The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-07
Turf Notes
Rx i. l.. MerHex.

by J. L. HerveS.
1t was announced last week that
Sweet Marie (2:02), the queen OF trot-
ting race mares, is to be sold ut auc-
ton ut the odd Glory sale, which is
to be held in Madison Square Garden,
New York. the latter part of this
month.
The announcement has caused con-
siderable surprise, as it had not been
thought that her owner. William Gar
land. OF Los Angeles. Gail, would part
with her. Two years ago. ut the time
she won the Pennsylvania at Lexing-
| ton. after a record-breaking race. will
never be forgotten by those who saw
1t, several wealthy lovers OF the trot-
ter made efforts to buy her. but she
was not then for sale at any price.
Among those who wanted her was
C. X. G. Billings, and 1t was said that
he would have paid $4,000 or more
for her. 1t was also said that one
offer OF $4,000 was refused at Men,
phis for the mare.
Last year she was not really so great
mare as the previous one, Tiverton
beating her repeatedly, and other hor-
SEES finishing in front of her. At that
time those who had made large offers
the fall before were probably glad
that they were not accepted. But this
year there are men anxious to own her,
for she has been much greater mare
than ever before. During the entire
season she was beaten in but one heat
by Wentworth, at Hartford ;all her
races have been victories, and against
time she trotted in 2:02, placing her.
self third to Lou Dillon (1:5S 1-2) and
Major Delmar u:59 3-4) on the list
of the worlds fastest trotters.
1t is said that her owners decision
to sell her is due to his advanced age
and broken health. He is man of
great wealth. but as he no longer feels
able to drive her at matinees-as was
his former custom-nor expects to
live to see any of her produce devel-
oped, should he retire her and breed
her. there is really no inducement for
him to retain her.
Speculation among horsemen is live
ly as to what she may bring and who
may buy her. Her value, from a pure
ly commercial standpoint, is much less
than it was, for she has virtually
raced herself beyond competition.
There is not another trotter in train
ing-or in sight for next year-ca-
pable of giving her /, race, in the true
sense OF the word. Hence her useful
ness as a money winner is confined to
what she can earn as an exhibition
trotter, and that is, comparatively
speaking, a small amount in compar-
ison with that won by a first-class
trotter eligible to the great stakes
offered for class performers.
However. as the fastest and greatest
trotter upon the turf, she possesses a
Walue in the eyes of those who are
looking not for money, but glory, that
is very great. She is, it is true, ap-
preaching her eleventh birthday. But
she is, to all appearances, as sound
as the day she was foaled, with her
vitality unimpaired by the many rec
ord-breaking races and miles that she
has trotted.
There are many horseme4 who think
that she has not, even at 1902, reached
her limit. This makes her, to those
wealthy devotees whose ambition is to
own worlds champion, worth prac-
tically any sum that may be named.
Among possible purchasers, horse
men are mentioning three different
men. One is Mr.. Billings. 1t is known
that he is a great admirer OF the mare,
was ready to buy her-or is said to
have been-two years ago; that he
expects to resume his former activity
at the Cleveland matinees next sum-
mer. and that he is in buying mood,
rs shown by his paying $4,000 not so
very long ago for the PAGER Blacklark
One is William Simpson, of New
York. Mr.. Simpson is the owner of
Mckinney (2:11 1-4), the sire of Sweet
Marie. He paid $4,000 for that horse
at Lexington the evening after Sweet
Marie won the Pennsylvania race there
in 1904. He is a man of great wealth,
with genuine passion for trotters.
He has paid long prices for many Of
them, and If he should desire to be-
come the owner of Sweet Marie, in
order to place her in the hands of his
trainer. w. j. Andrews-one of the
most skillful reinsmen living-so as
to, If possible, reduce her record still
further. for the benefit of her sire and
his colts, he would not be overbid
without struggle.