Communication

California rain slanted down on Santa Anita's water-logged racing strip; a light earthquake shook the track between the second and third races. It hardly seemed an ideal day for a comeback. Nonetheless, Calumet Farm sent Citation, the wonder horse, wading to the post for his first race in 13 months. Lest anybody accuse him of taking unnecessary risks with the great horse, Trainer Horace A. ("Jimmy") Jones explained that his decision had been based on careful calculations. Said Jimmy: "I decided the horse was mentally ready as well as physically. When a horse is ready, he should go."

Visibility was so poor that Citation and his three rivals could barely be seen across the mist-shrouded infield. Trainer Jones, a thickset little man with a perpetually worried look, had a twinge of conscience as the field entered the starting gate: "It's a little like putting Joe DiMaggio back in the game in midseason and letting him bat against good, seasoned pitchers. He might strike out." Jimmy had another bad moment when Citation broke slowly and wallowed down the backstretch eating mud from other horses' heels.

On the turn, Citation was cutting down the gap with an easy, amphibious stride when one horse drifted wide, carrying Citation out with him. For a while it looked like a repetition of the race two years ago at Havre de Grace, when an unknown named Saggy handed Citation one of his two defeats in 30 starts. But one lick of Jockey Steve Brooks's whip shot Citation into the lead. He coasted down the stretch like a champion, ears pricked forward, and won by a length and a half. His time for the six furlongs: a creditable 1:11 2/5.

In Calumet's campaign to make Citation the first "million-dollar horse" in history ($867,750 so far), his $2,600 share of the purse was hardly worth picking up. But Citation was back in form again: and that was racing news. Trainer Jones bustled down to the winner's circle to meet his horse as he jogged back, his bay hide splotched with mud and lather. Jimmy crouched, stared anxiously at the foreleg that had long kept Citation idle, and announced with relief: "He's sound . . . When he tells me--as he did a couple of days ago--that he wants to run, I'll run him [again]."

The odds were that Citation would be running in at least one or two more warm-ups before he kept a Feb. 11 date in the $50,000-added San Antonio Handicap. His main objective: the Santa Anita Handicap, Feb. 25, with $100,000 guaranteed to the winner. Citation had a chance to be a millionaire before he left California.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.