The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-19
CLEARS ADVANCER,
But NOT MYSTERY
Knight Gives Horse Clean Bill;
but Sensational Acts Re-
main Unsolved.
journal Special Service.

journal special Service -...z
Chicago. Noy. .1S;-With the return
+ Trotting A association u from ON trip to
New England comes the final chapter
in a harness turf sensation Of last
summer. It is the case of the trotter
Adyancer, that won two $4,000 stakes
at the Milwaukee and Libertyville
meetings, payment of the same being
refused on account of the unsatisfac-
tory Identification of the horse.
Advancer is owned up in Brandon, VT,
by 3 practical horseman and farmer
named Chase, and the first heard Of
him in this section was when the en-
tries closed for the 2:21 stakes at Min
neapolis, Milwaukee and Libertyville,
the events being for $4,000 each. Ad-
vancer was entered in all of them, and
of here, it was thought he must be an
extra good one to be shipped SO far to
contest in races where it would take
2:l2 trotter to win.
Did Not Show Up Here.
But the horse did not show up at
Minneapolis, altho draft for $3.50 GOV.
ering his entrance was received by the
track management. He was at Mil
slim, bay gelding that acted like one
used to the racing game, as he never
offered to make mistake. When it
came to the race Advancer simply
smothered his field, beating 2:12 with
ease and acting as tho he was about
2:08 trotter.
The money was held up, however,
and the horse journeyed to Liberty
vile, where he again won as he liked,
one of his miles being around 2:l1.
| Not a heat was lost in either Of the
races. and there was no time that Ad-
vancer did not have all the other start
ers at his mercy. Again payment of
the purse was refused, altho decidedly
straight story was told by Mr.. Chase.
Probe Is Started.
Then Secretary Knight began to in
vestigate; The horse had started in
season, having, according to the owner,
raked $50 tons Of hay on the Vermont
farm. Why, finding he had such a
good trotter, he did not enter Advancer
at Cincinnati and Lexington, where big
purses were to be won, Mr.. Chase did
not say, further than that he had con-
cluded to go home.
Affidavits galore identifying the
horse were sent On and finally, to make
matters certain, Mr.. Knight, who had
observed the horse closely, both in and
out Of the stall during the Libertyville
meeting. went to Boston. There he Sc
cured the old-time driver, "Jock' Bow.
en-. who had seen Advancer race in
1903, and the two went to the Vermont
farm. The Advancer that wor 80 cas-
lily at Libertyville was brought forth
and identified by Mr.. Knight.
Will Send on Money.
Then Bowen looked the horse ove1
carefully and said that ne was the sans
horses that raced in the east during
1908 es Advancer. That settled tht
matter, and Mr.. knight said yesterday
j that he would send on first money in tn,
two $4,000 stakes that had been tied W
} since September.
Tho case is one that has attracted tn.
attention Of horsemen all over the lant
and there is still lot that puzzles peo
|! pie familiar with the matter. Why the
horse should have been shipped hom,
from Libertyville when he could have
, won fat purses at Cincinnati and Lex
ington is unexplained. and also why tn
J express agent at Libertyville was re
quested when the hurse was shipped t,
give out no information regarding tn,
point he was billed to. But the iden
tiication is so complete that there ca,
l be no doubt the horse IS ''straight' il
every way.