The herald., 1896-12-21
THE HORSE.

If the California circuit of 1897 is not
to be distinct failure it certainly
looks as if the light harness men should
get together at an early date to adopt
some plan of action. says the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. 1t is an open secret
that few of the meetings held this sea-
son paid expenses. No association made
money, except, perhaps, Los Angeles
The cutting off of the district appro-
priations has played havoc with many of
the associations, especially the smaller
| ones.
1t seems that an effort should be made
to redistrict California in agricultural
associations. Forty-six districts were out
of all reason, but there Is little doubt if
the state were divided into fifteen dis
tricts an appropriation could be secured
from the next Legislature. If some
thing is not done the California circuit
will be a thing of the past. Many peo-
pie are interested in the breeding and
development of the trotting and pacing
horse in California, and it behooves
them to go to the front at this critical
period.
1t Is no use Disgusting the fact that
any of the drivers are responsible for the
lack Of interest in light harness racing
Laying up heats" is responsible for the
decline of the sport in very great meas
ure. and as long as associations permit
bOokmaking and betting on heats the
game will get worse instead of better.
Reconsideration has hardly been the
success anticipated. . In fact, it was a
| distinct failure this season. 1t seems
that every association should close two
or three events early in the season, so
that a man with a good green horse
could win reasonable sum of money
before being dropped into the fast
classes.
Although the report gained circula-
ton when Lewis G.. Tewksbury pur-
| chased John r. Gentry, says an eastern
exchange a few days ago, that the king
of harness horses would hereafter be
driven on the road it is now definitely
settled that both Gentry and his sta
Bile companion. Robert j.. are to be cam
paigned next year. e. r. Browne has
signed contract to train the two king
| pin PAGERS in 1897, engaging to give his
entire attention to the Tewksbury two
horse stable. Both horses were taken
| to Somervlle, N. j., where they will be
| wintered. Robert J.'s shoes have been
pulled off and the blood like little geld
| ing will be turned out and treated to
| fair let-up for the first time since the
winter of 1S93-94 Browne has already
made some radical changes in the bear
| ing of the ex-champion's front feet,
which he thinks will benefit the horse.
Gentry, who is sond and clean as new
through the winter on the country roads
Early in the spring both PAGERS will be
brought to Fleetwood park and there
trained until the campaign opens in
June. Horsemen will be surprised to
learn that Tewsbury expects to see the
| gelding cross the two-minute line in adj
vance of the stallion. A good many turf
men, including c. j. Hamlin, have ex-
pressed the belief that Robert j. has
seen his best days, but his new owner
ard his present trainer think differ
emily. Tewksbury said that if he were
forced to part with one of the other
o. his star PAGERS he would say, without
hesitation: Take John r. Gentry" THE
chances are that the two cracks will be
harnessed to a pole at some time next
year, for a shy at the double team rec
ord of 2:091a. held by Mrs. w. T.. d.
Stokes fast mares, Miss Rita and Josie
b. w. j. Andrews, who drove Gentry
to his record, and who has seen great
deal of Robert j.. expresses the opinion
that, hitched double, the gelding and
the stallion could cover a mile in 300
or better.
A great stake is about to be offered by
| the Coiley Island Jockey club. 1t is TO
| be an annual event for all ages to be run
at weight for age at the autumn meet
| ing each year. The distance has not yet
| been agreed upon, but will be either
mile and a half or two miles. 1t will be
| called the annual champion stakes, and
will be probably worth about $4,000 or
| 100000. The unique feature of the race
| is that single nomination of horse
| by paying an additional starting fee and