The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-11-27
HAL POINTER
PASSES AWAY.
Famous PAGER That Made Maury
County Known All Over the
United States Goes Down the
Final Home Stretch at Buffalo,
N. Y.-TrotwoOd Pays a TrI-
butte to HIM.

Hal Pointer, the most famous horse
that Tennessee ever produced, who
made Maury county famous ali ovel
tn UuIted States, died few days ago
at Village Farm, near Buffalo, N. Y,
at the age of II years. During the
last months OF his life the noble ole
PAGER became very feeble, and to end
his sutferlngs he was given m, rph ne.
In his day Hal Pointer was the
champion PAGER of the world, and was
never vanquIshed but twice in all his
campaigns on the turf, and that was by
Direct.
Speaking OF the famous old horse
yesterday, John "Trotwnod' Moore
said
Hal Pointer, 2:0411a, was the most
wonderful harness race horse that ever
lived. He made three flames in his
life, besides his OWNED Geers as a
driver, NOW acknowledged to be the
greatest driver living Tennessee a.
the nome of the Hal family, and
Village Farm OF Buatflo N. Y, that
bought and raced HIM Practically, hs
was never beaten, and for years he
went up and down the Grand Circuit
invincl Die and unbeaten.
not at all handsome, sired by Tom
Hal, by whom my distinguished
friend. Capt. Thomas Gibson, now of
was immortalized, he having dis
covered the great horse IN the hills OF
Marshall county, aud brought him to
Maury county. He il still known as
G'Dson's Tom Hal, and in addition to
- FOL DSxt,,
Hal, the champion sire of the worlo.
Belonged 20 the Church.
Hal Pointer first came into notice
ip 1890, and there is funny story
about him which the race horse men
used 70 love to tell. 1t is said that
at one time he belonged to the
Presbyterian church. 1t Jeems that
the late Capt. Henry Pointer, OF
Spring Hill was an ardent Presby
terrain, and when his old mare
also the dam of Star
Pointer foaled this sorry looking
colt, the Captain raised MIN for a
saddle horse, as he was not regarded
as being promising enough to race
Indeed, it WAS before the days of
PAGERS. anyway, and no one ever
thought much of them, except for
practical purposes. Cntll ne was tive
years DID, this great king OF PAGERS
carried Capt. Pointer In fox hunts.
and wherever he rode. They wanted
10 Duild new Presbyterian church at
Spring Hill. and when the com mittee
,allieH IN Captain Pointer for dona
ton he told them he didn't have the
money to spare them, but would give
hem his saddle horse, which he valued
It $780, This was satisfactory, aud
or while ola Pointer. until he was
Iold to Walter Steele, of Columbia. for
$3.50, actually belonged 10 the Presby-
erlan church. That always satisfied
ne that he was predestined to win,
He was turned over to Ed Geers,
Who practically was an unknown
river, and from then on he was
ing of the Grand Circuit. After the
irst season Village Farm bought him,
nd employed Geers to drive him.
nd old Pointer MADE them all famous.
Il have counted it up and | find
hat he won close to $50, 0W during
is racing career, and that was before
he days wnen Ian e purses were hung I
p for PAGERS. 6
For the past five or SIX years he had z
cen pensioDed, ana WIS living an +
asy life at Village Farm, and be- y
eve ii there il any hereafter for
orses he will be there among the
ANTS.
Race With Colo Maid.
"Oae OF the most exciting races he +
al was with Colo Maid. then CON ;,
dered the fastest mare in the world.
nd brought FROM the West purposely
peat Hal Pointer, Her owner |
Ugh official OF Colorado, I think il y