Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04
HORSEMEN READY
FOR BENSON MOVE
Stables and Equipment at
Speedway to Become Part of
Suburb Racing Plant.
DENNIsoN ACQUIRES R. G. H
By RUSSELL PHELPS.

negotiations between the directors OF
the Douglas ~Sounty Fair association
and the Omaha Driving club magnates
for the latter's control OF the Benson
racing plant are yet to be completed
preparations are already being made
for a wholesale hegira of the stables
of fast harness horses and their train
ers from the East Omaha speedway
locals, the scene OF last years Great
Western circuit classic and the winter
quarters of many famous steeds.
Otis NJ Smith, secretary of the driv-
ing club, owner OF a string of fast
horses and one of the live wires in the
middle western harness racing world,
announced yesterday that the Speed
way plant-modern stables that rank
with any in this part of the country
will be moved bodily to Benson. which
in the future is to be Omaha's turf
battle ground.
Benson, under the reign Of the driv-
ing club crowd, no doubt will become
even more popular than the Speedway
as plant for light harness racing OF
the first water and of the very highest
class. The track will be widened, the
stands enlarged and the grounds
beautiful. If the parking and land
scape gardening plans are carried out
it will be the finest racing plant in this
section of the country from stand
point of beauty. Horsemen concede
the fact that when widened heNtrack
will be as speedy as any of the United
States twice arounds."
Two Meetings Scheduled.
Omaha is sure OF two stellar meet
ings this year-the Great Western cir
cult fall classic and the June races.
Also there is some talk of staging sew
eral matinees for the benefit of fans
who believe in as hort time between
drinks. The Omaha Driving club
holds membership in four loops-the
Great Western circuit, lowa-Ne-
braska-South Dakota circuit, Nebraska
Midway Racing circuit and the Ne
braska Speed association-and is sure
to draw the class of each of them.
An erroneous report was corrected
last week when it became known that
Tom Dennison had acquired the sole
ownership of R. c. H., a rambling
gelding who proved a sensation on
both the Grand and Great circuits in
1916. 1t was reported at first that Ed
Peterson, president of the driving club
and owner of the famous Ben Earl,
had disposed of his interest in r. c.
H., to Ed Allen, an Iowa trainer who
twas said figured on featuring the
Omaha horse at the Pittsburgh
matinee.
But Mr.. Dennison now has full title
to the son of F. A. L. and will in all
probability continue to headquarter
him in Omaha, along with Hal Nc
Kinney, Hal Connors and the rest of
his large and famous string. R. c. H..
who was referred to by eastern turf
scribes last season as the range
horse from the west,' having ORR
ginally hailed from Montana, is
marked at 2:llA and can travel faster
than that. He has been a mile in
2:08A and half in l:0l. R. c. HIS
record over the once around is 2:09H.
the 2:l1A being over half mile
course.
Horsemen to Meet.
Racing circuit and the Nebraska
Speed association will be held at the
Hotel Castle at o'clock on the after
noon of February Is. Classes and
purses and schedules for the -~l9l7
campaign are to be arranged and other
business Of importance to the men,
bers of the two loops discussed. Rep
resentatives of any new towns or
cities aspiring to berths on either of
these circuits are urged to be on hand
when the joint session is called to
order
The advance guard OF horsemen and
trainers who plan to make Omaha
their headquarters this year is ex-
pected to loom up on the horizon in
a few weeks. Walter Pike ofIGeorgia,
who has~twelve or fourteen head Of
fast ones in two, has advised that he
may blow in most any day.
Another we'll known horseman bent
on Omahanizing his training tricks is
Fred Douglas, who at one time raced
horses for Otis NJ. Smith. He is a
specialist in training trotters and in
tends to open up public training
stable at Benson. Douglas raced the
we'll known Tom Smith for the
Omaha Driving club secretary. Tom