Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-11-06
A Former Montgomerian Wins the
Australian Trotting Handicap.

Mr.. William Bouic Veirs, former fellow.
townsman, and brother Of Mr.. Thos. Veirs,
who now resides in this community at the
old family homestead, has been for some
years q resident of Melbourne, Australia,
where he is in business. Mr.. Veirs carried
from Maryland his love for the horse, and
In the Antipodes adheres to the American
trotter.
When the United States feet visited Aus.
tralia Mr.. Veirs' cup Of happiness ran over,
for the Victorian Racing Club gave COM
plimentary welcome meeting to Admiral
Sperry and the boys of the navy, and Mr..
Veirs' horse, Dixie Alto. won the greatest
and only trotting event of its kind ever held
on the famous Pennington course. He sends
the SENTINEL copy Of the Sporting and
Dramatic News containing an account Of
the race and picture of the stallion.
The picture shows Mr.. Veirs at the head
OF the horse and Driver Will Whitburn 10
the sulky. Under 1t are the words: "Dlxie
Alto (Mendiclno. Marionette), who trotted one
mile at the Royal Agricultural Show, Elem
ington, (Vic), In the sensational time of
minutes and 10 4 s seconds on a three fur
long track, and also was winner OF the Amer
lean Fleet Cup."
The article shows that the race was with
time handicaps, Dixie Alto taking up 9
seconds; Vaunt, z seconds !; Talbrager, z;
Emulator, 8, and Dan Patch, 10. Vaunt
won second place and Mauretins, the scratch
horse, was third. The cup race was mile
and a-hslf dash on a grass track, and Dixie
Alto won In 3:409 by 80 yards.
The following extract Is taken from a
write up of the race written for the News
by "Fritz":
1.-THE arrival Of the American fleet to Aus.
tralia marked an epoch In the lives Of many
of the American residents here in Victoria,
but to one gentleman in our midst, haiing
from the land OF the Stars and Stripes, who
claims the State OF Maryland as his birth.
place, the visit OF Uncle Sans navy to Mel
bourne is the red letter period of his whole
existence, and the day OF the contest for the
possession of the American Fleet trotting
cup at Pennington Is the day.
"Whsn the handicaps appeared there were
few that were bold enough to give Dixie
Alto chance; In fact, with the exception
of myself, who gave Vaunt and Dixie Alto
as likely to ill the places. not weekly or
daily paper that attempted to forecast the
result mentioned his name. On paper Dix
ie Alto did not appear to have look.in.
Bot the Handicapped has always had great
idea Of this horses abilities over a distance
on big track and he penalized him three
seconds, and results have justified his action
in 30 doing.
considering he was badly used. many an
owner, under the circumstances, would have
used the scratching pen but not so Mr..
W. B Veirs, for when the matter was men,
toned to him, he said: Yes, the horse is
certainly badly handicapped, but II he had
to give every horse 10 the race start and
only had three legs TO do 1t on, he is going to
be starter" And having thus secured the
victory by the sterling merit OF the horse
alone, makes the winning Of this valuable
trophy doubly pleasing TO man of the tenn
permanent OF Mr. Veirs and adds considera-
bly, TO the sentimental value attached to 1t.
"In making the presentation OF the hand
some trophy to Mr.. w. B. Veirs, Admiral
Sperry expressed his pleasure 10 witnessing
the victory Of a trotting horse bred by an
old friend OF his away in far California and
imported here TO Melbourne by an enter
prising American citizen, and subsequently,,
at a gathering oil American residents In
Melbourne, 10 make birthday present to
the Admiral, be desired to again make the
acquaintance OF the gentleman whose horse
won the trotting event at Pennington, and as
be shook Mr.. Veirs warmly by the hand,
remarked: 4 am proud TO meet you again,
SIR. venture 10 say that prouder and
happier man than W. B. Veirs did not then
exist In Melbourne.
Here we find an American citizen, with
an American horse of his own upbrinRiDg,
winning the great event Of the time before
a large gathering Of his own countymeni
and having the reward Of his victory pre-
sented TO him by the representative oil the
President oil his native land, while bis COM
patriots, with Joined hands, sang Ny Mary
land in honor Of his victory.
aTo celebrate bis victory Mr.. Veirs gave
a dinner to about score ofhis closest friends
(including representative Of Uncle SANS
nayy) at the Savoy last Saturday, where
| most enjoyable evening was spent. In
magnificent trophy won at Pennington b!
Dixie Alto formed the centerpieee oil
spleudidly decorated and amply furnishes
table"
ALI soc Chocolates 4oc now at Reisinger