The Washington herald., 1909-10-10
TROYTER And PAGER
Past Week Sensational One
for Harness Horses.
PROFITABLE FOR LOCAL BREEDS
Beginning OF n New Era in Harness
Horse Racing OF the Nations Capt
tal-LocaI Breeds show Well In
Races Against Others on Nearby
Tracks-GOssip OF the Course.
By l.. ID. SALE.

By l.. ID. SALE.
The week just passed has been one OF
the most sensational in the history Of
the light harness horse week, too, In
which Washington horses have covered
themselves with glory.
It is as deep a qualification to be able
to pen these lines as it must be for every
Washingtonian TO read them, knowing
them to be true. The District Of Column
bia, with a population OF upward OF half
a million souls, and the Capital Of the
mightiest nation known in history, has
never occupied in the past the position
il should In the light harness world.
AS a rule, its owners OF blooded horse
flesh have bought with poor judgment,
and have conducted their racing opera
lions with still poorer judgment. Too
many purchasers Of horsehesh have at
tempted TO combine class with cheap
ness in price. seemingly forgetting that
hrst-class goods command In the markets
Of the world first-class prices.
Washington. In the past has been (too
much for the good fame Of the town
the asylum Of patched-up eripples Of
WORKOUT hRs-beens. OF horses whose use
fulness had long since passed 1t is fair
to estimate. that. within the past ten
years, Washington horse buyers. In their
ambitious efforts 10 own speed and race
winners. have actually burned up-yes.
burned TO a cinder-not less than 500. O00
One-half OF this enormous sum. II prop
erly placed. would have put Washing
ton, as city IN the front rank as a
horse town. instead Of being, AS il is. in
the rear OF the procession. Coupled with
the above, light harness racing In the
District Of Columbia has not, as a rule.
been conducted on plane sufficiently
high as to command the respect and con-
fldence OF the public. The receipts Of
the bar and the speculatiOns OF the
BOOKSELLER and the pOolbuyer have been
unduly exalted. and the sport OF racing
made subsidiary to both. No, race track.
and no racing association. can long hope
10 endure that which is conducted on
such a low basis. and. for the sake OF
public morality. should not be permitted
to endure.
Wherever throughout the United States
greed has been elevated above sentiment
on race tracks racing has declined. Rae
ing was not instituted for the benefit Of
gamblers and touts. but for the improve
ment OF the breed Of the horse. the
noblest animal subjected 10 the use OF
man.
The first ray OF light that has penetrat-
ed The gloom that has 50 long lowered
over the horse interests OF the District
OF Columbia came this year Of our Lord
1909. when E. F. Hall got together. Al
considerable expense, four young mares
OF royal breeding TO carry his colors.
and secured 20 train and drive them a
man who was onto his Job. AIonzo
Corbin. These mares are known as Man
uella, 2l0ls; Alma. 215H: Sweetheart,
2:175t, and Miss Hobson. 2:1ei.. Since the
racing season commenced, Manuelia has
reduced her record nine seconds. Alma
beginning the season without a record
has, within the past three weeks. cut
her seasons record OF ten seconds al
a single bound Miss Hobson and Sweet
heart each began the present racing
season without a record.
These are achievements such as NJ
other Washington horse owner has evel
equaled, nor has ever before any othel
Washington horseman been the owner
OF such a quartet Of mares.
What Mr Hall has accomplished (.
not impossible Of duplication Every
mare in his racing string was purchased
IN the rough. undeveloped. All he knew
about them. when he parted with hi!
| money. was that they we're well bred anC
I good gated. The rest he trusted 4
providence and his trainer.
Manuella has gone some gooe race,
during the two seasons she has been be
fore the public but the race OF bel
life was on Tuesday last. over the mil,
track at Richmond. in the s.. 600 stake
The horse she had 70 beat proved to b.
the bay daughter Of Sidney Prince. Mar.
Anne Cole not appearing TO have hi
! speed The hot duel that ensued for 81,
] heats between the two mares demon
! strated that Mary was worthy Of he
/ steel. for, IN the first heat, she drovi
( the local mare out to a mark of 21Ol.
/ causing her TO cut a second from he
/ previous. record. and then captured TIL
next two heats in 2:09st and PEA. Evi
IDENTIFY the Virginia mare was not keye,
Up for so mighty an effort, for the loca
mare proceeded 10 race her into submis
sion in the heats that followed in mucl
1 lower time. Doubtless COrbln's reins
manship and tactics were importan
| factors in Manuella's great victory.
! While Manuella's win on Tuesday wa
not distinct surprise to racegoers. tina
! OF Alma, on Wednesday, in the DIS pace
sent an electric shock through tn
nerves or Washingto-- horsemen. Tn
! mare had not been So highly rated b.
rank outsiders. None Of them though
/ her capable Of a mile in 2.l514 in a race
She is not only a 2:15 PAGER. but is liabl
TO prove the best and most consisten
mare Mr. Hall has IN his string whic
is saying much.
II ten years ago. yes. even five year
ago, any man should have prophesie
that a two-year-old would be produce
OF either sex that would trot a mile in
race against time in 2:O7sI. ne would hav
been hooted at Nevertheless, the fea
was accomplished Wednesday last. q
Lexington, KY, where so many equin
sensations have appeared. By the ba
two-year-old f1lly Native Belle which
next to Arion's 2:101z to high wheels.
the most marvellous performance eve
seen on any track. The record mile wa
the hlly's second, and TO show hol
classy she is, she trotted the first quartz
OF her mile in thirty-three seconds. Sh
was at the half in 1:04; at the three
quarters pole In 1;35. and finished we
within herself in 2:07 ga
To the students OF blood lines land n
man ever succeeded on the race cours
or in the breeding stud without being one
Alma is interesting. In the paternal lin
she runs to the Mambrino Chief famil,
being by the dead Ponce de Leon. 2:l
recently owned by Thomas W. Lawson
he being a son of Pancoast, 2:2lZ. an