The Washington herald., 1911-06-04
By l., D. SALE.

BY L. D. SALE.
Decoration Day in this latitude marks
the opening of spring racing.
The point of interest, as far as this
locality is concerned, was the Sansbury
track at Forestville. The morning
papers of Wednesday last did scant JUS
tice to the events pulled off, and the
large number of people who journeyed
fl ON all points Of the compass, in auto
mobiles and other ccnveyances, over
roads deep with dust and under the rays
OF a sun that made everything in nature
curl with intense heat.
And the 2:2o trot between that most
promising young stallion. Won March,
DR. Sansbury's LinkwcoG May, and old
Gold Peb5le. revamped, resuscitated. and
made over almost as good as new. was
worth all the discomforts endured To
ren who have red blood in their veins.
to men who do not allow commercialism
tC weigh one ounce II their apprecia-
ton of 4 game struggle between game
horses, the 2:2O trot was to them as
git from the gods. The heavy part of
the purse went~to Linkwood May, Nbut
Won March, in his gallant efforts to best
her in the six heats trotted Zone heat
DelnS declared DE lNe JCuSeS HO Acop'
lost no friends and admirers.
AS for the ancient Gold Pebble. bat
tered by the strokes of time and sea-
sC,ned by more than fCur-score gallant
contests for supremacy on more than 100
fields of battle although he fought a
hopeless contest and seemed 10 know 1t,
he never faltcred and seemed willing to
die trying, every inch of his weary miles.
IT lry "
in the trot and pace half mile heats.
proved to be a better horse than many
esteemed him to be prior to his race.
and demonstrated that the story that
has been going the rounds about him
in local horse circles is a baseless flc-
tiCn. which men interested are wont 10
retail about horses that have speed in
parts where they are not known. His
only opponent worthy of mention was
Gentle John, and it must be sadly ad-
mitted that he was not at his best. He
showed something of his form OF last
was unsteady. He showed bursts
Of speed in spots thatdid nothing
toward bringing him first to the
wire Cnquest:onably his race did
much TO hone him TO a sharper edge,
and from now on he should be peri
lous proposition for al trotters 10 meet
in his class.
Oar Old friend and much esteemed
citizen. Ed Daniels, sprang a surprise in
the added trot and pace on all of his
friends, and a few others not on his
visiting list. in the steady-going bay
mare Edna D.. said to be a green i'm
portation from Pennsylvania and a re-
Cclt purchase. Edna may seem green to
Daniels. but there is quite a number
C people in this town who claim Mis-
souri, as their birth place. and he will
have to show them when his mare starts
again. Be this as it may, she looks to
bc d real trotter. puts her head down
in her check when she squares away,
and pixies for the wire like veteran
that has heard the bell ring and the
band play See the Conquering Hero
Comes"
Nina McGregor acied embarrassed in
high class company, and did not do all
that was expected OF her in this race.
She found her speed. however, on the
way ilcn:e and ran away with Beall her
owner, which accounts for the story that
the mare was ''doped" by some wretch
while at the track. Peter Ford did not
seem 10 take kindly 10 Thomas reinman-
ship, but when his owner, DR.. Sansbury,
got up behind him and headed him for
the wire he proved TO be better horse
and came second in one heat.
Considering all things, DR.. Sansbury
is entitled to all the congratulations
shOwered upon him by MS many friends
for the success of his meeting, in point
of attendance and sport. Whether ali this
was accountable for the accident that
befell him later in the day, by making
him so -giddy headed that he fell down the
stairway Of his dwelling and nearly broke
his neck, deponent sayeth not But, as
a matter of fact, having occasion TO de-
scend into his cellar during the evening
for a glass of buttermilk, perhaps, he
made a misstep and landed heavily on
his head and shoulders.
While his injuries are painful, he is
able TO be around and attend to his pa
tients. 1t is the doctors intention to give
one or two matinees during the month,
and a colossal meeting on July L In fact,
he has already commenced 10 formulate
his card for that day. wlich lie intends
to make one Of the most attractive that
he has invented SO far H. his track ex-
perience.
Reports from Burke would indicate that
tract is falling into an alarming deca-
dence. The first and second years of
its existance, thousands passed through
its games on holiday occasions. The
paltry hundreds that passed them on
Decoration Day would indicate that
something serious is the matter. 1t can
not be that the hand an brain Of Henry
Copperthite have lost their cunning in
track management. Henry used to oc-
cupy a seat in the top loft in the old
days
- Perhaps If Mr.. Copperthite would go
It alone again. and appeal to his many
real friends for help. the appeal would
not be altogether in vain. One mistake
he plainly made Decoration Day, viz.
to permit the horses of one family to
dominate the classes offered, and carry
off the bulk of the money. What the
public wants to see on race tracks and
for which It will pay money, is racing
in Its truest sense. Individual greed is
not appreciated when manifested, and
the public is more discrminative than
some would-be track managers seem to
imagine.
On Tuesday afternoon next, the series
Of matinees devised by members Of the
DRIVERS and Diders' Association will be
resumed. The matinee Of Tuesday will
be the fourth of the series pulled off of