Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11


trottng and pacing season about to open
that promises to be the most remarka Bile.
interesting and successful in the history of
sulky racing, argument is again rife, as 1t
always is about this time of the year, as to
which. the saddle or the sulky horse, fur
nishes the better track sport and which Is
the most valuable as money producer.
The sport part of this question Is, Of
course. purely a matter of choice. The
runner, laundering over the race course.
may enthuse and delight one person where
he would not particularly excite another.
There is little to be said on this point.
There is room for comment, however, on
the problem concerning the value Of the
harness horse compared with that of the
running horse as a money producer. and
many warm discussions bearing on it are
heard between the admirers of the two
classes of racing equines.
1t is claimed side that the swift
runner commands higher price than the
trotter OF PAGER, and that his earnings are
much greater. This view is generally con-
f1dently accepted as fact by the admirers
of the runner. The devotees of the trotter
and PAGER. however, energetically dispute
its correctness.
AS testimony in proof of the claim that
INC justly NC SldSoeu oooNS
the trotter and PAGER as a financial propo-
sition, it is pointed out that the late Will
liam C. Whitney about ten years ago gave
100000 for Henry of Navarro, and that only
d couple of years back Mr. E. E. Smathers
paid $4,000 for the western crack, Nc
Chesney. And then it is recalled that Or
monde was sold for the big sum of $3.50, 600
Ormonde. however. was bred across the
water He was of rich European racing
blood and was bought and brought to this
country by California parties to be used
for breeding purposes. Many other running
horses. bred at home. have sold for prices
ranging from $50 900 to $50. 900. Oiseau, Mr.
James a. Brady's colt that was beaten so
badly at Gravesend few days ago for the
Broadway stakes. cost $4,000.
AS for the money-getting merits OF such
horses. it is a well-known fact that some of
them have reaped rich harvests Of dollars
for their owners. Salvador. king of his day.
earned fortune on the track; Henry of
Navarro won many thousands; Domino did
the same; Waterboy got about everything
in the way of purses. large and small, that
he started for, and Delhi winner of the last
Brooklyn handicap. has increased by tens
Of thousands CT dollars the already vast
bank account OF Mr.. James r. Keene.
Persons well itformed in turf affairs as
sert that Salvador wen 100000 during his
racing days. and that at least three other
horses, famous in recent years for their
racing achievements. earned amounts near
ly as great. and that when they left the
track they gathered in many thousands
more as breeding horses.
The advocates of the runner argue that
the reason for all this is plain; that his OPP
portunties for making big money are
much better than are those of the trotter or
PAGER; that he Is more popular; that greater
throngs of people go to see him, and that
therefore more money is offered for his per-
formanceS; and that. all in ALL he Is a
much more valuable and preferable animal
from every point connected with the racing
game.
While fortunes have been paid for run
ners such Salvador, Kingston. Navarro.
Domino, Waterboy and many others, and
they have not proven bad investments, the
trotter and PAGER are represented along
these lines In a way that. apparently. q
very small proportion of the present-day
supporters Of the runner take into account
Goldsmith Maid was the greatest money
maker-runner, trotter or pacer-that ever
set foot on the American turf This phe-
nomenal little mare was foaled in 1851 She
TOOK the WOrldS record away from Dexter
at Mystic Park. Boston. where, In 1871, at
the age Of fourteen years. she trotted a
mile in 2.17 fiat In 1874. when she was
seventeen years old. she trotted a mile in
PA fiat. which time was not beaten until
1878. when Harms went a mile in 2.13t1s.
During her career on the track Goldsmith
Maid, the best turf authorities agree. won
for her owners 1925 900. To accumulate
this great amount of money she travelled on
cars more than 10000 miles,
Dexter. whose name and fame will last as
long as turf history is written. won during
his brief track service the comfortable sum
of $67, 100. When six years old this cele-
brated gelding sold for $780, Later ne
changed hands fora consideration of $14.-
900. and Mr.. Robert Bonner gave $33, 600 for
him.
1t would be heartless to pass over with
out notice that deservedly affectionately re-
membered old mare, Flora Temple, al