Slide Rule (1940 – ? ) was a Thoroughbred race horse who was owned by William E. Boeing of Boeing. He sired by Metropolitan and Suburban Handicap winner, Snark and was out of the mare King's Idyll, a daughter of the outstanding Champion sire and broodmare sire, Sir Gallahad III.Slide Rule's pedigree

He was a stablemate of the more noted Devil's Thumb, and in April 1943, of the colt Twoses.Paumanok Handicap Split Into Two Fields, Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1943, pg. 8. Newspaper reports of the early 1940s described him as a little chestnut colt.Slide Rule Defeats Bourmont By Length In $72,000 Classic, New York Times, July 25, 1943, pg. S1.

Competition chronicle Slide Rule's first victory of significance came in the Babylon Handicap at Aqueduct Race Track on September 5, 1942. The colt emerged from the middle of the pack to take the $7,325 purse.Rurales Set Back, New York Times, September 6, 1942, pg. S1. He won a Kentucky Derby trial, the Experimental Handicap, at Jamaica, New York, on April 8, 1943. The field of fifteen included thirteen Derby eligibles.Slide Rule Triumphs in Derby Trial, April 9, 1943, pg. 19.

On June 4, 1942, Slide Rule was part of an owner - trainer - jockey double for W.E. Boeing, Cecil Wilhelm, and Ralph Neves at Belmont Park. Larrup, the other Boeing entry, won the first event with Slide Rule completing the double.Favorite Triumps Over Up The Hill, New York Times, June 5, 1942, pg. 26.

Slide Rule, along with Corona, Corona, another Boeing thoroughbred, entered the $62,000 Arlington Futurity in Chicago, Illinois, on July 18, 1942. The event was won by Occupation, with Corona, Corona finishing fifth and Slide Rule 7th.Occupation Winner In $62,900 Futurity, New York Times, July 19, 1942, pg. S1.

In the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Race Track on April 17, 1943, Slide Rule was injured, slowed to a walking gait, and finished fifth.Count Fleet Easy Winner In Wood Race, Los Angeles Times, April 18, 1943, pg. 17.

Cecil Wilhelm, Slide Rule's trainer, shipped the thoroughbred to Churchill Downs on April 22, 1943.Slide Rule, Twoses Off For Louisville, Los Angeles Times, April 22, 1943, pg. 19. Ocean Wave finished nine lengths ahead of Slide Rule, who placed second, in the Kentucky Derby Trial on April 27, 1943.Ocean Wave Prep Winner, Los Angeles Times, April 28, 1943, pg. 13.

Winner's circle in New York

After finishing third to Kentucky Derby winner, Count Fleet, Wilhelm decided to hold the colt out of the Preakness Stakes. Slide Rule ran the mile at 1:41 1/5 at Belmont Park. However, the trainer opted to run him instead in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Race Track. Slide Rule Out of Preakness, Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1943, pg. 11. As a 2 to 5 favorite in the $9,650 Peter Pan Handicap, Slide Rule won by "an inch" over Vincentive with a last second lunge. The victory secured the $7,025 winner's share for W.E. Boeing. Conn McCreary was the winning jockey on Slide Rule. The winning time was 1:51 1/5.Slide Rule Takes Peter Pan By Nose At Belmont Park, New York Times, May 30, 1943, pg. S1.

Chicago success

A camera decision was necessary to decide that Occupation had defeated Slide Rule by a head at Washington Park Race Track on June 25, 1943. In his second start of the 1943 season, Occupation won the seven furlong event and its purse of $2,500.Occupation Wins From Slide Rule, New York Times, June 26, 1943, pg. 17.

In the $72,000 Arlington Classic at Arlington Park, Slide Rule captured a $53,400 victory as a 5 to 1 shot. He came in a length ahead of Bourmont, despite having lost in three previous races at the Chicago, Illinois race track. It was the colt's most important victory, coming after a runner-up to Count Fleet in the Withers Stakes and two stakes wins at Belmont Park.Slide Rule Defeats Bourmont By Length in $72,000 Classic, July 25, 1943, pg. S1.

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