The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-20
ASA SPEEDMAKER
FAST HORSES THAT GREAT
TRAINER HAS DRIVEN.
Never Uses HoppIes on His Pupils to
COnyert Them to the Pace-Cres-
ceus Goes CaIIing-Notes.


cially those now at the fair grounds track.
MIR. Geers, who is nov in Memphis, will
neither confirm nor deny the report. He is
known as the silent man and probably
for that reason will not discuss the matter.
Geers is the most prominent trainer in
the country. In 1891 he signed a contract to
train the Village Farm horses of Cicero !.
Hamlin, and he has since been connected
with Mr.. Hamlin. Prior to that season his
old standby. Hal Pointer, record then
2:O9A, was Geers's only 2:1O stopper. Since
that date, it is believed. the famous Ten
nesseean has put more 2:10 performers in
the trotting and pacing stables than any
two trainers. He worked Brown Hal, 2:l21h,
a trial mile once in 2:OSz, and had the
day Geers surely would have driven the
sire of Star Pointer a series of brilliant
miles well below the 2:10 line.
With Nightingale Geers won stakes and
races for purses until her death and he
gave her a record of POS, also the worlds
two and three-mile records. Heir-at-Law
he marked at PIP. trotting, then shifting
him TO pace at 2:0524. Dare Devil he gave
a record of 200; Battleton one of 2:09%4;
Fantasy, the worlds ~three-year-old record
of 2:0S4, and the worlds four-year-Old filly
record, 2:06. Merry Chimes. the PAGER. was
one of the Village Farms first 2:l0 per-
formers, ending with a record of 2:0SA. Ed
CASTOR took a record of 2:09A. then died
suddenly. Passing Belle took a record of
2:0Sl2. She is now owned in England.
The Monk took a race record, 2:0S4, as a
four-year-old, and then went wrong. This
season he is again in Geers's stable 10
race and is expected to trot in 2:05. The
Abbott came out as "A four-year-old, end
ing that season with a record of 2:114. The
next year he reached 2:09A. the next 2:06A.
Then came his gala season-1900-when he
became champion of t%rOtters. only to lose
the title TO Cresceus last year. Last year
2:O4 was The Abbott's fastest mile. Lord
Derby, 2:07, his first season out, in 1900,
lowered his record to 2:06h last year. Geers
gave Battleton, by Rex Americas, a record
of 2:O9$4.
WON WITH ROBERT j.
Lady of the Manor took a record of 2:O4A
for Geers, equaling the record for pacing
mares held jointly by Mazette, who made
her record last season. With the outside
bred PAGER Robert j.. Geers won many
races, ending by taking the worlds record
of 2:Olk, since beaten by a select few. One
season Geers drove Joe Patchen a race
against star Pointer. defeating the cham
pion in 2:0l12. John Dickerson. however. In
a trial against time cut the figure to
2:01A, the black stations present record.
Hal Pointer. in 1894, lowered the worlds
pacing record first TO 2:05A, then after
equaling it at Providence, lowered it to
2:0412. His illustrious half brother, Star
Pointer, first beat 2:10 with Geers. and
wound up at 2:04A. Hal billiard, 2:e4&.
paced for Geers in 2:O7A; Hal B.. 2:04A.
paced a race below the 2:10 line. Geers
drove Hal Braden to a record of 2:O714, his
record. hooking Boy took a record of 2:OS1z
for him, Bright Regent one of 2:06A, Moon
stone one of 200.
With Onward Silver Geers won in 2:O7
last season and Shadow Chimes took a rec
ord of 2:064. His first winning heat was
2:01k, at Fort Erie, indeed a brilliant
achievement. King Chimes has a pacing
record of 2:114. given him by Geers, and
he, too, showed better than 2:10 in his work.
Emily raced TO n record of 2:l1, after hav-
ing raised several foals, showing that she
was virtually a 2:lO trotter. At the 1900
meeting at the Empire City track Tudor
Chimes. 2:13, was timed 2:0S% in the heat
Bay Star won i'm POS that day. Heir-at-
Law. PIP: Fitz Royal. 2:1312; Equity. 2:124;
Rex Americas, 2:l1h; True Chimes, 2:12h;
Tom Wilkes. 2:11; Red Oak, 2:l312; Kittie
B., 2:1l; Elsinora, 2:124, and Brandon. PIP,
are among those Geers gave records. and
some of them were second to 2:10 heat win
ners. In the long ago Geers drove Matte
Hunter, 2:12l4, a mile in 2:l3, her record
until John Splan reduced il a fraction Of a
second, and to a high-wheel sulky it was,
too.
SURPRISE BY DIRECT HAL.
In October last Direct Hal surprised all
but his trainer by pacing a mile in 2:O6%,
last half in one minute He will be raced
this season. Geers has Dandy Chimes, who.
as yet, has not been started, although
showing PIP in his work. Fred S. Wedge
wood, 2:OS1R, is another he will race and
who seems sensational, having stepped a
third in 2:O5A last season.
Every race-goer recalls Hal Pointers
famous finishes when he would come
through the stretch from the distance flag
like a streak. nipping his heats right under
the wire. The old fellow had corns and
used to nod and go very sore until warmed
out Of it. He was sold by Geers and his
partner, Mr.. Steele, of Columbia. Tenn. to
Harry Hamlin for something like SIS. 900:
then, in 1895, when his star had set, Mr..
Hamlin sold him for $1,000 to a Major
Quimby. Geers regretted seeing accounts
of his old favorite being beaten on the
half-mile tracks in slow time. so Mr.. Ham
lin, sr., sent a check to Quimby. securing
the old war PAGER, and he is at the Village
Farm to-day, a p~ensioner. Geers is CORE
spondingly happy. and whenever training
at the farm or the nearby covered track
keeps the famous "Pinter boss" to go back
and forth from the seat of training opera-
work. In summer his shoes are removed,
and he roams the big pastures at will.
NEVER USES HOPPLES.
Geers never uses topples on his pupils
to convert them to the pace. but does it
in his own way by changing their shoes.
He has had some frightful accidents, brok-
en- a wrist, an ankle, had several horses
drop dead under him. yet each year goes
into the closest competitions with all of
MS ola courage, always winning more
purse and stake money than any other
trainer. He is said TO draw a salary of
5000 TO $4,000. and well does he earn IL.
likewise keep il, and to-day must be reck-
oned a somewhat wealthy man.
Since his first appearance on the Grand
Circuit, twenty-odd years ago, he has new
er been charged further than with laying
UP heats and as he always drives to win
every heat possible to win. the judges have
vet to fine him. Doubtless no other driver
the respect of managers and the
public as does Ed Geers. and HIS EMPLOYERS
rarely. of late years. bother to go to the
races other than over to the Fort Erie
track, just across from Buffalo.
Several successful trainers have come
out because of having trained second TO
him, such as George Foster, Charlie LYONS
and others. Ben White has been with him
several years and Geers regards him with
all the affection he would were he his son.
Harry Benedict remained with him until q
good opening presented itself. then. at
Geers's suggestion. branched out for him
self. He had New Richmond. 2:OSh. ont
last season, and no one was more pleased
because he succeeded than his old coun-
selor.
Geers long since selected black can and
coat as his colors. and all other trainers
have honored his selection. Since engaging
witt Village Farm Geers must have won
fully $4,000 net at the races. and his list
of 2:10 performers shows for itself. Before
his advent there the Village Farm horses
were considered somewhat inferior to Gait
fornia or K~entucky-bred animals. To-day
the Village Farm produce are readily mar
keted, and Dare Devil. 2:09. recently sold
CRESCEUS GOES CALLING.
NJ EaSa-.s.