The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-17
TRAINER HIGGINS.
Rumor that He Has Changed Methods
Is Not Believed.


Is Not Believed
The defeat of volodyoysh by Doricles
for the st. Leger last Thursday cost Ameri-
can bettors more than any race ever run
In England, Immense sums were sent 10
England to be placed upon Mr. Whitney's
colt, who went to the post top-heayy
a disaster.
John Higgins, the American trainer of
race horses, who won the English Derby
Tor Mr.. Whitney with NolodyovSk has been
me unconscious cause Of much heated
argument on the part of turfmen in Amerl-
ca VINO knew him before he went to Eng
land to train for Pierre Lorlllard.
from somewhere the report came that
Hugglns, WIS, by the way has been re-
rhristened William" by the English news
papers, had abandoned American training
methods and adopted. the system in vogue
IN England Absolutely nothing could have
heeh sald about iluggins that would have
so Sllrred MS friends and admirers in this
country, for every one who knows Higgins
knows him for the most conservative of
men mat at his time of life he should
give up the customs that he has practiced
since ne irst saddled horse, away back
III MS Ola quarter-racing days in Texas,
none VINO has the slightest knowledge OF
the man VIII believe.
IL Is recalled Of him that years ago he
commonly departed from the custom III
warming up" horses that he believed to be-
Sencate or unduly nervous, aIal he varied
ms training methods In many other wnyS
- sun the INDIVIDUAL morse, doing thirHy
IN tnat connection that caused much com.
ment In tae cid T8ciug DAYS on the New
York race tracks, but in the end almost in
DetIRDly being justified by the results
The thing introduced on the Eastern
utaeks ny Hugglns that still stands as a
monument 10 the ex-TeXans ability Is he
tuSIom or having companion horse at
r ,.a.l. hlgn class racers when they are being
WtpNred Tor q race. Higgins one dny ais.
iSoAtIeu lhat pony that Lamplighter mad
become attached to served better 10 keen
sne morse quiet when he was being pre-
PuH9 Tor race than all the grooms fhat
couId be got around the horse The nonv
Stin became a hXtnre and other trainers
t ~ me example set when they Jaw
t t1v eject tue companlonship had Higgins
im T., 90 ueed many other things that are less
w the slsht OF the general public ana
When he went to England, there We're few
UI nlS IeHows who did not agree In the
NHulcl that he was one of the abIest tram
ers OF horses that the turf had eyer ,een
ine IDEA mat the great Higgins could
learn anything from any English trainer is
asPtIuIllaled on all sides, and, as one OF the
o oSli' admirers put II In the course OF an
aIsument at the Sheepshead bav racs
ttack Huggins could forget more tban
sne English trainers ever knew and then
peAt them when II comes 10 sendina
hofses out to win races"
IN point OF fact, Higgins has made n
maINelons record In England where no
nalued successfully first for Pierre Lori.
raau' next Tor Lord William Bereford and
now Tor Mr.. Whitney. In no case ala ne
nave really first class material Vet he wne
races Tor all OF them, and actually mi
III, Lorlllard's stable well IN on ihe
winning list with a rather ordinary Ia
OF selling-pate horses. '''