The Washington herald., 1912-02-25
BN l.. ID. SALE.

ny IL. D. SAbb.
The first warm breath of approaching
spring came with the week that is
ended, and with it came from their
various winter haunts the distinct type
OF mankind who have done so much to
household word in every part Of the CIV
ilized world.
The peculiar species of man known as
''swipe" is an important adjunct to ev-
cry well-organized racing stable. He,
more than any other Individual connected
with it, is the man behind the gun"
and every trainer who Is fitted for his
job appreciates his Importance. Very
few there are OF the men who have risen
to eminence as trainers and drivers who
were not, at one time or another, what
is known in turf parlance as "swipes."
John z. Madden. who has risen to high
eminence on the running turf, was once
a 'swipe." Many OF the best riders of
the running turf began their careers as
''swipes." Bud Doble. John Turner. Orrin
Hikoll -'Knap" Mccarthy, Thomas Muir
ply. and the great host of other trainers
and drivers who have risen to eminence
on the trottinR turf were once "swipes."
1t was in the hard school OF the ''swipe"
mat they were taught the rudiments OF
their important profession. and the prac-
tical knowledge gained therein, which
Eharpened their wits. contributed to their
success in after years.
The ''swipe'' is the companion of the
horse in training. day and night. He is
conversant with the disposition and hab-
its of every horse in his care. He knows
more about the animal than his owner
and driver can possibly know, and II
a1l l.-f.~ -.-ss
terests he is frequently consulted In
his highest estate he is friend. adviser
veterinary, and blacksmith: in an ex-
treme emergency he may be called upon
to handle the relns. Through his deft |
labor and counsel victory is frequently
plucked from imminent defeat, and II by !
sheer merit he graduates from the rubrag |
TO the sulky and makes good. he may
achieve wealth, honor. and a station in |
life.
No man works more hours than the |
faithful ''swipe.' or works more cheer |,
fully. He is UP with the SUM- and mid |
night may find him caring for his charges |
after hard days race: when. after his !
. labor is done, he throws himself down |
on A pallet of straw and gets such rest |
as he can. The world never hears Of |
Kim as he tolls in his humble way: It is !
the man in the sulky whom the public |
Il possible for MIN 70 win. And. too fire. |
ouently, when the bell summons him to
the post for the last time. he goes TO
his final rest 'unwept, unhonored. and |
unsung.'
The season of the year has arrived |
when every one interested in the light
harness horse is specuatIng as 10 what
quarters Will come the big money win
ners OF the year; from what stables will |
come the record breakers and the phe- L
nomenals Of the turf. old and Young L
The rivalry between breeding farms, and |
certain strains of blood which they rep
resent grows keener each year, and in
teligent men-men interested in the well
fare Of the American trotter-are Won
dering what family or subfamily will be
in the forefront Of popularity at the end
OF the racing season.
Millions of good. hard American dol
lars are wrapped up in blooded hOrsefesh
I'm this country. Every breeder Of the
hloodhorSe, from the humble farmer who
breeds one or two annually TO the mil
hOnatre who breeds them by the scores
Is endeavoring to produce the very best
1t is this fierce emulation that has
wrought such wonderful results within
the past thirty-five or forty years The
making Of breed OF any animal is one
that requires time, Patience, rare judE-
ment, and rare forethought. l.
1t has taken 80 years TO bring the d!
magnificent thoroughbred to his wonder
ful state of development. 1t has taken
the breeders of the United States less
than a half century to build up a
distinct breed. whose instinct is to stick |
10 the trot at high rate of speed. The
task allotted to the men who assumed
II was of a gigantic nature-far greater
IMAM that assumed by our English ances-
TORS because. in the first place, the run
ming gait is the natural gait Of the horse.
While On the other, the trot. at a high
rate Of speed, is an artificial one
How 10 fuse incongruous elements into
q homogeneous mass, so TO speak. and
produce the desired results was, at the
outset. the great problem that confronted
the pioneer breeders of the American |
trotter. And it is not too much to saw :
mere that no people. other than the breed 1
or men brought forth on this continent 7
who have grappled successfully Cwhen I
the men OF other nations failed) with the J
Panama Canal project, could have accom- a
pushed such important results in so
short a space of time A mile in I:51-4 ,
at the pace TO sulky, and n mile in
l:5S IA at the trot are some of the ac- ,
complishments of less than a half CEN
tury Of scientific breeding.
l..
The present is most smphatically a sea- ,
Son Of the year when our local train {
crs, such as have survived the biting
frosts Of an extremely severe winter. are
speculating upon how they are going to ]
get by during the spring and summer /
months and particularly as TO the point s
they are going to get off at when fall :
arrives. Under present conditions II !
would seem as though there were not
horses enough in our midst to go all the
way around. In this, however, one may be
deceived. There have been times in the p
past when the local field looked quite as Z
barren; but. as the season warmed up, 7
the horses put in their appearance and >
let us all hope that local history will v
repeat itself
More and more, as local horse trainers 7
and horse owners approach the racing \
season of 1872 will they feel the need 7
or haf-mile track at some spot near (
District 1pn rrvha In, |