Evening star., 1909-05-30
LIGHT HARNESS HORSES,
By L. D. Sale.


There was too much moisture in this
latitude during the past week to suit
trainers who have early engagements.
At Burke, where some thirty or forty
horses are being hardened up and pre-
pared for sitter work later on, all that
| could be done was to jog over the country
roads ankle deep in mud Some OF these
horses will be called upon tomorrow to go
mile heats at a fast clip, without having
had the proper work to carry them the
distance. especially If the heats should be
split ones. which Is very liable to be the
case in some instances
The writer journeyed to Burke Thurs
gay on tour of observation. Every
horse in training was personally examined
and 1t Is within the limit Of truth to
state that never before within this baili-
wick were SO many good prospects gath
cred under one roof in light harness
classes. Best Of all. there was not to be
seen sick horse in the lot and not a
single horse of his feed. Every horse
was carrying an extraordinary amount of
mesh, and 1t was good, hard flesh at that.
The track on which some Of the horses
looked over are to per form tomorrow was
also critically examined, and while not
fit to work on, was not SO wet that a few
hours Of sunshine and harrow would
not put 1t into the pink of condition for
fast miles. The track at Burke Is al
ready one Of the safest and best tracks
over which to work horses and make
speed on in all this section of country.
In time. when it settles it promises to be
one of the fastest half-mile rings in the
United States. With good day and good
track tomorrow's events should make turf
history.
Henry Copperthite has done great
things at Burke. He has constructed
cost of several thousand dollars one of
the finest racing plants that can be found
in any state In the Union. He has left
nothing to chance. has superintended
every detail and has omitted nothing
stand. stabling and hotel are all neat and
attrctive and spic-span. new and clean
Racing at Burke up to date has been
conducted on entirely different plan
from that which has hitherto prevailed
on trotting tracks in this vicinity. Things
which offend the eye and ear are elimi-
mated to a remarkable extent. Races are
not scheduled for the benefit of the pool
box and bar. Drivers are compelled to
are not permitted to conduct themselves
like band of hoodlums in front of the
grandstand.
The public. without whom races cannot
the first to be consulted Strict order
prevails at Burke and tedious waits be-
tween heats are not permitted. 1t is high
time that reforms such as noted. were
perthite with his iron nerve Is the man
to put them in practice.
The card outlined for tomorrows sport
is one to attract all interested in light
harness racing. The curtain raiser will
be at 215 pace and trot. and the horses
listed for the event are Ada D.. L. j. X.
Venus, Manuella and Black Patchin. No
| man at this hour can truthfully say that
he can pick the winner, for the field Is SO
skillfully balanced in the matter of ex-
treme speed and subject to so many OF
the incidents that accompany racing
that the task is beyond his ken.
The 2:c7 trot. which follows, has so
many green and untried horses engaged
in 1t that it must also present extreme
Nina will make her first bow to the pub
| lie In this event. and her competitor will
be the fast Bow Bells stallion Red Bell,
the green but fast gelding Harry L., the
young and untried stallion Lord Jay, son
of Jay Tine.
2:25 pace will bring to a close the
harness events. In this event the fast
| listed to start. She is said to be the
| most sensational young PAGER that has
faced the starter in this neck of lie
woods since Manuella first flashed on the
turf horizon. Halfs in 1:O511 and eighths
in Is seconds are said to be well within
her capabilities. while 1t is held by those
close to her and who have watched her
flights OF speed that when keyed up she
Is good for mile around 2:15 right now
In this race the daughter of Hobson will
have May Queen to beat land the bay
mare is mighty good just now. and the
untried but fast mares Alma and Sweet
heart. the first by Lord Percy and the
second by Austral. the sire Of Manuella.
The gray gelding Myron c., and the bay