Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-22
BY WALTER E. ERLER.

proportion OF the light harness
horses hereabouts will have
started the strenuous life over the local
tracks. The time will have reached US
for the anvil chorus" to get out thei
little hammers, and the weather will
probably be such that we "a trade our
overcoats for timers" With which to
sit on The rail and get a line on the
speed merchants.
While In the past there have been
seasons when there has been more
prospective racing material IN sight,
yet it is doubtful whether there ever
were in this city at this particular sea-
son of the year more really worthy
horses with which to begin operations.
Every horse with which I am ia
miliar appears to have wintered par
ticularly well, and while some viii
doubtless fall by the wayside. there is
at this time every indication that the
large majority OF them have better
han an average chance to make good
and crafty their owners and the train
ers. to whom they have been more or
less of an anxiety since last Novem-
Der.
sage's Stable.
OF the horses that have spent the
winter months in a training barn the
combination of Ralph Sage very natur-
ally appeals most forcibly to those who
know the horses best. l have In the
past made several references to this
particular stable not by reason of any
particular friendship / feel toward Mr..
Sage, but entirely upon the apparent
worthiness of the horses in his charge
their superb physical condition at
this time and the favorable impression
that they nave made upon us all by
their performances in the past.
These horses were gathered together
by their respective owners with the ut
most care. and every horse in the out
fit cost a lot of money. With the ex-
ception of the, 3-year-old gelding Vicar
of Audubon (this will be his first sea-
son in training). they all showed well
during the season of 1910, and while
the stable will be called upon to do
considerable matinee racing. Ben Dat.
Ophelia, Direct and Ann Boyd will be
started for the change over the half
mile tracks adjacent to the metropolis,
and Ann Boyd AMI the Direct Hal mare
Will doubtless be named in several
81. 900 stake events, a proceeding which
is entirely in line with good judgment.
During the past season Ann Boyd
was at no time in right good physical
condition, yet the black daughter of
Advertiser trained miles right at 1920,
which must surely indicate to think
ing horsemen hat II no misfortune
overtakes her, and she races game, she
will surely take the measure of q lot
a - 1000 a.. ~ zf---- q -,ft1I
she Is eligible during the coming sea-
son.
The PAGER, Ben Dat, 2:25, needs no
introduction TO local horsemen, and
while In the past he has, In a manner
at times been a disappointment to his
owner, horsemen generally admire a
good game man, and hope to see him
riding in front with the son of Martin
this year. Ben Dat Is being pointed for
the 2:25 pace at Hoboken on Decora-
ton Day, AMI while he will doubtless
have to step some over the parlor track
to win. he will be knocking at the
door from the word go"
Frank I. Shepard. who owns the s.
year-old gelding, Vicar of Audubon.
in the Sage outfit, is not averse to
starting him In classes for his age and
gait, should mis- form warrant a start.
The present indications are that he
has every chance in the world to be-
come a trotter. He has been logged
regularly for sixty days, and while he
has not been asked TO step away any.
his gait would please the mos exact
ing. With his tractable disposition and
an instructive desire to go on he would
appear at this writing to have a
chance. Another horse that will doubt
less add materially to the local situa-
ton is the bay stallion Bond Issue. the
recent purchase of DR.. Mitchell. Judged
by his brief past. and by every right Of
inheritance, this handsome son of The
and D~eligencia. by Expedi-
ton, should this e in every way.
be a strictly high-class trotter.
While he did last year as a s-year-
old race to a record of 2:26H over a
pool half-mile track. he has never been
hurt. He is today as sound as the
day he first saw light, and to venture
a guess at his real capacity would be
If he takes a race record of 2:20 his
owner should be. and doubtless will be.
thoroughly we'll pleased. and such a
record Is positively no disadvantage II
he is a really high class horse.
George Stengei will matinee and race
several Of the get of Axum and is firm