The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-26
WILLIAMS STABLES
 AROUSE INTEREST
Editor and Excalibur Horses
 of Great Promise
AMERICAN DERBY DOPE
Edda and The Nigger Cause SpecuIa- tion-HiIdreth Won Big Money in Year Which Is Closing.
 Expert Reviews Season
BY BERT E. COLLYER

Jacksonville, Fla, December 25.-A re- equalization of the yearlings quartered at Moncrief park, which will be full-fedged raccrs-o-y ear-olds-January l, shows a 1 well conformed lot, probably as good as has been seen at winter track in sev- eral years: In this respect the Williams hand out look their rivals, and it is not a too far-fetched prognostication that they will beat more than will beat them. They are farther advanced In their train ing, while from maturity viewpoint at least two of them look more like fully developed 8-year-olds than yearlings. The eligibility of Williams yearlings was raised one year ago, and was occasioned | by the development of both Deceivable and Darling. The suavtty of the man from Blackwell stood him in good stead. l Editor, which is by Martinet out of He's ter w, and a full brother to Darling. is probably the best of the Williams band. This fellow has shown several quarters around 23 seconds, and appears fit to be sent to the races tomorrow. Excali- bur- another of the lot, which Is by John F. out of Ethel Scruggs, is a mammoth for size. Like Editor he has shown some very fast trials.
 William Shields, the Canadian turfman, also has a particularly good lot of year lings. as have also Gallaher Bros, the Lexington turfmen. Shields best Is Dresel Hill, named after his old home, and an almost exact prototype of Mas turtium, his daddy. That Drexel Hill has jS borne out by an offer of S500O for the youngster. made by Albert Simmons, 1t is said, on behalf of Harry Payne Whit ney Shields, however, refused to en- certain the offer, it is said, placing the price on the colt at S7500. In view of the fact that these are parlous times on the turf it is fair to presume that '-Wee Willie" probably believes he has in Drexel Hill another Advance Guard.
 Although it is quite long jump until April l, the date set for the running of the American derby, it must be said that several candidates have shown perform ances of late to warrant some comment. Of the lot Edda, J. W. Schorr's splendid Ally, who swept everything before her on the Canadian circuit, including al- most every good youngster In training in the west, is by far the best. Edda re- ceived her first airing at Moncrief dur ing the past week, and made such a favorable impression that shrewd horse men were heard to remark, eff she don't go amiss she will be a hard nut to crack in the derby" Edda is a big, growthy lilly, by Puryear D, out of Break O'Day, game a pebble and can apparently run all day.
 The Nigger, from the stable of T. R. Condran, who sprang into the limelight at the Jamestown meeting, mainly through the fact that he was the medium of well-planned coup, is another to show well hereabouts. Up to date The than five and one-half furlongs How ever, in his recent race and in which he | trimmed such near-first-class racers as Jack Denman, Adrian and Antenor the colt came from behind after apparently being beaten. Both Jack Denman and Antenor are derby candidates.
 Of the balance of the eligibles for the s60O0 event, Star Charter which won both of his starts at the meeting. stands out 1 head and shoulders. In view of the fact l that the colt is also from the stable of J. W. Schorr. it can easily be seen what a strong hand the Memphian holds. Were prices to be posted on the derby tomor- row it Is fair to presume that the entry | -Edda and Star Charter-would be favor | ties. probably as short as to 10.
 l An epidemic of fever, diagnosed by vet | erinarans as catarrahal pneumonia, and probably one of the most dreaded of all equine maladies, carried off several good racers since opening day. Hughie Me- Carren, Jr., probably suffered the heav- I fest loss in that four of his string suc- cumbed in as many days. It will be re- membered that the same malady carried off many useful racers here one year ago, among them Patsy. probably the most improved horse of his year. Several theo- ries have been advanced as to the cause l of the trouble, the most logical of which seem to be the prevalence of Arctic weather and the old bogs which former ly were a part of the present race track l site, but of course now filled in. These old bogs, 1t is said. make a stench which 1 I is fever laden.
 With but couple more days remain | ing of the year 1910 brief pen gallop | over the happenings of the past 12 months so far as the turf is concerned may prove of interest to the followers and admirers | of the running horse. Incidentally, 1t might be said that despite the enforce ment of stringent anti-gambling laws, especially in the Empire state, there was marked improvement in conditions gov- | erning the sport as compared with that of the year previous.
 | Unquestionably one of the most nota- ble features of racing during the pa st season was the marked success of tn e small but select stable raced by Sam Hildreth, who headed the list of win ming owners on the Metropolitan cir cult But while a good deal of Hil- dreth's success was accounted for by virtue of his own personal ability as a trainer and conditioner of the thor oughbred, still the fact that he pos sessed the services of Jockey Carl lSnilling-peer of all the riders-heIped materially to swell the earnings of his rorses. Without the possibility of a doubt, Shilling is a marvel of the pig | Hn profession and one of the greatest, If not the greatest, rider ever developed in this country.
 While on the topic of Jockeys it might be pointed out that while the year 1910 was fruitful In many respects the cror