New-York tribune., 1918-12-22

lornlnyMurphy
And Walt Cox
Fortify Stables
Much Expected of Constan-
tine the Great and Nc
Cregor the Great
By rank S. Cooke

At this season of the year. when the
votary of the sport Of the sulky has
other things TO think of and racing
days are afar, the most interesting
topic is the recruiting of equine talent
by the topnotch drivers, who ever are
on the lookout for something that will
take them to the front of the herd.
Stables which have migrated to the
Southland are pretty fairly defined,
while those in the North are being
whipped into shape, some OF the former
pupils going to other schools and their
PAGES taken by steeds which give prom
ise of superiority.
Lining up the best prospects is Just
as mucn part Of the scheme of clever
ness as training and later driving them
10 victory. Thomas H. Murphy was the
busiest man in the whole KIT during the
weeks Of mile-track racing. but he does
not let it go at that; on the contrary.
ne makes an all-year job Of his profess
sion.
Murphy's Eyes Always ODen
Murphy's eyes are always open. and
in view of the fact that his resources
are almost unlimited when it comes to
buying horse on which he sets his
mind, his sources of information are
perhaps wider than those of any driver,
unless the exception be Walter R. Cox.
who also bangles a rotund bankroIl.
Since they trotted at Lexington in
October, Murphy has been picking out
what appear TO him TO be good things
for next year. One, for which he is re-
ported TO have paid $4,000, is the bay
stallion Constantine the Great. by
Azotf, son Of Peter the Great, dam
Cyncie, by Nutwood.
This horse is six years old, aud last
summer worked in 2:07 y at Indianapo-
lis, won a race at South Bend, and then
took record of 2:O6s4 at Lexington.
where the deal that resulted in his sale
started.
It is the belief of horsemen who
were at Ind dlanapolis. where Lew Turner
put the finishing touch on his educa-
tion, that Constantine the Great. in
spite of an unwieldlv name. is destined
to be one of the star trotters of 1919.
His sire, Azof. won a heat in 2:l4it
as a two yearo with so little work
that but for an accident he probably
would have been one of the front row
Peter trottcrs.
Another new one in the Murphy
cavalcade at Poughkeepsie is Ruby
Aubrey. 2:13A, by Captain Aubrey, also
a son of Peter the Great, dam by Panic,
jr. This mare is prime favorite in
the West, as she won ten races, never
being beaten. and showing ability to
step half mile ring in 2:10.
Cox Bolsters Stable
Meanwhile, Cox has been augment
lng his stable, and it is reported that
he paid $4,000 for McGregor the Great,
son of Peter the Great and Ruth
NcGregor 2:07 z, that partici pated In
some good races along the big line in
1912 fer Lon Mcdonald ard next year
for Murphy.
McGregor the Great is three-year-
old and was raced over some half-mile
tracks, then taken to Lexington and
given his record OF 2:0SA. which
showed him to be prospect worth
while. Naturally he. attracted Cox, who
has had such rare luck with Peter the
Greats, his mainstays in recent years
having been Mabel Trask, Busys Lassie.
Margaret Drulen, JudsOn Girl and Peter
scott, which horse he developed and
then advised the owner to take Mur-
phys check for him, rather an unusual
thing fer A trainer to dc when he
thinks he has one that can win the
stakes.
Cox is going to give Sayde Densmore.
2:02, a tryout next season She was
about the fastest thing in the West in
1915, and Of late has been down East
They think she viii regain her old-time
form, in which event Cox will be riding
among the front paccrs.
Reports from Memphis are to the ef-
feet that Pop Geers viii be out with
a good stable next year Several new
comers have been taking their lessons.
and one Of the latest recruits is The
Triumph, 2:10a4, a five-year- old by The
Exponent, that has sired lot of speed
in Illinois.
Lon Mcdonald also is picking up
few and as usual wintering at Indian
apols He is to see what he can do
with Bon Watts, 2:12A, by General
Watts, that raced we'll over the half
mile tracks in the Middle West.
Valentine Has Ben Billings
Charley Valentine. the Ohio trainer,
will see what he can make out of Ben
Billings, 2:05 a. PAGER of royal line
age. but more or less of disappoint-
ment. He is owned by Dr. Buechner.
of Youngstown. also owner of Wilkes
Brewer, and was to have gone to the
Chicago sale, hut was withdrawn at the
last minute with the intention of Civ
ing him one more chance, and this
time in the hands of a man who mas no
peer in training and driving a PAGER
Another one that Geers Will take to
the races il he rAakes good his prom
ises is the Walnut Hall stallion Sill
vado He had ahead full of notions
when he reached Cleveland last spring,
but Nuckols won him over, gave him d
mark of 2:0SA, and advised the owner
to ship him to Geers, believing that
with his great fight Of speed he is the
sort that viii make good for the grand
old man
1t is rumored that the class in the
Pennsylvania is sc be moved down to
2:05, which viii let in all of this year.
field, excepting the winner, Binland
2:03S4. And to this bunch Of fas. trot.
ters may be added IA number that did
not start but raced in 2:06 or better
rather frequently.