New-York tribune., 1918-03-10
Harness Turf
Should Profit
In Smollinger
His Election Regarded as
First Real Step Toward
Amalgamation in Sport
By Frank S. Cooke

states, where interest in racing is gen.
eral, the election of W. II. Smollnger
TO the position of secretary of the
American Trotting Association is re-
garded as the first real step in the
direction of an amalgamation of all
of the interests of the sport. The
trouble has been that each association
has been clinging to its own position
as a leader; there are factions, and
men who have gone out of their way
to make enemies, and nobody has put
in an appearance until, after much
persuasion, Mr.. Smollinger agreed to
take up the work of the late w. II.
knight.
For years Mr.. Smollinger has been a
powerful but gentle force in trotting
and pacing affairs in the Middle West.
Born in Milwaukee, sixty years ago, he
has spent most of his life in Illinois
About ten years ago he went to Iron
Mountain, Mo-, where he had a stock
farm, but he returned last season to
Hllsdale, H., where his farming in
terests arc extensive.
SmoIinger Knows Game Backwards
Mr.. Smollinger began as breeder
in a small way, took the management
of the famous oval at Galesburg, ILL.,,
made it success and then became
secretary of the Great Western CIR
cult, a post which he has filled with
credit for years. There is no branch
of horseman's activities in which he
has not had much experience. He bred
that splendid trotter, Belford Bell,
was owner of Angola, 2:O6, when, in
1907, she won the historic Charter Oak
Stake, at Hartford, and was the largest
money winner of the year. Another
great trotter, owned and campaigned
by him, is Lulu Lumine, 2:06 "a, which
he sold to Murphy for long figure.
1t is doubtful if trottlng interests,
all the way from breeding to racing,
could be in better hands than in Mr..
Smollinger's, and if everybody is ready
to put the sport where it should be it
does not appear that there can be any
alibl.
Every driver likes to ride in front
but all of them do not go about it
the way Tommy Murphy does. The
man from Poughkeepse does not let
to his stable any horse that he believes
can win in the trip along the raging
grand. Time and again he has paid
big figures for trotters and PAGERS. and
while some of them have failed to
come up to expectations. the percent
age is in his favor, stamping his Judg-
ment as high class.
Murphy wanted a couple of PAGERS
to round out his herd, one for the
free-for-all division and the other for
the stakes. Ever since the final meet
ing of the season at Phoenix, Arizona,
he had been trying to persuade w. G..
Durfee, Of Los Angeles, to sell him the
colt Orc Fino. At last he convinced
was apt to get at the sale, so the deal
was made.
Orc Fino Real Champion
Oro Fino is champion, his record
OF 2:06 being the fastest mile ever
paced by three year-old on half
mile track. The colt was mildly trained
in 1916 Last year he figured in the
California stakes, won his start at
Sacramento and was second in three
others. His best race was at Phoenix,
where he won two heats and a record
of 20S14 and forced Rico to 20 in
2:061. and five heats to beat him. BY
Copa de Orc. 2:O1, and out of Lilly
Mack, by Mckinney. this bay colt is all
that can be desired in blood lines, and
when he becomes acclimated he should
be factor in the classics.
Murphy also added Miss Harris NJ,
200 fat, to his stable, paying $500
h.y q
Great. There are many who believe
the mare will become the champion
of them all. and her races show that
no free for all PAGER has license to
beat her in race. With Miss Harris
VI. and Butt Hale for the fast classes
Murphy promises to make trouble as
usual this year.
Philadelphia has been a great racing
centre for many years. but did not nave
any pretentious meetings Of It's oWT
until the grand circuit made stoE
there last year. SO successful was tht
inaugural appearance of the big .ln'
steeds that the management of Belmon
Park is going even further this year
so that the meeting there August l.
to 16, the week before Poughkeepsie
promises to be one of the best of th'
season.
Innovations at Philadelphia
The stake programme recently an
nounced contains couple of innova
tlons. These are in the instance Of tn
$4,000 events for two and three yea
old trotters, the winners to be paid il
Liberty bonds. The headlincr at Phila
delphia is $4,000 affair for 2:11 trot
tcrs, and next to this comes a $500
purse for the 2:06 trotters, which viii
let in many not eligible to the regula
2:03 stake, among them Harvest Gale
Ina jay, Royal Mac, Harry J. S., Donn
Clay, The Woodman, Bacelli, Brescia
Ira c., Mes Perfection, Peter Billikc
and Sister Strong-a wonderful field il
themselves.
With the coming lack Of ReadvilI
and the addition OF Philadelphia tn
portion Of the grand circuit With
short rides Of New York is quite tn
strongest it has been for a derad,
Philadelphia, Boston and Hartford ar
nounce about 900 apiece and Pougf
keepsic $4,000, while Syracuse wi
give 5000 or more in connection wit
the state fair.
In the West the PAGERS have a wor
derful hold, and they dominate the hall
mile tracks everywhere, bat in the Eas
it is noticed that a. Hartford four or
Of the FIVE so-called stakes are fo
tfotters, while az Philadelphia ther
are six for trotters and three for pat
ers. Some Of the wise men Of the tu,
Clam that the PAGER 10 quietly elirnina
ing himself, and that in few year
racing IN this country will be conGne
70 trotters, az it is in Austria, Russi
and ItAlv where the eprry ~ a,c