The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
L. E. SuATHERs on RACING.
His Reason For Switching From Trotters
to Runners--WnI Ret ain Hildreth.

z. Z. Smathers took his first ride of the
new year behind Lord Derby, 2oo9.. AS he
stepped from the wagon on his return he
said; There Ia a horse | viii never part
with 30 long as ne lives and am able TO
enjoy driving him. Mr. Smathers spoke
freely OF his change from harness racing to
the thoroughbreds because II was bigger,
broader field OF sport, Ii you race Tor
pleasure" he said, you want TO be where
the crowd Is. II you race for money you
want TO be where the money is. Il Ia poor
day when you cannot see 10, 900 people
at a running meeting, and a pretty good
day when you see a. many hundreds at
harness meeting Then, again, II q man
bets two or three thousand dollars during
the day on the trotters he is called plunger
while If he bets only that amount on q
racetraok no one would know lie was on
the grounds
Mr. Smathers has been very successiul
with the harness horses and he attributes
the SUCCESS largely TO the fact that when
horse developed winning capacity he
bought him without haggling over the
price He paid $1,000 FOR The PAGER John
NJ. before the horse was known OH the Grand
Circuit and 1t looked like a big price for a
pace with Il record OF 200, practically I'M
known outside the half mile TRICKS; yet on
the day of the purchase John VI. paced
mile in 2O4s., and his campaign last year,
when he lowered his record to 2029t, showed
II to be a wise investment. So Billy. Birch,
207I+, at $4,000. DR.. Strong, 207ia, bought
almost at the close of the season at long
price, and many others, proved the best
money winners In the stable.
For obvious reasons no one can pursue
this policy with thoroughbreds. con tinued
Mr.. SnAthers. When a horse develops
winning capacity above the ordinary he
is held at a prohibitive price or withdrawn
from the market. One IL forced TO develop
unrried material and take the chances
Mr. SInathers now has over sixty
Thoroughbred about forty being two-yeer-
Odds. The youngsters are at Memphis
and Samuel Hildreth has some of the aged
division at the New Orleans meeting
Il consider Hildreth without superior
as a trainer said Mr.. Smathers, Any
reports that contemplate making change
are annoying and without foundation. As
TO nv plans for the future the coming racing
season IL too far away 70 admit OF many
plans being outlined | know | have n
lot Of useful horses that Hildreth can win
money with, As 10 the youngsters, that
il problem that time and training alone
can solve. You know" he added, that
II an owner should get three really high
class youngsters out OF 100 in training #
would be good average Under these con-
ditions what is the use In outlining plans
before the horses have been tested!
George Spear, who trained and drove
the Smathers harness stable is now at Mem
phis and IL IL probable that In his associa-
ton with Hildreth he will become trainer
Of thoroughbreds Il told Spear it would be
well for him to 20 TO Memphis and stay there
a few months and see II no liked training the
runners a. well a. he expected. said Mr..
S,nathers. II he succeeds and | have
every reason 20 believe he will. he will he
ready TO take charge Of any that are not
included ia Hildreth's string when the
racing season opens. Trainers OF harness
horses who have gone over 10 the thorough
breds have generally been successful.
As to his plans for racing on Eastern
tracks Mr. SmatherS was very noncom-
initial 1T takes very high class horse 20
win here. ho -aid. and it will he time
enough 10 consider the matter when find
| have horses with sufficient class II do
have an Eastern stable and Spear sticks 10
training he will probably train for me.
Mr.. Smathers would like TO lease or buy
a farm in Kentucky or Tennessee, but 20 far
he has not found anything TO suit except nt
a prohibitive price. He il the owner of
track of 1000 acres In Pennsylvania that
could be utilized. but he prefers location
In the Blue Grass region. Mr.. SmatherS
intends 10 sail for Europe within a short
time. 10 be absent until spring. On his re-
sum he expects 70 find his horse interests IN
shape TO enable him to form more definite
piun- for the coming yenr