Evening journal., 1908-03-16
FAST LAST YEAR;
this YEAR FASTER
Many Speedy Horses Will be
Seen at the 1908 Matinee
Races
DEATH OF STRAIGHT CUT

That portion Of the inhabitants Of
Wilmington. and a portion. too. that IS
composed OF many Of the most weiI-to-d do
and best known men in the city. ere horse
enthusiasts is beyond dispute and If any
one is inclined to doubt the assertion a
visit to the handsomely equipped home OF
the Delaware Turf Club at No. 1oO6 King
street or an hour spent at the headquar-
ters of the Smoke Club" the Palace
Coach and Liberty Company's stables at
Tenth and Tatnall streets, would dispel
all such delusions along this line.
Horsemen who were ''horsey''last season
are "horsier" now than ever before. Men
who never owned even a "plug" IN past
years are scouting around for a fast one.
Men who did not know how to handle
a rein several years ago are talking
horse with as much enthusiasm as the
veteran driver or owner.
And the speed that some of the WE'LL
known trotters and PAGERS will make this
year is really surprising to the uninitlated.
Horses that last season turned the Wa
waset track in less than 2.3O or 2.2O. 'his
year will do the trick in less than 21O and
1t will not be surprising, according to
statements made at one or the other
horse headquarters. If not a few Of the
speedy ones would go far below the two,
minute mark before the ending of the
matinee season of 1908.
Still 1t is with justihable pride that
Wilmington horsemen speak of and praise
their respective horses as it is admitted
by those who know that Wilmington
stands head and shoulders above any city
In the country in amateur racing matters.
This fact is due solely to the great in
terest taken in the sport by local lovers
Of horse flesh. Beyond the sport afforded
to themselves by horse racing they fur
nish to the public frst-class legitimate |
racing which is enjoyed by hundreds dur
ing the matinee season.
Last season there were twenty-one NATL I
nees in which many fast horses took part /
This season there will be an equal II not
a greater number and horses that were /
not seen on the track during 1907 will be /
among the starters this season.
Dandelion and Straight Cut
Within the next day or two there /
will arrive a carload of fast ones from
the West, which will be offered for
sale in Wilmington, and there are sew
eral in the bunch that will be well
worth taking notice of. The horses are
consigned to Float Jolly. of Upton.
Indiana, who arrived in Wilmington on
Saturday night from his Western
home, In company with William B. /
Austin, who has been spending a week
In the Western country looking the
field over.
Among the hors IS will be the gray
pacing gelding Dandelion, which has
been purchased by Mr. Austin, and
which will be seen on the local track
this season. Mr.. Austin formerly
owned a third interest In the PAGER,
and recently at Cambridge City, Ind,
was compelled to put up $1,000 to pre-
vent him from being sold Later he
purchased the horse outright In DAN
delion Mr. Austin believes he has the
greatest PAGER In the country, and has
no doubt but that he will lower the
worlds pacing record. In Srhty days
work he stepped the mile in 206 1-2,
doing the last half in 1.O3.
In the death OF Straight Cut the
brown stallion, formerly owned by
Harry Wright, but purchased from him
by William b. Austin, which occurred
in Upton, Ind, the matinee races have
lost a good horse. Straight Cut was
swapped by Mr.. Austin to w. B. Wal
lace, of Marion, Ind, who wanted the
stallion for stud purposes The deal,
which has been going on for some time,
and which included the swapping of
Duchess Belle with boot for Straight
Cut, was consummated on February 25,
when Mr.. Wallace wired that he would
take the stallion on the terms proposed
and instruoting Mr.. Austin to ship him
West by freight, unattended.
Later Mr.. Wallace again wired Mr..
Austin as to the cost Of shipping the
horse both by freight and express. and
upon being informed instructed Mr..
Austin to ship him by express, which
instructions were carried out. Mr..
Austin states that the horse was in
good shape when he left Wilmington,
and according to Mr.. Wallace was in
apparent good shape when he arrived
at his destination. Both Mr.. Austin
and Mr.. Wallace express the opinion
that had the horse had proper care
given him on the journey he would not
have been sick Mr.. Austin arrived at
Mr.. Wallace's farm on Sunday of last
week, after the horse had died and it's
carcass had been taken to the crama-
tory There its lungs were examined
and were found to be black. In con-
nection with the case a local veterinar-
ian gives II as his opinion that the
horse became heated in the car and
that the constant opening Of the car
doors brought on congestion Of the
lungs which, in most instances, would
kin a horse within twenty-four hours
after attacked with the disease. AS
an instance OF the condition OF the
horse when shipped, It is cited that
Straight Cut lived for twenty-four
hours after his arrival at Mr. Wallace's |
farm.
Mr. Austin states that he has OBJ
tanned the boot money, but as yet has
not got possession Of Duchess Belle,
and as a result has placed his case in
the hands OF clifford & Clifford attor-
neys Of Upton. Ind, who, If matters
are not adjusted, will bring action for
the recovery Of the mare. Duchess
Belle is a six-year-old. and is un-
marked. She is a half sister to Coast
Marie, 2.0s IA. and TO Major c, 2.04.
Postponed Games 70 be Played To might
The Franklin College and Academy
teams, OF the Academy League viii roll /
three games at the Academy tonight.
These games were postponed from last
Thursday night owing to number OF
fn A..