The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-07
HARNESS RACERS SHOES
MORE CARE TAKEN IN sHoEING
THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
w. f. Rauson He's the Proud Distinc-
tfon Of shoeiag Nearly All the
Lafter-Dr.y Champions.

NEW YORK, Dec. 6.-Probably one OF
the most, IL not the most important part
OF the rigging of the light harness racers,
are the shoes. More care is given TO the
shoeing of the trotters and PAGERS than TO
anything outside Of the conditioning OF the
horse. Some horses are more easily shOd
than others, but in most cases shoeing is
such a delicate process that fraction of
weight on the wrong place will cause a
horse to leave his stride.
Few horsemen throughout the country
have studied the Importance Of shoeing
more than w. Z. Rawson. of Glenville,
o.. who has the proud distinction of shoe
ing nearly all the Iatter-day champions Of
the turf. In fact. Rawson has taken care
OF such notables as Star Pointer. Lou Dill
Ion. Dan Patch. Joe Pointer. Alix and John
A McKerron-
In an interesting interview Mr.. Rawson
said:
IT Travelled with Star Pointer and Cres-
ceus for three years, and shod the cham
plons before they went their record miles.
The others have been fitted TO shoes re-
peatedly in this shop while training on the
track or when here for the Grand Circuit
races.
In the case of Lou Onion, the trotting
queen has been shod nowhere else than in
this shop this year, and IL Is mainly the
swedge shoe that induced Mr.. Billings
TO let me place on the rear feet of the mare
that keeps her from tiring at the end or
record mile.
tbs rarely that two horses have to be
shod alike. continued Mr.. Rawson, even
among the heaviest farm horses. This
proves true with the champion trotters and
PAGERS. though the latter class of horses
demand more care and attention in shoeing
than others. Each horse has his own pc
culiarit1es. such as tendency 10 hit his
knee. slip in front or IN the rear. be gen
orally unbalanced, or possessed or Otner
faults that would prevent him from making
fast time or keeping his feet in a race.
Star Pointer, for instance, wore seven
ounce shoe IN front, corked up because ne
used TO hit his knees badly. The right
fore shoe was larger than the other and
curved out at the toe There is shoe
which Star Pointer wore when ne made
lis mark" said Mr.. Rawson, pointing TO an
oddiy-shaped one hanging In case full
adorned the wall OF the shop.
The great PAGER, as Is the usual custom,
wore his heaviest shoes in front, the set
which he carried behind weighing but eight
ounces. Cresceus carried seven and one
half ounces plain shoes in front and four
ounce swedge shoes behind, the latter being
used TO prevent the great trotter from
slipping. as he was inclined TO do with a
peculiar about the shoeing OF the great
horse, unless IL was the general leveling VI
which was necessary when shoes were be-
ing shaped for his feet
Lou Dillon. the trOttfng queen, wore
six-ounce plain shoes In front and three
ounce swedge shoes behind when she
trotted the first mile ever stepped in 200
Those shoes placed on her feet
Dan Patch wears seven-ounce plain
shoes IN front and five-ounce cork shoes
behind. McKerron wears as heavy shoes
IN front as any of the old champions, the
plain fore shce weighing eight ounces