Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
MAKING PLANS FOR
THE NEXT SEASON
Washington Light Harness
Hormemen Busy NO New
corners in Racing Game.
By L. d. Sale.

Washington light harness horsemen are
busily engaged these winter days In fOrmu-
lating plans for the summer. AS far as
can be learned there are no newcomers in
the racing game. AS the season advances
1t Is quite possible that the ranks may be
increased. John H. Gheen has probably
dropped out for good, as his business In
terests in another direction are grown too
large to admit of spending much time with
the trotters. What may be said Of the
elder Gheen in this respect will apply to
his son, John o. Gheen, although the latter
likes the excitement incident to the race
track. Taken as whole, John H. Gheen,
In financial sense, has had greater sue
cess in his light harness ventures than
any other Washingtonian. To begin with,
he is first-class judge Of horsef1esh; knows
how to buy and when to sell, and never
allows sentiment to warp his judgment.
X
Mr.. Gheen was born on a farm near
Philadelphia, Pa, about sixty-fve years
ago and is of Quaker descent. Arrived at
manhood he removed to Washington soon
after war broke out between the states.
During the forty-ffve years Mr.. Gheen has
resided in Washington he has owned many
noted horSeS-the most noted perhaps for
his day the trotting gelding Douglas, 2:25,
to high wheels, which he sold to John II.
Shuts of New York city for 5000 over
twenty years ago. Douglas was at one
time practically sold to the noted road
driver of Boston, John Shepherd, for $4,000,
but the gelding went lame before he could
be delivered. 1t is understood that Mr..
Gheen received $1,000 for Belle Hazel, 2:19A,
which is now the property of Javins Bros.
The original cost of the mare was about
$3.50. Mr. Gheens latest purchase is Oak
dale Baron, 2:16A, which is to be used ex-
clusively ON the road.
-
Another well-known business man who
has great love for good horse is Henry
Copperthite. He is a native of New Haven,
Conn.,, and came to Washington about twen-
ty-three years ago. Mr. Copperthite has
been a familiar figure for fifteen years past
on the southern and grand circuits and
has always been one of the main props of
local light harness sport. OF the many
fast horses he has owned, the best known
to racegoers are Ida c., 2:13A, and Ada D.,
2:15A. Both mares are PAGERS. 1t is more
than probable that Mr.. Copperthite will be
out the coming season with something new;
certainly he will if the right kind come his
way.
4
Javins Bros, John and Francis have for
many years been familiar figures in the
city. The firm broke into the light harness
horse game upward of four years ago.
Practically inexperienced in the racing bust
ness and having little or no practical ex-
perience in blooded horseflesh, the little
they have acquired has cost them quite a
pretty sum in hard cash. But whatever
criticism may be passed upon their judy
ment as far as fast horses are concerned,
their gameness has been q source OF much
admiration among those who know them
and of their many ventures in the domain
of blooded eQuines. OF the many horses,
good bad and Indifferent. that the brothers
have owned, the most noted is the pacing
stallion Bedworth. Jr.. 2:O611. for which It
is asserted the firm paid $4,000 cash.
When purchased the bay stallion held all
the half-mile track records In Maryland.
The roam gelding Bedford Boy, 2:13A. 70
has raced rather indinerently since coming
into the possession Of his new owners. He
has shown, however, many miles faster than
his record, and was at one time considered
D. R., 2:17A, and Belle Hazel, 2:19A, COM
prise the balance of the Javins' stable
Belle Hazel Is considered an excellent pros
2:15 in a race. The Javins Bros. are natives
Of Washington.
-.
Washington Nailor was, q few years
since, in the very thick Of the fray where
ITOtteIS anu pdCcIS WcX0 UdtNlu8 LUZ 6u.
premacy Mr. Nailor has owned scores Of
good horses, some Of them fast for their
day. Minnie Palmer. the greatest snow
mare Washington has ever known, was
about the really first fast horse Mr.. Nailor
ever owned and she he was compelled to
take for a debt when she was flly. She
lived to be something over twenty-five
years of age before her usefulness was
Mr.. Majors next important speed ven
ture was Belle Truxton, q coal black mare
by Truxton, he son Of George Wilkes, jr..
and he a son of George Wilkes. 2.22. found
or of the Wilkes family. Belle Truxton's
dam was by Prince Orion 1925. by Mes
senger Duroc. Belle, when purchased by
Mr. Nailor had a mark Of 2.30 and trotted
to a record of 218h In the early nineties.
The fast trotting stallion Mars was also
once owned by Mr.. Nailor. Truxton, the
sire of Belle Truxton. Is still the property
of Mr.. Nailor and Is doing service in the
vicinity Of ln %s Sa,as n Gap; va; 49,.
J. d. Yeomans the sorrel PAGER Red Rock,
2:19A, by Red Wilkes, and late last sea-
son raced him q few times With Indifferent
from a four-year-old by Mars, which 10
being handled at present by B. F. Nc
Caully, and the youngster already shows
q good way Of going.
-
d. F. Hall, prominent as business man
and as breeder and owner Of fast horses.
Is q native Of North Carolina. His breed
ing stud is located at Catlett's Station. Va
Mr.. Hall owns a great many good and fast
horses and there is not in Washington
shrewder buyer than he Of horses that
can go out and do things. And by the same
token there is no man In the District OF
Columbia who can let go quicker Of a coun-
terfeit or to better advantage than he. It
Is proverb among local horseman that
Hall catches 'em coming and going. Among
all the many horses Mr.. Hall has owned
in the past none has proved as profitable
an investment as the bay son Of Krem-
lin. Kushan. 21S1s. at the trot.
This grandly bred horse cost Mr.. Hall
but q fraction of his real value, and dur
ing the season Of 1905 earned him over FIVE
times his original cost. Some persons have
ascribed Mr.. halls success to luck, but
as a matter Of fact 1t may be assigned to
luck and pluck combined. Kushan had q
splint close to one Of his knees when pur-