The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-03-04
American Season for Harness
Horse Racing Far Too Short

we'll nigh unrecognizable when they
pulled up and logged back to the pad
dock. To be frank. his seemed any
thing but sport to me. but the Russi-
ans. apparently. enjoy it. and such
conditions never cause a postpone
ment even If a big stake race is down
for decision. 1t is needless to say
that, on such occasions. the time Is
very slow and that the owner of the
best horses usually scratch them, not
caring to take the chance Of breaking
footing-or. rather. through it.
At regular intervals around the out
er edge OF the tracks at st. Petersburg
and Moscow stand MIGRANTS. and as
soon as freezing weather sets in the
hose Is brought into play and they are
flooded with water. which is 20 con-
verted into a coating of smooth and
level ice. This is kept at a thickness
Of about three to four inches. AS the
horses r sharp shod. with shoes
which have rims edged with veritable
saw teeth, the racing and workouts of
hundreds Of trotters is constantly cut
ting this surface into powder, but the
damage is easily repaired by a fresh
flooding the following night. The
racing is all done to the ordinary
pneumatic-tired sulky. such Is is also
used in summe Over the dirt. The
cold has to become very severe in or
der to stop the sport, but the rule
has been made that II the mercury
falls lower than 90 degrees below zero
the program is postponed.
The winter season is socially by far
the most brilliant in the Russian cities
and on the IBID days. the attendance
So q 1Syo ia ~, M IL ir rl,~i~r the
winter also that the principal Inter
national" races are always given-that
is. those in which American-brcd
horses and those bred in other for
eign countries are allowed to compete,
Word has Just reached me regard
ing the chief events Of the present
winter, and. contrary to general ex-
pectations. their results have been re-
newed triumphs for the American
bred stallion General H. (2:04 3-4).
This horse, formerly one of the Grand
Circuits brightest ornaments, was
bred in Iowa, afterward taken to
Canada and owned there during his
turf career in this country. his Cana
dian owner selling him for export two
years ago. On the recommendation o.
Frank Gator, the American trainer sc
AOAo AS0AAOhl u 4SOoSl0e Shc 8SIlCId
was purchased by Count vorontsor.
Dashkoff. n Of Russia's creates
mobiles and also her leading breeder
and owner Of trotters. Trained ant
driven by Cation. General H. last win
ter won the most important interna,
tional race ever given in Russia. 1
was decided at Moscow and was for
purse of 10000 roubles. or a trim,
over $4,000. The most formidabl
field of horses W brought togethe
there competed for it. including tn
famous Russian-b bred champion Kre
pesh. but General II. won impressive
~. The ace was trotted on a YER
cold day, the thermometer showinI
something like ~ degrees below zero
After this race General H. was sen
to the counts stud farm to be mate
with his owners choicest brood mares
and later on returned to the stable d
Mr.. Cation in the summer, to be pre-
pared for this winters events. He wa
started once last. fall at Petersburg
but hurt himself in the race. and wa
beaten by the cx-American mare