Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-21
FUTURE OF TROTTISC HORSE
Values Sustained in Face Of the Strict
Sumptuary Laws.
IN DEMAND AFTER RACING DAYS
Possible Track winnings, Foreign
Demand and Unity Combined
Factors 60 Keep VI
Price.

"kse does not wither nor custom-iust
now pernicious turf and betting legislation
-Etsle the demand for the light harness
horse" remarked a follower Of thorough
bred racing at a recent vendue of trotters
and PAGERS. He had just seen a 2-year-old
trotter sell for $500 and slxty-four in a
cor signment Of that age average-despite
a bunch Of ~tsilenders that brought 500 or
under-s5O apiece. There seems to be
more vitality in harness than in racing
stock"
well, both trotters ard PAGERS are horses
of utility, you know said the reinsman,
Il OF only as roadsters end for delivery
wagons. etc, but there is also a demand
for 'hackneyized' t~rctters for gigs and in
heavy harness. Now your thoroughbred.
except occasionally as a saddle horse or
hunter, is Of not much use except to race
and occasionally TO put a crinkle in a book
makers roll"
Utility be hanged cried the turfman.
Men don't pay $500 for a 2-year-old to
make him a roadster or delivery horse.
The colts stake engagements of this year
amount to $4,000. besides what the Cham
pion Stallion and Matron stakes will figure
out, while many a bet can be risked on
him IL only on the nod. That colt has been
bought as a racing proposition pure and
simple. and you can't tell me anything
else"
Good Youngsters worth Money,
Those youngsters are worth all they
brought IL they never win a stake, and
most Of 'em WON'T rebutted the reins-
man. "for many are called for entry fees
in such events but few are chosen for
draw back. There are colt and filly over
night purses and stud earnings. AS a 4
year-old to its aged lays 1t has also a
distinct racing value at little or big meet
ings, according to the class the colt or
filly develops as aids to get the purchase
price back. Until the shrinking up under
the chill blasts of anti-betting legislation
this was true about New York of thorough
breds, except tha a racing colt as good
as this $500 trotting colt with $4,000 in
for 10000 or more.
'The wide demand for the light harness
horse is due to the existence of some
sixty distinct circuits of meetings through
out the United States and Canada. The
Great Western Circuit has the dignity an
a better attendance than the Grand Cir
cult, besides the chance to get a bet down
at every track, and the small tracks afford
good sport, too. There is a propensity
among turfmen to hold too much racing
In a limited area; that is, in one %neighbor-
hood. While successful. such strings of
running meetings initiate the values of
horses and race courses. but to non-horse-
men sue sport, with the betting end al
ways TO the front, becomes a nuisance.
Hence, the reaction and SUMMARY shut
downs, as about Chicago, in New Jersey
and recently in New York state, Too
much prosperity makes these limited and
successive race meetings overripe: the fruit
is too juicy and tender and drops at the
first frost. Trotting has It's own troubles
with legislators in many parts OF the coun-
try, yet It Is 80 widespread that some
where a flourlshing meeting Is always I'M
der way"
Telling Experienced.
The two had now Joined a group of
breeders and track stable hackers at a
quiet table near the far rails OF the NINA
ture track. There was a United States
senator, SLOUGH hated and bearded. a
gray haired multimillionaare baker who
made his own loaves to start with, a Stand
ard OIL magnate, with a man who owns
as many city flats and lots as he has
horses on his Kentucky stock farm in the
party. The city flat man wore a fur great
coat and a golf cap. as he had arrived
in an automobile.
II am opposed, even for city use, to the
product of a factory in place of the noblest
product Of the farm-the horse observed
the senator, casting an eye OF disapproval
on the motorists raiment.
FUDGE" rejoined the amateur chauf-
feur. Ever since you let that Carpet colt
go for $500 which won 1000 in 1907 and
the worlds record for a s-year-old-of
2;O6%, as General Watts, you have been a
pessimist. Cheer up! There may be other
world heaters in the home paddock"
"A cheering thought. indeed" Joined in
the gray-haired baker. ITO dwell in an
ticipation over the records our young
colts and fillies should make on their
looks and breeding. although dream pic
lures adds TO the pleasure of raising
horses. Your remark hits me, too, for
1t was I who bred Carpet. 2:2s, to AK.
worthy and unluekily sent the mare 10
auction before she had foaled General
Watts. The breeders, through sentiment
and to test their theories of breeding.
do much to keep up the value of the light
harness horse"
The senator drifted off toward the
auctloneer's stand and the motorist had
the floor. The zeal of amateurs to breed
the fastest and most stalwart light har-
ness horse Is not confined to. this coun-
try. l have on my Kentucky farm three
mares sent from Russia to be bred to
my best stallion and then shipped back.
We all know that for some years at
least $4,000 worth of light harness
horses have been sold to British or con-
tinental buyers annually for racing and
the stud This is another factor to main
tain values here"
Real Activity in Market.
There is no question about the activ-
ity of the market added the reinsman.
Besides all the special sales in Chicago,
indianapolis. Cleveland, Louisville and
Boston in the spring. summer and fan,
during the present winter the two auc-
lions of light harness horses at adiso