Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-14
.SONOMA GIRL
never WHIPPED
Idaho Man Owner and
Driver of New Turf
Queen

SLr- ELaND, Aug. Iii. ID.
Springer, the owner, trainer and
driver of the girl from the golden
West" is now 81 years of age, about
six feet tall, straight as an arrow, ac-
tive as a man of half his age, and one
or the most affable gentlemen to be
found anywhere. Born in the Kenne-
bee region of Maine, Springer remain
ed until 20 years of age, when he went
TO Idaho to make his fortune. He en-
gagged in sheep raising and became
very successful About 15 years ago
he took up a mercantile agency BUSH
ness at Boise. Idaho, the scene of the
Haywood trial, in which business he
is still interested. Besides being en-
gagged in the sheep and grocery BUSH
ness this turfman has also held the
office of sheriff out in that wild and
woolly country, but at no time was
he captain on either land on sea. an
appellation that he does not like to
have applied.
Springer likes a horse more than
anything else you might mention, with
the exception of his family. and now
that he has world beaten, he is the
happest man in the country. Spring
er is making friends fast as he moves
East, and is bound to continue doing
so. While it would be very annoying
to most people to have thousands fir
ing questions at him about the great
'rotter' this man takes matters very
calmly and always finds time to give
people the information they want. 1t
Is not exaggerating the story In the
least to say that the owner of Sonoma
Girl answers the same questions about
his mare 500 times day.
Among the most important questions
that Springer has to answer is how
he got possession of Sonoma Girl Con-
corning this matter the owner of this
great trotter says.
About three years ago I took my
wife and daughter to California for a !
visit. My daughter liked the UNIVERSE
ty so well that she attended that we
decided to remain in the land of flow
ers until she finished her education. |
During this time had to have some
thing to do to help pass away the
time, so / invested in one horse. then
another and finally secured sonoma
Girl.
Half the time since have had this |
mare she has been lame, but on last |
Christmas day she trotted a mile in a
matinee at Los Angeles in 2:O7. This
display of speed made me happy, and
decided to go easy with her until
This spring. She had The best of man
ners and, being bred in the purple, 1
thought she was fast enough to train
'or the grand circuit. Along in April
commenced to get her in condition
Tor the seasons campaign, but 1 went
very slow with her. When she with
stood the early training we'll, I shipped
Ter to Libertyville to put on the finish
ng touches. The first race she had in
| field of fast horses, and the first i'm
oortant race I ever drove, took place
IN July 4.
"As is we'll known, Sonoma Girl
'aced twice at Libertyville, winning
Until the M. & M. was raced had she
'een associated with such large
ield OF horses. There were ten start
RS in this race and they were paraded
'ast the grandstand. The mare did not
Ike this, as 1t made her nervous, but
IS soon as she had gone one heat she
'ecame herself and behaved in her
Usual good manner"
When asked IL this mare ever be-
anne hard to manage. Springer said:
She has sometimes tried my patience .
little, but she has never known that ,
he did. have never whipped her ]
Tor treated her roughly, but instead I
ave overcome her little "fussy'' spells s
" kind and patient treatment. I
hink lot of her and believe she is the
reatest trotting mare living" S