Arizona republican., 1906-12-29
CHRISTMAS NUMBERS
 THE HORSE JOURNALS
Fine Editions and FIattering Mention Of Western Horses-custer's 1906 Campaign.

The Christmas number of the hors
 papers are beginning to arrive an:
 they are bigger, better and more inter
 esting than ever before. They are yer itable encyclopedias of horse informa
 tion and added to that, their chief mis
 sion on earth, are pictorial and fictior
 features that make them entertainint
 for the perusal even Of those who don
 know the difference between a hors, | and a mule.
 The Western Horseman of Indianap-
 olis, brought the first news of the
 changed rules of the American Trot- ting Association which make possible
 the giving of frequent matinees during
 the year at which fast horses may per-
 form without injuring their records for
 track entries. This is a valuable bit of information just at this time. for 1t is news that will benefit Phoenix,
 with matinee already planned for
 New Years day. The facts were set
 forth in yesterdays issue.
 By far the most attractive and lars-
 est of the Christmas numbers to reach
 here is the Horse Review of Chicago.
 an artistic triumph and a joy in more
 ways than one. It contains about 15O
 pages, including a half dozen inserts showing pictures suitable for framing. of the sensational horses of the year, whose performances have been SO widely read about. These pictures are worth the price of the number. Be- side that the book itself is copiously illustrated, showing pictures of dozens Of famous horses, drivers and owners. few short stories and few long ones, and well tabulated mass of in formation that gives the records of all the horses that might by any stretch of imagination be called fast, with biographical descriptions of the ones who have claimed attention during the year. Much is said also about breed ing farms and breeders. and the adver- Using pages set forth about all the business troubles of all the horsemen as well as their ambitions and wants.
 The cover is in red with the beauti- ful picture of a horses head in the center. There is as much reading matter in this issue as in a volume Of Brittanica, almost, and the horseman who misses it has missed one of the Chrlstmas treats. The records of course show the performances of the Phoenix horses in the east, as we'll as all the good ones seen here at the fair from whatever section. Among the bi- ographies is that of Custer. and it is not predicting too much to say that in next seasons issue there will be similar story of Bystander if his sen sational work here at the fair is an indication. But to tell all there is in this number would be impossible as well as undesirable.
 The HOrseman and Spirit of the Times, published in Chicago and New York, seems to be equally as charm Ing an edition, but not qiute so large or It has the same kind of information and is similar in many respects, though there are fewer ad- vertising pages, so that in its total of about seventy-five pages. there is enough good horse news and stories to make a large volume. It also publish es a picture of Custer and Driver Hal and good story of the horse. Both he Grand Circuit and the Great West est circuit are reviewed in detail the alter by G. H. Perrigo and it is in his article, extended mention is made 'f Custer as well as of Charles Belden md Mir. DeRyder, togetfier with ac 'ompanying pictures. Of Custer. Mr. 1 'errigo says:
 Custer is product of the Santa | Rosa farm. He was purchased by J. | '. Adams as a two-year-O at auction i or $120. As a three year-old he was . broken, and last year as a four-year- | i'd made several starts in the central | vest and showed enough speed t1 | ause good judges to predict that he | would be one of the great green pacers | f 1906.
 Last fall, Hall was engaged to han le the Adams string, and Custer Wa, he horse on which he spent most of | is time-and Custer needed it. AL hough fast. he had his own idea of ths ray of doing things. and it was Halls ask to reform him so he would obey ne drivers wishes. When he made is first appearance this season at Windsor in July, he had improved con- derably, but there was still much to He carried his head very gh. something no extremely fast pac- , has ever done as yet. Hall kept ou ersevering with him and at the close the season had succeeded in lower lg it considerably.
 His career began auspiciOusly with
 win at Windsor in the 2:17 pace, in :09h, 2:0915 and 2:1Oai. after Fred
 had won the opener in 2:1O1s. Right ter this race he was taken sick and | not round to until the Hamline eeting. He was, however, started at eveland in the Chamber of Com. 1 cree and placed 4-G-4 to Ardclle. ] 05 A; Bonanza, Tipko and F. J. Park