New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-29
UhIan Non King
of All TrotterS

When THAN trottod the fastest mile in
the history of the light harness turf by
covering the distance in the open In l:5s
the black whrwind" did his part in
making the season Of 1912 one of the
greatest if not the greatest. in the MS
tory Of the sport From early in May
until the middle of November close to
sixteen hundred trOtt!ng meetings were
held in the United States and Canada. at
which not fewer than fifteen thousand
horses were campaigned. on the esu-
mate Of those who are best informed.
Many OF these meetings were, OF course.
uuimportant, being held over half-mile
tracks. but the figures show clearly the
Widespread interest in the trotter and
PAGER and the continued growth Of the
sport.
Close 10 twenty worlds records, three
or four OF long standing and of great i'm
uortaucc. were shattered. while something
over 100000 was distributed in stakes
and purses The 2:lO list was increased
Uy afty-tour trotters, new high water
mark for a single year, which In Itself
points the way 10 the advancement made
In lie development Of extreme speed.
Fourteen on more horses which previous
Iv had found a place in the 2:l0 list took
9Th faster marks. while i'm almost every
class steady Improvement was shown.
The Grand Circuit this year took in
thirteen cities and provided fifteen
weeks of continuous racing. with rain
Interfering on hardly more than five or
six days. II was by all odds the best
season for the big line in several years.
and horsemen have reason to anticipate
q bright future.
Better yet, perhaps. the sport was far
cleaner than in several seasons. AS an
indication OF this IL may be said on
good authority that bets were declared
OF only three times throughout the year
To protect the unwary against possible
foul play. \ number OF ringers were
discovered. of course, as was shown at
the annual meeting of the Board of Re-
view. but there were fewer than usual
aud were confined largely to the less i'm
portant half-mile tracks.
Space is lacking to go into detail OF
the twenty-odd worlds records estab-
lished but the following summary COM
piled by \. G.. Asdikian. the well known
trotting critic. will answer the purpose
Of this reyiew:
In the trotting division Uhlan placed
the worlds mark at :5S for the mile
in the open, d record which Lou Dillon
had held for eight years, at 1889, made
with a wind shield.
The record for a yearling colt made
two years ago by Wilbur Lou in 2:l9h
was reduced by Airdale to 2:15A.
Several horses had held the worlds
records for the fastest fifth and sixth
heats In 2:O71l and 2:Os, which were re-
duced this year, Helen Stiles stepping
fifth In 206A and Manrico. the great
three year-old of the year. the sixth in
2:07H, the latter being considered one
OF the most wonderful performances in
the history Of the turf.
Dude Archdale lowered the worlds rec
ord for the fastest four-heat race, the
time for each heat being an average half
OF a second faster than the former record.
Grace. in her best race of the season. at
Columbus, won the worlds fastest five
heat race by winning third, fourth and
nth heats. in 2Ois, 2:0Sl2 and 2:0S%.
Dude Archdale won the first In 2:0ei2 and
Billy Burke the second in 2:06.
Uhlun and Lewis Forest as team re-