Test of a/the Champion (1949); OT: Ronald Reagan

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OT:  RONALD REAGAN

   Ronald Reagan has died.

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TEST OF A/THE CHAMPION

   Smarty Jones lost the last leg of the Triple Crown, like many horses before him.


(GOOGLE)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040606/D831651O0.html
Smarty Jones Fails in Triple Crown Bid
Jun 5, 8:17 PM (ET)
By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
NEW YORK (AP) - Smarty Jones lost his Triple Crown bid and his perfect record when Birdstone ran him down near the finish of Saturday's thrilling Belmont Stakes, toppling his chance to end a record 26-year drought without a winner of thoroughbred racing's most coveted prize.

The little red chestnut was poised to become the 12th Triple Crown champion when he turned for home, but Birdstone came flying down the stretch and took the lead inside the 16th pole to win by a length.

That move dashed yet another Triple Crown hopeful's attempt to do what no horse has managed since Affirmed in 1978.

(...)

And so, the exclusive little club of 11 Triple Crown champions remains the same. And Smarty Jones is now the 18th horse to come tantalizingly close to winning it all, only to be tripped up in a race known as the "Test of the Champion."


(WWW.NEWSPAPERARCHIVE.COM) ("test of a champion" + "Belmont")
Lima News - 5/23/1971
...hAve won .n the lAst 10 BELMONTs, The TEST OF A ChAmpion At'l milles. both.....rAcing immorAlity. EAch fAiled in the BELMONT. Other beAten BELMONT fAvorites..
Lima, Ohio   Sunday, May 23, 1971  935 k

Mansfield News Journal - 6/19/1956
...celebrAtefl rAce is AmericA's truest TEST OF A chAmpion, And most horsemen.....lied Smith NEW A mAn showed Up At BELMONT cArrying piece OF pAper, A..
Mansfield, Ohio   Tuesday, June 19, 1956  748 k

Independent - 6/19/1956
...TO prove it. Over 10 00 010 310 000 -TEST OF A chAmpion, And most horsemen.....0000 .the better pArt OF A century, BELMONT hAs insisted with o o o modesty..
Pasadena, California   Tuesday, June 19, 1956  772 k

Reno Evening Gazette - 6/15/1940
...AssociAted Press Sports Writer The TEST OF A chAmpion is whAt is sometimes.....beAten by AnnibAl in A recent rAce At BELMONT PArk. The two will renew their..
Reno, Nevada   Saturday, June 15, 1940  803 k


(WWW.NEWSPAPERARCHIVE.COM) ("test of the champion" and "Belmont")
Lincoln Evening Journal - 6/10/1960
...for THE most victories in this "TEST OF THE CHAMPION." Earlier this week.....shoots for a record 7th triumph in THE BELMONT Stakes Saturday at BELMONT Park..
Lincoln, Nebraska   Friday, June 10, 1960  747 k

Atchison Daily Globe - 6/10/1956
...C V.'Whifcney entry OF Career j TEST OF THE CHAMPION. Boy and Jazz Age. j In.....settled in THE swanky r-urroundmgs OF BELMONT Park next Saturday j afternoon..
Atchison, Kansas   Sunday, June 10, 1956  739 k

Lima News - 6/10/1960
...for THE most victories in this "TEST OF THE CHAMPION." Earlier this week.....for a record seventh triumph in THE BELMONT Stakes Saturday at BELMONT Park..
Lima, Ohio   Friday, June 10, 1960  680 k

Gettysburg Times - 6/10/1955
...THE mile and one half "TEST OF THE CHAMPION" will be raced at BELMONT Park.....Nashua is THE only one OF THE BELMONT field to have started in THE..
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania   Friday, June 10, 1955  708 k

Chronicle Telegram - 6/10/1960
...for THE most victories in this "TEST OF THE CHAMPION." Earlier this week.....for a record seventh triumph in THE BELMONT Stakes tomorrow at BELMONT Park..
Elyria, Ohio   Friday, June 10, 1960  719 k

Frederick Post - 6/12/1954
...OF all BELMONT Stakes. Although THE "TEST OF THE CHAMPION" may lack THE.....grind considered America's premier TEST for 3-yearolds. Fourteen starters..
Frederick, Maryland   Saturday, June 12, 1954  976 k

Dixon Evening Telegraph - 6/12/1953
...Sunny Jim has taken five Belmonls. THE TEST OF THE CHAMPION Alfred Gwynne.....vs. Stanford. Duke vs. Colorado Slate. BELMONT: Dancer's Big TEST GreaTEST Race..
Dixon, Illinois   Friday, June 12, 1953  752 k

Lima News - 6/9/1962
...THE four outstanding entrants in THE "TEST OF THE CHAMPION." Folk Dancer has a.....runnings in THE long history OF THE BELMONT Stakes. Usually THE Kentucky..
Lima, Ohio   Saturday, June 09, 1962  1017 k

Chronicle Telegram - 6/9/1950
...BELMONT boasts is its tag-line "THE TEST OF THE CHAMPION." ANIMALS WITHOUT.....who with Lloyd Mangrum and defending CHAMPION Gary MiddlecOFf were listed at..
Elyria, Ohio   Friday, June 09, 1950  737 k

Reno Evening Gazette - 6/6/1952
...and Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords1 One half "TEST OF THE CHAMPION." But Count. All.....1, principaly because he likos I THE BELMONT track. THE Cain Hoy THE I colt..
Reno, Nevada   Friday, June 06, 1952  614 k

Reno Evening Gazette - 6/13/1956
...again in THE mile and one half "TEST OF THE CHAMPION." In THE 17-horse.....in THE 88th running OF THE famous BELMONT Stakes Saturday. That seemed to..
Reno, Nevada   Wednesday, June 13, 1956  681 k

Dixon Evening Telegraph - 6/10/1955
...THE mile and one half "TEST OF THE CHAMPION'' will be raced at BELMONT Park.....Jones OF Rutland, Vi., THE defending CHAMPION. Mrs. Jones established THE..
Dixon, Illinois   Friday, June 10, 1955  786 k

Bridgeport Post - 6/10/1955
...country. .v THE BELMONT is called THE TEST OF THE CHAMPION here because it is.....pn -Sunny is.'. sixth victory half .'.'TEST OF. THE and ;.a f possible eight 3..
Bridgeport, Connecticut   Friday, June 10, 1955  835 k

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern - 6/9/1953
...date. Spen'Dancer' To Get Top TEST In BELMONT NEW YORK Native Dancer.....as expected, gets THE "TEST OF THE CHAMPION" Saturday in THE 85th running..
Oshkosh, Wisconsin   Tuesday, June 09, 1953  753 k

Dixon Evening Telegraph - 6/16/1951
...OFf in THE tough mile and one half TEST OF THE CHAMPION. Jack Amiel's Count.....defeated THE locals. Count Turf Heads BELMONT Entries NEW (AP) One OF THE..
Dixon, Illinois   Saturday, June 16, 1951  877 k

Gazette Bulletin - 6/12/1954
...OF all BELMONT Stakes. Although THE ".TEST OF THE CHAMPION" may lack thu.....grind considered America's premier TEST for tnree-year-0tfts. Fourteen..
Williamsport, Pennsylvania   Saturday, June 12, 1954  804 k

Coshocton Tribune - 6/8/1953
...old division as expected, gets THE "TEST OF THE CHAMPION" Saturday in THE.....s three-year olds run in THE gruelling BELMONT. OF THE 126 nominated for THE..
Coshocton, Ohio   Monday, June 08, 1953  784 k

Dixon Evening Telegraph - 6/6/1952
...THE maximum for THE mile and one half "TEST OF THE CHAMPION." With eight facing.....to THE secretary's OFfice today at BELMONT park and plank down THE starting..
Dixon, Illinois   Friday, June 06, 1952  593 k

Independent Journal - 2/21/1952
...weight for age, OFten is called "THE TEST OF THE CHAMPION" and Is1 a favorite.....association announced today. THE. BELMONT, a gruellug TEST for three-year..
San Rafael, California   Thursday, February 21, 1952  1007 k

Traverse City Record Eagle - 6/13/1953
...classic long has been regarded as TEST OF THE CHAMPION. Applied to today's.....victory in THE Preakness. So THE BELMONT shapes up as a big TEST, indeed..
Traverse City, Michigan   Saturday, June 13, 1953  528 k

Berkshire Evening Eagle - 6/6/1952
...THE maximum for THE mile and one half "TEST OF THE CHAMPION." But if only six.....to THE secretary's OFfice today at BELMONT Park and plank down THE starting..
Pittsfield, Massachusetts   Friday, June 06, 1952  567 k

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern - 6/9/1955
...triple crown" races, is called THE "TEST OF THE CHAMPION" and THEre are few.....with it. THE gruelling mile-end-a-half BELMONT, longest OF THE..
Oshkosh, Wisconsin   Thursday, June 09, 1955  915 k

Stevens Point Daily Journal - 6/10/1955
...THE mile and one half "TEST OF THE CHAMPION" will he raced at BELMONT park.....San Antonio, Tex., British Amateur CHAMPION, led five Americans into THE..
Stevens Point, Wisconsin   Friday, June 10, 1955  764 k


(PROQUEST HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS)
   Count Fleet Prohibitive Favorite in 68th Withers Stakes at Belmont Today; SIX RACERS NAMED FOR MILE FIXTURE Slide Rule Rated Chief Rival of Count Fleet in $15,000 Added Withers Today TOLA ROSE WINS HANDICAP 13-10 Favorite Leads All the Way to Beat Bolingbroke by Three Lengths
By BRYAN FIELD. New York Times (1857. May 22, 1943. p. 17 (1 page):
   Count Fleet and five others have been named for the historic WIthers Stakes, $15,000 added feature at Belmont Park today, that will serve as a test of the champion's ability to come down to a mile from the longer routes he has been running.

   Ponder, Palestinian and Capot Head Field of Eight in Belmont Stakes Today; CALUMET FAVORITE FACES STERN TEST Ponder Bids for 3-Year-Old Title in Mile-and-One-Half $91,500 Belmont Today PALESTINIAN A KEEN RIVAL Capot Expected to Attempt a Front-Running Triumph -- Double Pays $743.60
By JAMES ROACH. New York Times (1857. Jun 11, 1949. p. 14 (1 page):
   At that time, if the starting fee of $750 is paid for each, eight colts of that age will go into the starting gate at Belmont Park for the eighty-first running of the Belmont Stakes, "test of the champion" in the division.

   ROTZ IS ASSIGNED TO HIGH ECHELON; Jacobs Entry Likely to Be Even Money Field of 9 Expected for Event
By JOE NICHOLS. New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Jun 5, 1970. p. 45 (1 page) :
   Although it does not compare to last year's running, when previously undefeated Majestic Prince and Arts and Letters held the public interest, this year's Belmont Stakes is attracting more than mild attention.  The main reason is the presence in the field of Mrs. Ethel D. Jacob's Personality and High Echelon.
   The Jacobs entry continued to be rated the favorite for tomorrow's mile-and-a-half "test of the champion."

   Ron Turcotte Remembers Secretariat
Dave Anderson. New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Jun 5, 1976. p. 41 (1 page):
   At a mile and one-half, the Belmont Stakes is known as the Test of a Champion.