The sun., 1897-03-15
WITH TROTTER ANDpACER.
PRosPEoTs ron THE oRA0Ks DUR
ING THE COMING CAMPAIGN.

ufgh-Clnss Sport Expected from the "efdo-
wbceicrs ,-The outlook for the Trsttins
Division Not 30 Prop,isins -Estrics for stake
Races st fleetwood rsrk 10 Close To-Day.
The stake programme for the July meeting at
Detroit contains early closing events for both
trotters and PAGERS OF the free-for-all class. so
that an open race among tho crack performers is
now virtually assured throughout the Grand
Circuit this year. Detroit Is the fret important
stand in tho chain Of big meetings whore the best
harness horses Of tho East and the West annual
ly come together, and q freo-for-all at Detroit
usually means q weekly renewal Of the open
race all the way down the line.
Circuit followers are looking forward to great
doings in the pacing freefor-alls more first
"side wheelers" being in sight Just now than
ever before. It must be said, however, that the
outlook In tho trotting division is not so promis-
ing OF high-class sport. with John r. Gentry
reserved for exhibitions against time. and the
owner OF the champion PAGER has said that his
first object this year would bo to lower the har-
ness record below 200 with the handsome stall
lion. It is not likely that Gentry will figure In
the free-for-alls until late In tho season.
Robert J. Is looked upon as being tho free
for-all candidate OF the Tewksbury Stable at all
OF tho earlier meetings The gclding could beat
tho best OF the cracks in 1896 until he grow stale
and sore toward the end Of the campaign, and It
Is uOuDItul WnttntT MS winning 1Ourtn neat In
2:02a at Columbus last August Is not the great
est feat OF his brilliant career. When Robert j.
trained of late in the season and Star Pointer
coming out fresh at that time. defeated him Mt
Boston and Lexington, a good many turfinen
transferred their allegiance to tho Tennessee
stallion. James A. Murphy. the new owner OF
Pointer. was one OF these, and he Is by long odds
the heaviest bettor who follows tho harness
horses. Tho stallion would probably start favor
ite II the great horses woro ready for q race to.
day.
Joe Patchen will have better chance than
usual in his campaign this year, his owner hay-
Ing decided not to place him In the stud before
the opening OF tho racing season. as has been tho
custom heretofore. The black horse had an at
tack or catarrhal fever about II year ago from
which he did not entirely recover until la;c IN
thq season: he was hastily prepared for the cam.
palRn after his stud season ended and was handi-
capped In other ways Frank Agan, like Robert
j.. Is in tho hands OF a new trainer this your,
Mccarthy as driver for NV fIubingcr, the owner
OF the gelding, Agan was perhaps the most con.
year. All that he lacked was a little more speed
70 make him winner when he forced John II.
Gentry and star Pointer out in the two fastest
two-year-od In 1892. lie PAGES without a boot
sound, game, and lovei headed Many horse!aen
llluIt lbrIlluNDIe IhCtOr tnan ever in the Grand
Circuit freo-foralls OF 1897.
Last years campaign developed no new per-
formers at either gait that would seem to have
cracks Of 1896. John H. Gentry Star Pointer.
Robert j., Joe Patchen, and Frank Agan are In
class by themselves. and on public form there
Is no new material in sight for the trotting free
ior;alls, Fantasy, Benzetta, OnoquG, and Ken
the fast class this year as they were in i SOS
Jack Curry ia to train Alix. however, and II tho
lowe turf queen should como out next summer
hnp mid fnrt1, L.., fs,,,fI lal
ly to get the lions share OF the money. Azote. |
tho iree.for.ail champion OF 1923, is reported to
attempt Will he made TO train him. Dlrectum.
although he Is still young horse, ia In much the
. Beuzetta and Onoqua, who were complete |
trainers, Iliekok, and Turner. are to be tried
0noqua. said recently that the daughter OF !
keeicr could trot in 2:O5 or better when she |
left his hands. lie thinks that Turner will yet |
drive her to such a record when tho man and |
the mare become thoroughly acquainted with |
mia in charge OF Orrin Hickok, who will cam. |
paign the marc for Mrs. Stokes agnin. Bcu- |
setta displayed phenomenal burst OF speed in |
the trcc-iOr-all race AT Fleetwood last year, but
liko Onoqua, she somehow failed 10 win single |
race during the season,
Harry Hamltn who wns in this city last week !
trying TO get Stnr Pointer for I'D Gecrs to train,
says that Fantasy ls wintcring finely at Selma,
iorty'hNe horses belonging to the Village !
Farm Fantasy Won ali Of the Grand Circuit !
irec-iorhIlS IN 1916 but she grew thin and weak
toward the end OF the season, finally going down
before the great Ncbras ka four.ycar-old Pat l..
in the open race at Lexington in October. Most
or her races were won in slow time for the free
for'all class, although she trottod heat in
s:O6l1 az one OF the cari meetings in the
W Ncst. Kentucky Union also trained OIL late In
the summer and was OF little account by the
time she reached Fleetwood.
Detroit Will hold u twowecks' meeting this
year, beginning July IL. Tho $4,000 Mer-
chants and Manufacturers stakes for 9:2i
trotters, and tho 80 900 Chamber OF Commerce
Stakes for 2:2i PAGERS are both renewed In the
stake programme but the other early closing
events except he two free.for-ulls are cut down
10 81 800 each in value. The classes for trottcrs
are 2:lO, 2:27, threey ods and yeaI. .olds
for PAGERS, 200. 2:27, three.year-ods and four
year-olds.
Entries close to-day for all OF the stakes opened
last month by the Driving Club OF New York for
the Grand Circuit meeting at Fleetwood Park,
also for the $4,000 stake offered for foals OF
1897. The latter stake Is to be decided in 1897, |
and II Is said that the contest will take place in
this city or on some one Of the nearby trotting
racks. One thousand dollars OF the stake is set
aside for colts that pace.