Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-19

Boston, Aug. 1S.-The Grand Circuit
| meeting that will open at the Readville
track tomorrow gives every promise OF
being the best ever held at the track.
All that is needed is good weather.
Granting that, the meeting is almost
certain to set new mark for harness
racing.
In the first place, the track Is the
fastest that the circuit horses have hit
this season. and beyond this is the fact
that the horses that go bit off from
he terrific clip that was set at the first
two meetings. many of which have
been given lctup during the Buffalo
and Poughkcepsie meetings, will be on
the firing line again at Readville, ready
to do battle for the rich stakes offered
by the New England Breeders Assoc
citation.
II is d great program that is Of
fered the lovers Of the sport. and If the
attendance does not reach record
breaking proportions it will be because
there is a falling off i'm interest in rae
ing. something that all signs go to dis
prove.
The feature of the present season mas
been the wonderful class shown by the
two green trotters, Highball and Sono-
ma Girl, bith of which, though they
stai ted the season without record,
have records Of 2.06A, and arted by
conservative hOrsemen with the abll-
ity to trot close to two minutes. Ihe
Rcadville people are fortunate i'll that
the supreme test between the TWO new
candidates for the trotting crown is eX-
uected TO come when they take the
word in the race for the rich purse
that goes with the Massachusetts stake,
which will be decided Wednesday.
The Massachusetts stake is always the
feature event at the Readville meeting.
and it has rarely failed to result in one
IF tho greatest battles of the year. While
this wears event will bring out strong
field Of sterling trotters besides the two
mentioned, it is the opinion that the race
will resolve itself into desperate battle
between Sonoma Girl and Highball, With
the others fighting for what is left oil
the big purse. OF course there are many
SURPRISES in horse racing, and next
Wedne sday may bring about another, but
from the latest reports received from the
HEADQUARTERS of the two speed marvels
they are both likely to get to the race
| in condition to fight for their lives.
| Ed Gecrs has been bending all of his en-
ergies to getting the geldinS on edge fol-
| the race, and in his last workout a,
| Poughkeepsie the gelding with the seduc-
| tive name showed no signs of the lame
| ness that was evident after his race al
| Cleveland. and his owner. Mr.. Jones. ano
also Mr.. Geers, are confident that he will
be cherry ripe on the day Of the race.
| hat Girl die,
played at Poughkeepsie, which resulted
in her defeat at that town, lead some to
| thing that the mare was going back, OF
| that she might be on the verge of a
| breakdown, but those who saw the race
put the blame on her driver, Mr.. Springer
| The latest reports are that the mare Is
all right and shows no sign of being thu
worse for the fast miles that she has
trotted. In fact. it is the belief of horse
men who have watched the mare in heI
| races that it would be good judgment fol
Mr. Springer to secure the services Of a
| professional trainer. While they do not
| doubt the gameness of the eX-Idaho sher.
| if, they do think it is quite strain or
| an amateur to have about $50, 900 worth OF
races in front of him.
| 1t was all right as long as the mare
i
was winning her races easily, but the
narrow escape that the mare had from
defeat at Buffalo, where her owner ant
| driver was thrown out and severely in
jured. followed by her defeat the follow
ing week at Poughkeepsie. they contend
and it is reasonable contention, ha.
caused Mr. Springer TO lose his confidence
and with such high-strung piece o.
horsefesh as Sonoma Girl this. of course
| would be fatal to her chances.
| 1t is thought that Mr.. Springer will
yield to The advice of his friends and Civ.
| up his seat behind the mare in the Read
vile race, though, he takes great pride
IN the fact that he has, by patience ant
kind Treatment, made the mare the won
derful trotter that she is