Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-14
MANY ENTRIES
TO BIG STAKE
READVILLE HANDICAP HAS ia
NOMINATIONS
PREMIER TRoTTINe EVENT is
WORTH $4,000
Richest Prize Ever Raced for by Har-
ness Horses Is Attracting Patron-
age Of Leading Breeders
of America

All the harness world will marvel at
the enterprise of the men who are back
ing the Readville meeting of grand cir
cult trotters and PAGERS this year when
1t Is known that they have had the te-
merity to offer a stake event, the Read
VILE handicap for trotters, that is the
equal of the richest prize ever hung up
for running horses and is the largest
sum ever offered for harness event.
The handicap will be worth $4,000 gross
and the money will be paid as follows;
| Winning horse, 100000; second horse,
$4,000; third horse, $4,000; fourth horse,
| $780, fifth horse, $500; sixth horse,
| $1,000.
| 1t is reported that this rich turf prize
represents the Idea OF an enthusiastic
devotee to the harness sport, John K.
| Thayer, a thoroughbred sportsman who
| Is backing the event individually for
| the benefit of the sport He volunteered
| to guarantee the stake If the horsemen
would patronize 1t to the extent of nom
| mating feet equal to one-half or the
stake prize According to the condt-
tions of the event, 1874 nominations have
netted rs per cent of the purse, or
$12,400. The second payment of 500 for
each entry falls due June is, and the
third Is due July IL. During that Pc
Rod all of the entries will be in train
ing, and If any be declared out II VIII
fair estimate, therefore, that fully 100
horses will be left in up to the fourth
or last payment.
AT this rate the total amount of be
realized in entrance fees will foot up
not less than $35, 900. All the horses left
eligible to the stake Will be handi-
capped by three of the best experts on
August IS, or four days before the
fourth and last payment of 5000 is due
1t now looks almost certain that rev
will be declared out until the hnal de-
cisions of the handicappers are mace
public, as, according to the conditions
of the race, the eligibles will not 2slly
be handicapped as per their record at
the time the first entries were closed,
|, but according to their showing during
the racing season up to August ID.
Four days before the last payment
falls due, therefore, owners Will nave
correct idea as to what point their en-
gibles will be assigned. Some of the
horses entered in the big race will keep
their engagements at Detroit, Kaiama-
: zoo and Buffalo, and their showing at
these meetings will be considered by
1.-The handicappers. Some entries Wnlcn
are nominated now with g. view tnat
they will, according to their present
records, constitute the front tiers, mlght
he set in the rear lot with such horses
as are now expected to be behind the
middle tiers.
The great majority of the trotters
entered in the event will not be started
in other races and will be saved Tor
i that one race. as, naturally. owners
would not care to show the speed quail.
ties of their eligibles to such an extent
as to give the landscapes a line on
: them. For this reason 1t Is more than
! likely that the bulk of the entries VIII
be placed according to their present
marks and owners will risk the last
payment.
The names of the horses entered are
NOT vet announced, but 1t Is certain
the very best trotters of the country
a which are in racing form, and as the
, percentage of the entrance Zee rs SO
ins;enificant compared with the value
} Of the stake, the bulk of the original
nominees will stay in, at least to the
last payment