The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-10
CEERS, THE SILENT MAN
BY w, III. GoCHER.

retired for six seasons and during
which he proved one OF the greatest
Trace horses that ever lived, In 1889
he won all OF his races but one. his
Islrgle defeat being over a heavy track
! at Rochester The following year
lHickok came over the mountains with
| Adonis and failed to defeat him. one
heat at Cleveland being all that h
could secure. In 1891 California tried
again with Polo Maid. but she could
/ not even win heat, but Direct. an
other product OF the golden state.
/ caught Hal Pointer in Tennessee late
| In the season and defeated him not
only at Nashville. but also at his home
town, Columbia. All of the eolored
| folks IN Haury county were in mourn
ling that night.
| In 1891, after Harry Hamlin pur-
chased Hal Pointer, a number Of the
/ Village farm horses were pl$ced in
| Geer4' stable. the list including Belle
Hamlin, Globe and Justine, with which
he made the triple team record OF
l2:14 to wagon, as well as that sterling
race mare Nightin gale. Moonstone and
| Glendennis. c. J. Hamlin was SO wen
| pleased with Geers' methods that in
l16q2 he made a contract with him to
locate at Bhfalo. II was the best in
vestment, Mr. Hamlin ever made in
| the horse business.
With Geers IN charge the Village
farm stable shipped East early in
1892. Among other places II appear
cd at Fleetwood park, New York
where Glendennis was started in a
slow pacing race, one OF his competi-
tors being a little knee-sprung geld
ing called Robert J. that ala not ap-
pear to have enough strength to ram
bic aroung n race track After
couple OF heats the little gelding had
Glendennis down and out, and while
ne was gasping for breath Geers told
his owner to step over and purchase
Robert J. The transfer was made, and
through it Geers secured a horse that
combined all the elements Of extreme
speed, gameness. endurance and gem
tlen ess. second 10 no horse that ever
/ Tired For several seasons he appear
ed at all OF the leading meetings. de-
feating every horse that ever started
against him, and retired n champion
with record of 2:0l Ia Also while
at the Village farm Geers bred his
Tom Hal mare, Bessie Hal, to Direct
the old rival OF Hal Pointer and de-
veloped her foal. which. under the
name OF Direct Hal. made a sweep
through the Grand Circuit and retir-
ed from the turf unheaten. He also
made a sweep from Detroit TO Lex
ington with The Abbott. before he
drove him TO the world record of
2;oS Ia, and won scores OF races
with Nightingale, Fantasy Bright Re-
gent, The Monk. Heir at Law, Lady
of the Manor, Lord Derby and A host
OF others. @
After returning to Tennessee, Geers
continued the winning habit with such
speed marvels as Walter Direct. An
VII. Dude Archdale the beautiful Ar
dele The Harvester. which he took
all unbroken colt and retired a cham
pion; Etawah, NAnoleon Direct. the
first horse he drove below two
minutes Billv Buck, Peter June and
St Frisco. Each year he swings into
lire with something new or with one
that has improved on the form shown
during the preceding campaign, and
that he usually gets what he aims at
during the winter and spring months
ic shown by his uniform success In
tro'tin~ turf fixtures At Detroit he
won the chamber of commerce and
the NJ, and NJ. ave times. while az
Hartford he won the Charter Oak
purse with Nightingale. Billy Buck
The Harvester and 81. Frisco At
Lexington Geers has ALWAYS been very
fortunate. The summaries show that
ne won FIVE of the Walnut Hall cups
the Pennsylvania twice and the Ken
lucky futurity with The Harvester
and Etawah
Geers does not make a spectacular
figure in the sulky. Wearing a black
cap and jacket he sits. rather low.
leaning forward more now than he
did in the hfgh-wheel sulky DAYS AS
a rule all OF his horses are good man
incred and race from behind, A shift
of the Bit or light tap of the whip
appears to be all OF the encourage
ment given to any of them in close
finish, but like good ball players they
lock for the signal and give him all
that they have without being punish
ed The mutual understanding which
exists between Geers~and his horses Is
one of the mysteries of the turf and
make him in reality the silent Man
from Tennessee"