Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-01-21
OMAHA BARNS HOLD
MANY TURF STARS
Ben Earl, Hal Mckinney and
Other Sensational Perform
ers Stabbed Here.
WAIT FOR SPRING MEETS
By RUSSELL PHELPS.


A horseman's horseman at all
times He'll talk horse with you in
the morning, he'll talk with you at
night. If he's a dyed-in-the- wool fol-
lower of the sport he's just as en-
thusiastic in the winter as the sum-
MGR. No matter If the snow swirls
about the windows and the north
wind plays its bleak, dismal tune
down the chimney, he'll hug the
friendly stove just lite tighter and
take you with him campaigning
down the stovepipe circuit.
Such type of a. horseman-a
horseman who makes the principal
harness racing meetings each sea.
son just for the love of the sport,
as well as starting his own string OF
stars on the main loops-bundled a
couple of scribcs into his big tour
ing car yesterday and directed the
driver to point the nose of the ma
chine toward East Omaha, where the
speedway track, which is shortly to
give way TO the Benson plant as the
Nebraska Great Western circuit
course, is located.
1t was the same old specdway-all
but the crowds. The stands, from
which last August thousands of har-
ness horse fans saw Omaha for the
first time break into the fastest of
western company-the Great West
>ern circuit-stood out gaunt-looking
and naked against the January sky.
And the track, round which paced
and trotted the kings and queens of
the turf shatte5ing records and
firmly establishing Omaha as the
western Lexington, was rather unin-
viting.
But in the stables, which were
heated to exactly the right degree
for the comfort and well being of the
ffty-odd speed merchants during
their wintering, the horse still ,reigned
supreme Trainers and Handlers
were Just as careful in keeping the
fight harness travellers i'll condition
on the wintry afternoon as on the
morning before kings ransom
stake race. They are contented ami
mails, these speed horses at the speed
way, from the great Ben Earl and
famous Hal Mckinney down to the
grecnest of likely-looking colts.
Champs of Other Days.
In thc\wcll-kept stalls in the sew
cral stables were harness stars of
known ability on the turf, champions
of other days and youngsters whose
owners hope that they'll shine in the
speed world some day-all stamping
about in fresh-clean straw, some of
them no doubt dreaming-if horses
can be said to dream-of the warmer
days to come, when the "railbirds"
once more perch themselves on
fences and clock their favorites.
Occupying the stall of honor in
the Tom Dennison stables was, of
course, the famous Hal Mckinney,
one Of the greatest PAGERS in the mid
die western country, by virtue of per-
Torrance, whose game wins on both
mile and half-mile tracks have been
cheered by thousands Of horse fans.
This royal stallion, with horse per-
sonaity sticking out all over him,
looks better than ever and is being
groomed under the personal super.
vision OF his owner for future con.
quests in the harness racing world.
Hal Mckinney has absolutely fully
recovered from the effects Of the un'
fortunate accident at Mount Pleasant,
Ia, last summer, when he was struck
by bolt of lightning. A horse in an
adjoining stall was instantly killed,
but Hal escaped with only temporary
injuries. Horsemen here and else
where will learn with pleasure that
Hal Mckinney, 2:06A, is himself
once more.
In a stall hot far distant from Hal
Mckinney was the great Ben Earl,