantime, there is horse coming up
tomorrow at Laurel which, if it isn't earth shaking is
worthy of mention It's the Laurel Handicap for 3-year
odS and up In these days of big purses the $4,000 prize
doesn't sound like much But there time E.
The Doge this in 1945. Shut Out and Pctor
and Roman and Jacoa and osmand and Wise Counsellor
were other winners 1t is the oldest stake in Laures
history which goes back to 1911 The first handicap
in 1914.
One year-1937-Heelfly and Seabiscuit finished in a
dead heat The late George Woof rode Heelhy and Red
Pollard seabiscut who carried IL pounds more
than his rival.
THE LEGENDARY SEABISCUIT couldn't quite cut
the mustard in the Laurel Handicap Jacoa conceded "a
pounds, beat him in this in 1885, but shortly after
ward came the memorable match between Seabscut
and War Admiral, which the Seabiscuit handily.
The casual racegoer-and for that matter the casual
sports wrteroten fooled by SeabiScuit Before the
match with War Admiral paper dispatched feature
to spend time with both of these admirable
animals SeabiScuit he apparently neglected because it
came surprise the day of the when the writer
noted the bandaged front legs seabScut the
track.
This the greatest farce in the history American
racing he shouted This is crippled horse"
Actually, the writer had picked Seabiscuit-sight
unseen, it would Seem-but he hadn't been familiar
with the horse might be expected Seabscut did indeed
look leg suspect in the was no show horse All he
could do run.
THE CO-FAVORITES tomorrow-or at least two pre-
vous winners of the Laurel Handicap-are
Ohgarchy. Last year Piano Jim it, Two years ago
Ogarchy, winner of the 1858 Widener at Haleah
out on top.
Piano Jim named after a master of the keyboard,
so the legend goes. Where the maestro played not
considered high society," but the horse is not bad
In fact Piano Jim is owned by Walter NJ Jeffords, who is
lord of the onetime Sam Riddle estate between Berlin
and Ocean City, Md.
character of a Sort of Oscar White trains
Piano Jm who along with Oligarchy probably will fill out
field of seven for the Laurel Handicap White is top
trainer VINO halls from whistle stop called Ptsville Md
I think the town has three stores and few houses
LaureIS Bill Jaeger chuckeS White despite his success
still lives in the old house where he was born You
might say he is sort of recuse"
OSCAR WHITE, recluse or no. does pretty well at
Laurel.
In 1852 he saddled Royal Bay GEN. who won the
Spading Lowe jenkins Stakes at Laurel as 2-vear. old
The next White the Chesapeake Stakes with the
same horse. The following year-1954-Royal Bay Gem
won the Handicap at the same track, Laurel
This isn't LaureS biggest race not any more Comes
next Veterans Day and there will be the Washington
D. c. International In between there are couple of other
races for more money and possibly with significance
But this the Oldest race in prestige and there
will be some pretty good horses going tomorrow The
Handicap isn't just another race the program