The Detroit times., 1908-05-06
BY FRANK G. rRoTT.


MEMPHIS. Tenn, May 6.--Billings
mark remains prominent fixture In
the horse world, despite the fact that
the voice or the starter and the clang
OF the call bell are no longer heard.
1t is the home training ground OF the
Z turfs greatest reinsman. Edward +.
Geers. and as such its position as the
4 popular winter resort OF trotters and
PAGERS is secure.
There is no getting away from the
1ect that the string which the master
and his assistants. LATE Shaffer and
Arthur Moorehead. are working this
spring Is a most pleasing one TO look
at. 1t really resembles a stable ready
Tor the horse shows. Beauty is the
feature OF the string, for among the
80 odd head there is scarcely one thar
I Is not above the average trotter and
\ PAGER In looks.
The money-getting qualities OF the
\ stable are what interests the public,
and while II is impossible To forecast
with accuracy in this line IL il reason
ably certain that Geers will get TO
I. Che races with his usual number Of
useful horses.
Il will be assuring to many owners
4 % know that there is no Highball TO
be sprung a little later on. Green
ones OF his sort do not follow one an
other, and as far as Geers' stable goes
A will be q normal year for the NJ.
and M.--that is. a good 2:10 trotter
looks to have a rosy chance to taRe
homo the money.
0eers has not yet begun to repeat
mis- horses. but nearly all that are go
ing to the races have beaten 2:2o.
Highball holds the track records for
krotters, mile in 2:13 in just jog
Hfghball looks like the coming
champion He Is big and has the
sgpeed Of a hurricane. His fast mile
fwas just play. and 1t would not be be-
UOnd his reach to equal his record
this week. IL asked. Geers has
novel rig TO control him, and he does
10 well In 1t that he will wear it in
company. 1t is a simple idea, Just
an extra pair OF reins which fasten
into = halter Now when the speed
marvel ducks his head to fy away he
: does not go up against the bit, bur
lays Into the nose strap OF the halter.
and In o stride is steady. He IS TO be
IAN entry In the $4,000 race. and Is
being schooled TO break away from a
standing start. He has proved an apt
pupil
loyal and Alceste are the stables
rlN. and NJ candidates. Both are s.
{yearolds and were fast 3-year-olds.
The former. who will carry Frank
tJones' colors II he stands the prep
'ofatton. fs very handsome dark bay
stallion by Boreal out or Trevillan
Ham, Last Wednesday he worked a
smile In 2:14 3-4. with the last furlong
1t q 2:04 clip, and did It as a good
1r0tter should He showed John Hus.
7. eey . milef1n 2:l4 IA two years ago
fnis spring, but went wrong. Last
0unosh he went in 2:10 for Geers before
4 being turned out.for the summer.
Alcests fs daughter OF Jay Bird
ind stamped herself a trotter OF worth
81 the 1905 futurity. She is a nice
xcIng thing and pleases her trainer.
Perhaps the best-llked trotter In the
stable IL the $4,000 3-year-old The Har
Z vester. He Is grand Individual and
+ y sure trotter: not futurity winner
B Drobably. for he has not had the
<hnnce to be that. but a fast trotter
however. Last week he stepped the
last eighth or 2:44 mile In rs sec
onde like race horse. In action OF
fepoae he is a picture and II he were