1938: Horse Racing

Strangely enough, England furnished the greatest encouragement to one interested in the welfare of the American Turf and breeding, through the victories in that greatest of thoroughbred countries, of two American-bred and owned equine stars. The victory of Battleship, the well-named son of America's greatest race horse and stallion, Man o' War, in the Grand National Steeplechase, over the most difficult four and a half mile course in the world, came as a startling surprise. Then William Woodward's capture with Flares, by Gallant Fox (his own breeding), of the Ascot Gold Cup at two and a half miles, the greatest test of stamina, and, barring only the Derby, the most coveted event of the season, capped the climax to a great American year abroad. Moreover, the stamina of the American thoroughbred — not his speed — has always been underrated abroad and these two great performances and the fact that the Derby was won by a French-bred horse, Bois Roussel, from the same dam (Plucky Liege) as the sire of Gallant Fox, must surprise the English and make Americans rejoice.

William Woodward stands a great chance of finally winning the English Derby in 1939 with Foxborough II (full brother to Gallant Fox) which won the Middle Park Plate, bringing him the position of favorite for the blue ribbon of the Turf.

Owing to the success of American-bred horses in England, notwithstanding their ineligibility to the English Stud Book, American-bred yearlings were purchased by Lord Carnarvon and other English breeders at Saratoga last year.

In the United States sensational feature of the year was the War Admiral-Seabiscuit match race at one mile and an eighth at Pimlico, which reflected glory upon all concerned — Alfred G. Vanderbilt, its young and energetic promoter, Samuel D. Riddle, owner of War Admiral and Charles S. Howard, owner of Seabiscuit. Possibly the one exception was Kurtsinger, War Admiral's jockey, whom Mr. Riddle considered largely responsible for the advantage gained at the start by Woolf on Seabiscuit, an opinion not shared by many equally clever horsemen, especially Californians and those closest to the Howard stable, who knew of Seabiscuit's marvelous early speed (frequent half miles in less than 46 seconds). The easy victory of Seabiscuit completely reversed the judgment of the public and the supposed wise men of the East, War Admiral going to the post at 4 to 1 on, Seabiscuit about 2 to 1 against. Never were the 'uncertainties of the Turf' better illustrated, though the entire season both abroad and in this country among the two- and three-year-olds showed a similar devastating state of affairs. Both here and in England last year two- and three-year-olds were beating each other too frequently to give great promise for the future. However, there were here two two-year-olds that may prove of Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes caliber — El Chico, unbeaten in all his seven starts, and Porter's Mite, Futurity winner and a world's record breaker at six and one half furlongs in 1:14 2/5, a remarkable performance for a juvenile crack.

Among other items of interest during 1938 Stagehand occupied the center of the stage. His winnings, including the $100,000 Santa Anita Handicap and $50,000 Derby, amounted to $189,710, which placed him at the head of the money winning horses of the year; his owner, Col. Maxwell Howard, at the head of the money winning owners, with $226,495; his sire. Sickle, as the leading money winning stallion of 1938 with $327,822, and, last but by no means least, his clever trainer, Earl Sande, the former great and honorable jockey, at the head of his profession as trainer.

Trotting.

In a brief revue of the chief feature of the racing of 1938, the great event of the trotting world, the Hambletonian Stake, value $37,962.37, must properly be included. Under the able management of William H. Cane and E. Roland Harriman, this Stake has become to the trotting public what the Belmont Stakes means to the thoroughbred racing enthusiasts and drew an unprecedented attendance to Goshen in August 1938. It was won in two straight heats, each by an open length, in 2:02  and 2:02 — by McLin, bay colt by Mr. McElwyn-Ethelinda. McLin upset all previous precedents in connection with this famous Stake, as he was expertly handled and ridden by Henry H. Thomas; the owner was Hanover Shoe Farms, who won the same event in 1937 with Shirley Hanover. He is sired by Mr. McElwyn also sire of the 1937 winner, the only difference being that, unlike the 1937 winner, he was not bred by Hanover Shoe Farms but was purchased by them only a week before the race from William H. Cane for $20,000 with an additional $5,000 to be paid if he won the Hambletonian.

On the whole racing has begun to attain a status of general stability heretofore unknown in this country, and 1938 has been one of the most encouraging in its history from the point of view of sport, general public esteem, integrity, breeding and quality of the thoroughbred.