The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-04-15
HONTAS CROOK wins
A Sensatio n a Brush at Me m
phis--News Notes Of the
FIyers--Some OBJ
servations.

Inc OuJlOOh lot uuCn SpOIt III tuc
horse line in Canton this season IS
rather blue. No horses are quartered
at the track and SO far as known no
trainer has any intentions of locating
here. Aside from Ed. Meyers string
that will be trained, it is doubtful II
there will be any speed developed un-
less some one takes the matter up and
arranges to put the track in shape and
care for it during the summer.
1t would pay the agricultural society
to take the matter up and offer some
inducements to horsemen. When
horse interests die out, when there is
no local pride or interest, there is gen.
orally a small attendance at the fair.
Many little country towns will turn
out twice as many people to race
meeting as Canton will with her forty
thousand population. ..-,
The reason for this Is that in a
small town people know the local
horses and there is always a rivalry
among the owners and their friends
that is created by brushes on the track
and by the form shown in the training.
When there are no horses at the
track all summer though it Is hard to
excite the dormant interest when fair
time comes around.
From breeders standpoint the lack
of interest Is deadening to their bus
iness There was a time in Canton
when almost every horse owner. was
anxious to breed in speed lines and a
number of good sires were kept in the
city. The tendency now Is to 60 back
to the draft horses.
There are enough horseowners in
in the city to organize matinee So
ciety and revive the interests. Races
could be run every Friday afternoon
and they would not only prove interest
ing but the training would be excellent
for the horses. Many a good young
ster would thus be developed that
otherwise might never take the word.
A course Of training on the track
develops a road horse as nothing else
does and its influence never Is lost. It
pays to train them from that stand
point alone. even If they are not to be
used for racing.
A consignment of 28 Russian horses
have been brought to New York. They
are all dark browns and dapple grays,
and are of the Orloff breed, but not
Of the trotting strain.
Down through the south the trainers
are beginning to move their horses
along little since the weather has be-
come warmer. In the north the tracks
are not fit for horse to move upon.
1t Is noticeable that the fastest miles
at this season of the year are made by
green trainers. Men like Geers, who
have two minute performers. have the
patience to go slow and are not beat
ing 2:20 yet, with fast brush at the
end Of mile.
G. X. J. Billings. of Chicago, was at
Memphis. Tenn, few days ago and
had the honor of winning sensational
brush with Hontas Crook, 2:07 1-2, by
the noted Canton sire Bud Crook. He
was up against two others with records
as fast as his own horse, but won by
going through the last quarter at q
twO-minute clip. He has purchased
The Admiral, 2:07 IA for a pole mate
for Hontas Crook and will go after the
pole record with the pair.
General Sherwood, editorially In the
Sportsman, is trying to break down thu
Methodist discipline so as to allow
members of that church to attent
horse races. He thinks that the gat,
receipts could be increased with tht
ban taken off.
Trainer Humphris, who was located
in Canton last season, Is busy at worJ
at Alliance with the horses. He will
train several good ones there this sea
! son.
Canton horsemen are waiting for tn,
roads to dry up sufficiently so tha
they can begin speeding their flyers
The unpayed streets are used by then
generally, the wise ones not caring Il
Kill their horses off on the payements.
Foley's Honey and Tar contains n,
oplates. and will not consttpate lik'