Idol's Return

As a three-year-old, Alfred G. Vanderbilt's Native Dancer became something of a TV matinee idol. Racing for the triple crown, the great grey put on three breathtaking finishing sprints that would have done credit to "Snapper" Garrison, the jockey who became immortal for his come-from-behind finishes. The Dancer lost the Kentucky Derby by a head, won the Preakness by a neck, won the Belmont by an even shorter neck. Last week the Dancer, now a full-grown four-year-old, was back again, this time going after racing's triple handicap crown (the Metropolitan, Suburban and Brooklyn). In his first handicap race, carrying a top impost of 130 Ibs., the Dancer proved once again his flair for the fast finish.

Millions of TV fans and some 40,000 racegoers at New York's Belmont Park (who backed the Dancer down to 1-4) gasped as the field rounded the turn at the head of the stretch. With only a quarter of a mile of the mile-long race to go, the Dancer was fifth, a full seven lengths behind front-running Straight Face. At that point Jockey Eric Guerin gave the Dancer four sharp raps with his whip.

The Dancer instantly moved into high. The gasps of the crowd turned into roars of encouragement as the big grey pounded down the homestretch. One by one, the Dancer passed tiring horses until only Straight Face remained. Then, some 30 yards from the finish, the Dancer caught Straight Face and flashed under the wire in 1:351/5, just two-fifths of a second off the track record. The winning margin: a neck, as usual. The Metropolitan brought Native Dancer's score to 20 victories in 21 starts, Man o' War's record.

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