Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-03
THE UNCERTAINTY
OF HORSE RACING
Giftine Has Had interesting Career
in Last Few Years.

One of the things which make horse
racing so fascinating to its devotees is
the very uncertainty connected with it.
No matter how fast or conservative a
race horse may be. there are certain
phases of racing luck which will arise
and which, at times, convince the most
practical minded. and those less given
to superstition, that there is something
in the matter of luck tracing fortune
| Then again you will find a horse that
VIII race up to the sensational form for
a week or two, and then in his next
race ne viii put UP such q mediocre
performance that he is promptly label
ed a counterfeit or gold brick says a
cleveland writer. The pacing gelding
Giftline. a horse that was sold for
about S700 three years ago, has prob
ably furnished some of the most inter
esttng and checkered racing history of
the last few years.
His first owner evidently considered
him to be a count erfeit for racing pur-
poses, yet the man that bought him
won ten good races with him the very
first year out, coming back the next
year and wfnnig a number of very
splendid contests, giving the horse a
record of 2.09 IA. Last season Giftline
started his campaign by defeating q
classy field of side wheelers in a $4,000
stake, taking a record of 2.03 "a, and
winning several other good races dur
ing the year. Giftline opened his 1910
campaign at Grand Rapids gain this
year. where he defeated such good free
for alters as The Eel, Aileen Wilson,
Darkey Hal, Ross *. and George Gano
in the fast time of 2.02 "a and 2.031-4
the fastest race of the season up to
that time.
This race made GiftIine an even fav-
orite over the field at Kala mazoo the
following week, but in the very first
heat he tore off his quarter boot while
scoring, and after getting the word the
bandages on his hind legs slipped down
to his ankles, causing him to make a
disastrous break on the back stretch
and resulted in his being distanced |
Then came the Detroit meet where
G!ftline was pitted against Darkey Hal
and Aileen Wilson in the free for all
pace. There was absolutely nothing to |
the race but Giftline, his driver taking |
him Off in the lead and winning as he
pleased, the only interest of the con-
test being the sensational fast fourth |
quarter shown by Giftline in each heat, |
coming home in the first heat in 90 IL |
seconds. while in the final heat he SIM
ply seemed to breeze the last quarter |
in 90 IA seconds, a 1.57 gait.
Gfftline raced at the Cleveland meet |
ing, causing ccnsidera BILE argument |
and discussion, and a number of turf |
scribes that had seen him pace his 9TH |
err races were loud in their demur of |
the manner in which the race was |
driven at Cleveland by D. K. Carter |
his driver Giftline sold at $50, while |
the field brought but $50, the latter in |
Guiding Ross K, Darkey Hal and All |
leen Wilson. The horse refused to score |
on a pace in the opening heat this be |
ing wen by Ross K. Gifrline being sep |
arately timed in 2 10. just beating the |
nag Lon Mcdonald was put up be- /
hind the PAGER in the second heat. and |
although he got him away, he could not |
make him stick to it. and he finished |
a very poor last again separately TIM |
ed in al IL. He showed great re-
versal in form in his race at Buffalo. |
Owing to a heavy downpour OF rain |
the previous day, the track was declsr- |
ed several seconds slow. but notWith- /
standing this hanchcan C.iftltna S4uanIy