Colins Ghost

On October 20, 1923 at Belmont Park, the Kentucky Derby winner, Zev, took on the English Derby winner, Papyrus, in a match race. The race – dubbed The International – was the first of its kind and years ahead of its time.  Sixty years before the first Breeder’s Cup, the Westchester Racing Association held a “World” Championship of racing.

In the spirit of big events, promoters made the most of the hype surrounding the race by charging exorbitant prices for tickets.  They also sold rights to produce a motion picture film of the race for American and European audiences

Sports writer N.W. Baxter reported the result of the much anticipated race for the Washington Post:

“Zev, 3-year-old colt owned by Harry F. Sinclair, this afternoon reached the pinnacle from which he may look down upon the long line of illustrious thoroughbreds which have come before him in the history of the American turf.

“He earned the right to be called champion of the world and the greatest money winner that racing in this country has ever known, by taking the international match race in an easy gallop, before between 50,000 and 60,000 persons – said to be the largest crowd which ever witnessed a turf event in the East.

“Five lengths back, straining still, but apparently all run out, was Papyrus.  The race itself was a dull ending to the weeks of interest and enthusiasm which had preceded it…The run through the stretch – where the onlooking thousands had expected to see a duel between the horseflesh of Great Britain and the United States, had hoped for a closely drawn finish and perhaps in their hearts wished furtively for a dead heat – was a parade. The American horse won, as the turf has it, ‘unattended.’ This was a triumph, but it was not the sort of thing to bring men’s hearts into their mouths, not make their spirits rise. The contest lived up to neither expectations nor the occasion.”

As Baxter said, the race itself was anti-climatic, as track conditions and a mistake by Papyrus’s trainer in shoeing his horse ruined the imports chance. Events surrounding the race, covered in detail by the press, emphasized the tremendous amount of hype that had been building since the race was announced in August of that year. While the race itself may have been a let down, the business generated around the event was not. One writer predicted: “…the race between Zev and Papyrus will live in history as a gigantic financial spectacle.”

Image: (Above) Race day program from The First International. Concerns over the condition of Zev, forced promoters to name My Own as an alternate in case Zev was deemed unfit to run. (Below) Photographs of the start printed on the front page of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle the day after the race (Sunday, October 21, 1923)

Here is how the Washington Post described the crowd who packed into Belmont Park to witness Zev-Papyrus:

“Although the scale of prices may have acted as a deterrent in some cases, the promoters of the race will not face a deficit. There could have been more persons on the lawns and in the grandstand, but not many. Where the expected throng fell off was in the infield. A few eager enthusiasts who could not or would not pay the seven times increased fee demanded for some sections camped in the infield from 10 o’clock on. A few thousand others joined them in the course of the afternoon, but there was a neither the crowd nor the color within the fence that has marked many a Kentucky Derby…”

Those not able to witness the race at Belmont Park, were able to see it in theaters soon after (a relative new and novel concept in 1923).  Exclusive film rights for the First International were sold for a reported $50,000 to Pathe Exchange Inc. Pathe used 30 cameras around the track and shipped an edited film to theaters in time for showings, in some locations, the following day.

Race fans in Niagra Falls, New York were able to watch the race on Sunday evening at the Lumberg Theater (a little over 24 hours later).   The  announcement about the film showing was reported Monday in the Niagra Falls Gazette:

“The first official Fox pictures of the Zev-Papyrus $100,000 race at Belmont Park were shown at the Lumberg last evening.  The film was brought from New York by a special messenger sent to the greater city for that purpose by Manager Marvin Atlas.

“The Lumberg did not advertise the race pictures for yesterday because of the possibility that the film would not arrive in time and the management did not wish to disappoint Lumberg patrons.  However, the messenger arrived in time for the pictures to be shown at the first show last night and the news that the pictures were at the Lumberg soon spread and followers of the sport of kings flocked to the popular amusement place to see the camera record of the great international event.

“The pictures are splendid. To see them is the next best thing to being at the race.”

The full version of the Zev-Papyrus film produced by British Pathe can be viewed on their website. The twenty-two minute film – including some astounding shots of Old Belmont Park – is well worth a look (especially the last seven minutes).

SOURCES, NOTES, AND OBSERVATIONS
“Racing Enthusiasts Eagerly Await $100,000 Match,” Washington Post, August 26, 1923
“Rialto to Exhibit First Pictures of Zev-Papyrus,” Washington Post, October 14, 1923
“Zev Beats Papyrus in Easy Style for Purse of $100,000,” Washington Post, October 21, 1923
“Scenes at International Race,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 21, 1923
“Zev Won His Easiest Victory, Papyrus Ran His Worst Race in International,” New York Herald, October 21, 1923
“At the Theatres,” Niagra Falls Gazette, October 22, 1923

Thanks to Ron Micetic for scanning his copy of The First International program.

Counting down to Breeders Cup — now just two weeks from Saturday.  As annoyed as I am with some of the changes over the last few years — it is still a day that every race fan looks forward to (yes, I know it is now two days but BC Day is still one day in my book — just as the Distaff will always be the Distaff).

Be sure to keep an eye out for Hello Race Fans — a new site being developed by Dana Byerly of Green But Game.  They are planning a pre-launch during the Breeders Cup.  You can sign up for email alerts and read more about it at http://helloracefans.com/

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

View of Belmont Park, Section 2v, June 6, 2009

We had a perfect day of racing at Belmont this past Saturday. Summer Bird capped off an intriguing Triple Crown season that included a 50/1 shot in the Derby, a filly in the Preakness, and a couple of previously unknown trainers sharing the spotlight. Add to that, Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux finally winning the race that brought him more agony then any other.

Racing doesn’t need a Triple Crown, it needs more stories like those of Tim Ice, Chip Wooley, and Calvin Borel. Let’s hope the summer racing season has as much drama as we had over the past five weeks.

I couldn’t have asked for a better day at the races for Belmont Stakes Day. We had excellent seats and perfect weather; I cashed a few tickets; ate some good food (thank you Carolina BBQ); and had one of the cleanest trips out of New York I have ever had (Geno at Equispace would have been proud).

I am putting my summer itinerary together now — looks like trips to Saratoga and Colonial are in the cards for this year. And, of course, many weekends at Delaware Park.

Check out these Belmont Stakes reports and pictures from Green But Game, Equispace, The Bug Boys, Left at the Gate, Brooklyn Backstrectch, and Throughbred Zone. I don’t know about you, but I really love reading the blogs after the big days — especially when so many bloggers were in the house on Saturday. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Belmont Stakes coverage and tweets by Jessica at Raceday360 this year.

And don’t miss this interesting post by Dana at Green But Game featuring Super8 footage of Belmont Stakes past.

Here are a few of my snapshots from the day:

Edgar Prado aboard Benny the Bull

The always game Fabulous Strike before the True North

Post parade for the Manhattan and the Belmont crowd

Mine that Bird checks out the crowd before the big race

Ready to load for the 2009 Belmont Stakes

Back to the history next week!

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK

Curlin’s win Saturday in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park puts him in prime position to repeat as Horse of the Year. Since 1936, when the Horse of the Year was officially recognized by the Daily Racing Form, seven horses have won multiple HOY titles. Here is the list:

1941/42 – Challedon
1943/44 – Whirlaway
1960/61/62/63/64 – Kelso
1972/73 – Secretariet
1974/75/76 – Forego
1978/79 – Affirmed
1995/96 – Cigar

Quite a list of champions. A second Horse of the Year award for Curlin would put him in elite company. Let’s hope he finds the new surface at Santa Anita to his liking.

Where does Curlin stand among recent champions? I would suggest Travis Stone’s interesting post on his racecalling blog: “How good is Curlin?”. I agree with him 100% that “Money is a poor variable to distinguish historical placement and significance.”

I made the trip up the turnpike on Saturday. The crowd at Belmont Park, as noted by others, was small but enthusiastic. Sure, I would like to see bigger crowds at the track but name another sport where you can pay $2 and have a front row seat to watch a superstar. I could hear Curlin’s hoofs hitting the ground as he passed Wanderin Boy in the stretch. Unbelievable!

Here are a few images from Saturday:

All eyes on Curlin before the Jockey Club Gold Cup

Steve Asmussen and Robby Albarado chat before the JCGC

Curlin in the paddock

Curlin on-track

Check out some beautiful images of Curlin’s JCGC win by real photographers at flickr

For a full recap of the day, check out Brooklyn Backstretch

Thanks for Reading and Good Luck!