The Washington herald., 1908-02-16
VOSBURGH BEST HANDICAPPED
Occupies Place in Racing World
that Cannot Be Taken from Him.
Followers of Turf Realize that Ii Is
Impossible tO Pick the Winners
from VOsbuFsh's Handicaps.

Whatever may be said about the
| necessity of handicaps as an aid to rae
ing, there can be no question that the
important work of allotting the weights
Is well and thoroughly done. If this
were not so the keen men, of whom
there are many, who live at a rate of
from $4,000 TO $3.50 a year by their
ability to beat the races, would have
d much softer snap.
Don't try TO pick the winners OF
Vosburgh's handicaps." said an old
racing man one day last fail; hes too
smart for you; you can't beat him"
The man TO whom the board of con-
troll and later the Jockey Club in
trusted the responsible work of al
lotting the weights to be carried by the
respective candidates, not only for all
the great spring events, but for from
one 10 three overnight races each
day, has now been officiating in that
capacity for many years Before
Walter 5. Eosburgh was named 10 re-
place Can't Coster and j. G. X. Law
renee, who had done this work for the
Monmouth Park ana Conev Island
tracks, he had been the turf writer
for Z. A. Bucks Spirit of the Times.
He had been engaged by Mr. Buck TO
take the place of Mai. Hubbard. who
over the signature Of Albion had for
years been the chief contributor OF
thoroughbred topics 10 Mr.. Bucks
journal
In his avocation as turf contributor
MI Nosburgh was in the habit of pub
fishing his own forecasts of what the
weights in the Brooklyn and Suburban
handicaps would be. and his work in
this respect was so close to the actual
imposts that when the time came TO
name the man TO do the work so neces-
sary to increase the interest in the
sport 'Figilant,' which was Mr. Vos-
burgh's monde plume. was chosen.
Other duties were put upon his shoul-
ders. and be was made assistant secre-
tary 10 the Jockey Club and forfeit clerk.
and also acted as steward for the
Jockey Club al various courses. He
still fulflls the duties OF steward, but
about three years ago he was relieved
from the details connected with collect
ing forfeits, which gives him more time
TO devote to handicapping.
Mr.. Yosburgh has vast amount OF
work on his shoulders as handicapper
yet in the off season he has time TO in
dulge in some favorite "fads7 He IS a
great admirer of musical dramas, and
has for many years been a frst-prize
winner at poultry shows, he having
earned a great reputation for breeding
game chickens. Before il became un-
fashionable to look on at a chicken
dispute it is said that Mr.. Vosburgh
was a frequent and interested spec
tator.
As a student in blood lines in pedl-
grees he is a known expert, and his
now rare articles are regarded as al
most turf classics. Mr. Vosburgh Is
the agent in this country of the
Messrs. Weatherby Of the English
Jockey Club, who, when desirous of
soliciting American entries TO English
stakes. always correspond with Mr..
NOsburgh TO that end.
Generally regarded as an official of
great courtesy in his contact with
horse owners. as well as the press Mr.. /
Vosburgh has achieved a place in the
turf world that cannot be taken away
from him.