Phantom Race

The Pimlico Special was Citation's last race of 1948, and he was the only horse in it. As he paraded to the post last week, convoyed by three lead ponies, the track announcer added a little excitement to the occasion by sepulchrally reciting the list of Citation's triumphs. But more convincing evidence was right there before the eyes of 11,618 race fans in Baltimore: owners of the 20 rival horses that were invited to run in the race had given up trying to beat him.

There being no living horse to run against Citation in a winner-take-all race, many a sentimental horseplayer in the stands tried to fill out the empty track with bygone horses. How would Citation look against Equipoise, Count Fleet, Exterminator? How far off the pace, or how far in front would Man o' War be at the half? (Old Big Red had been eye-catching, with his giant 24-foot stride.)

Citation, whose stride is around 21 ft, was running with his usual superb rhythm and his air of immense power cautiously controlled. Then in the stretch the phantoms faded and there was only Citation striding forcefully down the center of the track. His time was 1:59 1/5 for the 1 3/16 miles, with nobody pressing him.

Other winners last week: CJ Sandy Saddler, 22, a willowy, broomstick-legged Negro, ended Willie Pep's six-year reign as featherweight boxing champion. Saddler, more of a puncher than a boxer, began by bloodying Pep's nose, put him on the floor twice before knocking him out in the fourth round at Madison Square Garden.

CJ Versatile Alvin Dark, 25, ex-Louisiana State football star now shortstop for the Boston Braves, won out as National League "Rookie-of-the-Year" in an Associated Press poll of 220 sportwriters. The American League "Rookie-of-the-Year": sensational Gene Bearden, Cleveland's 28-year-old southpaw pitcher.

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