The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-19
THE NEWS OF THE l SPORTING WORLD | by Bono

eYoA. being damned around like an ordinary $ie plug was Q revelation to most Of the poys. but one of them said: None or eH is too good for that old boy to Hex when they need it." and he voiced the sentl- ments of the crowd. Iva Dee. Q last mare but who had been used 10 naVlns her own way, was turned over to Geers just before the Hartford meetlngs drove her in a race that she should nave won with ease. but whenever Gers Wouio call on Iva for little enort sne wouIo break and fall to the rear. Al the nusn of the final heat she repeated @ .ne o,,er o,1n but as Iva went under the wire, GeeIs hit with the whip. It was no oroInaIy stroke, but swinging blow that causne Iva Dee from shoulder to puttocK. was something new to the mare, who had been pampered into obstinacy but De1ore she recovered from the shock the Wnip fell again and again. and m tnarsy thorough lickings ever administered to 2 horse had tried to get away from It, anu found herself restrained by a naho or iron. x.. ,. said Geers, "and then when she found that did no good she tried to run away That mare ought to have won every heat trotted today, and she's got to auit tha'
 Never Whips Horse in Race.
 That is Geers. Whip them when they need it. never otherwise, and when the Punishment is administered make the trace of excitement or anger in the en- tire proceeding. This is one reason Wnv Geers's horses do so well for him. He doss aond ngs he is 4aG ne.er e unknd. He teaches them what is wanted, and IS willing ;to spend years on a horse that he thinks will repay the teaching If the animal pe A dificult pupil. But once the lesson IS learned it must not be forgotten. Never does he use the whip on horse Tn a race to a greater extent than gentle flick now and then on the neck or with CTS in a close finish, and even this mild reminder is a last resort. Ninety-nine times in a hundred the finish will be like a bronze figure. There is no fish ing of the lines. no shout of encour- ! agement, and above all. no wild slash
 with the ws s | do 1t at the proper time.
 After a heat, no matter how desperate | the finish. no matter whether his horse has won or lost, no matter whether the | amount at stake be an ordinary purse or | a $10.00o stake on which $lOO.0OO is wager l ed in the pool box. Geers Is deliberate l for the horse. Hc stands by while the IcaretAkers are doing their work. If 1t is we'll and swiftly done there Is no sign inetantly % W corrected and rebuked by a a word spoken in an ordinary tone. The man is never irritated, never nasty, nev. CT unreasonaDle, ana never ln the leas'
 Chooses Negroes for "swipes."
 Most of his caretakers or ''swipes'' are negroes. Geers was born and raised iE the South. and he understands negroes
 who as I rule are the poorest saar earetaR ts !,
 he preferred them around his stables
 They are all right" he replied. If ;
 man knows how to handle them-other
 feed feed them well, and treat them well. bu
 they know their place and know mine
 For the raw material from which to mak'
 good swipe would sooner have greer
 field negro than one who has worked
 around cities and had to do with horses The field negro has nothing to forget. anC
 can tell in two days whether or not h' | Is going to make a success or caring fol
 horses. l have one man who has beer
 with me for fifteen years, and others havt
 served long terms in my employ: l would
 trust that boy that's been with me SC long with all the money l had In tho 1 world
 | Such is Ed Geers. The greatest trainer and driver in the world, man of deer religious feeling, stranger to the use ol oaths or foul language, a non-user oi | alcoholic beverages. not card player | and yet a man whose company Is always sought because of his wonderfully enter taiuing personality. He criticises nc man, has a kind word for all and vel
 can resent an injury with a suddenness and force that makes him respected ever where he is not loved. It Is part of his religion to be absolutely fair in driving a race. He will never even keep another driver in a pocket during heat. Il | the other reinsman find himself there anC | Geers is the key to the situation request
 to let him out Is sufficient. "I don't want | to beat any man unfairly" Geers once said. and any one whose horse he drives need expect no resort to the tricks oi jockeyism in order that victory may bt gained. Clean honors are the only ones Ed Geers Is looking for or will accept.