Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-25
TURF MAGNATES
ARE OPTIMISTIC
Otis Smith Says Great West
ern Men Look for Greatest
Year in History.
TALK UP MATCH RACES
BY RUSSELL PHELPS.

Great Western Circuit magnates
predict the greatest year by far in the
history of harness horse racing, &C
cording to Otis NJ. Smith, secretary
of the Omaha Driving club. who rep
resented the local association at the
annual meeting of the loop in Chi
cago last Tuesday, when dates were
made for the seasons meetings and
other turf business transacted.
Bigger purses, faster classes and
larger attendances than ever before
are in prospect for the different meet
ings. The notable revival of the har-
ness game in the United States in the
last couple of years was nowhere so
much in evidence as in the middle
west and west. and this season, from
all indications. the sport will be at its
zenith.
Choice Dates-August 2l, %, %
and "a; Were parceled out to Omaha
for the driving clubs fall meeting.
The racing season is at its height at
this time of the year; horses are al
ways at their best then, and fans turn
out in the greatest numbers to see
the turf battles. Omaha is certainly
going TO have some metropolitan
horse racing this season. commented
Mr. Smith and Edward Peterson on
their return from the Windy City.
Tom Dennison, we'll known Omaha
horseman who owns the famous
string of harness speeders, headed
by the favorite, Hal Mckinney. and
j. w, Linnehan, prominent sports
man of Weymouth, Mass, have not
as yet come to terms for the pro-
posed match race between the local
horse. r. c. H., and M. L. J., and
eastern phenom.
The local horseman some time ago
challenged M Linnehan for a match
race to be held at the Omaha Driv-
ing clubs meeting at Benson on June
II, IS and IA. inclusive, Mr.. Denni-
son guaranteed that the express
charges on the eastern horse would
be paid. the two stars to meet here
for side bet OF couple of thou
sand dollars.
Wants Race in Feast.
Mr.. Linnehan now comes back
with proposition for match race at
Erie, Penn, at the meeting there in
July, R. c. Fl. and NJ, L. J., to fight
it out for side bet OF $500 or any
part of it, The easterner also said he
would consider a sweepstakes with
other horses. whose owners may wish
to enter, $1,000 an entry, winner
take all.
Mr.. Dennison does not see his way
clear to match r. c. II. against Lime.
hans horse in the east unless the lat
ter would consent to another contest
on the local track. A compromise
may be effected anda race staged
which would be big drawing card
for any meeting anywhere.
Another match race which looks
promising for the June meeting, is
one etween bR. c. H. and Miss Rex
eta, fast mare witha rak Of 2:13N,
owned at Avoca, Ia, by Barney Nc
Coy. Miss Rexetta did not start in
any of the 1916 meetings, having been
given her mark for a performance
the previous year. Mr.. Dennison be-
lieves that R. c. H., 2:11N, has the
edge on Miss Rexetta--at least, 81, 600
worth, and will wager that amount
on his stopper for match race either
at the driving clubs July meeting or
the Great Western Circuit classic at
the Benson oval next August. At the
June meeting it would be a two out
of three heats proposition, the three
out of five rule to apply at tho fall
match.
Defies Single G.
Efforts are being made to match
Ben Earl, 2:00K, Grand and Great
Western Circuit pacing champion,
owned in Omaha by Edward Peter
son, president of the driving club.
against the famous eastern star, single
g., whose mark is two minutes fat.
Mr.. Peterson. through Otis M. Smith.
secretary Of the Omaha Driving club.
has issued def to F. D. Woodland.
owner of Single G..
The driving club president wants
to match Ben Earl against the two
minute PAGER fora $1,000 sid bet and
another $1,000 to be put up by tho
local association for a race at tho
June meeting at Benson. Mr.. Peter
son Is also willing to stage a similar
match over the twice-around track al
the Youngstown, 0. meet in July.
In his challenge on behalf of Mr..
Peterson, Mr.. Smith said that any
PAGER in the United States, with the
exception of Directum |, can start in
either of these meetings, winner ia
take all. Mr.. Smith enclosed check
tor $500 as forfeit money in the chal-
lenge sent to an eastern turf paper.
The offer of the local man must
be accepted before March 10.