New-York tribune., 1918-01-20
4 Big Disappointment

The season of 1916 found La Prince
ton highly touted, but he proved a big
disappointment, starting ten times on
big line tracks and never winning d
heat until at Atlanta. when he took 4
record of 2:09A, but did not land the
race.
He did not start much better last
year, as he was outside of the money
at the first North Randall meeting, but
at Detrol. he won two heats from Early
Dreams. His first victory was at Co
Iumous in August, then came two at
North Randall, one each at Philadel-
phia, Poughkeepsie and Syracuse, two
more at Lexington and his record heat
of 2:04A at Atlanta. He won more
races than any trotter on the Grand
Circuit. eight in all, won more money
than any racing stallion. S1l, l,6a5; be-
came the Joint holder Of the fifth heat
record Of 2:C5M and was winner of the
two fastest heats in "A iive-neat race.
And there is another record which
belongs TO Lu Princeton: He is about
the LATEST good trotter that ever stood
the rest of the fast ones on their heads.
He seems to be absolutely Indifferent
to the sport and to welcome the end OF
his task-not a bit Of sporting blood
IN his makeup apparently.
Cox had to work hard to find the key
quickly that Lu Princeton does not
hurry to get out of the way Of the
whip; instead, he backs up when he is
lashed. SO the trainer fused along
until he discovered that by shifting the
bit in the stations mouth lie Will un-
cork his supply Of whiz. However, Cox
has not been able to conquer the prone
ress of Lu Princeton to make untimely
breaks. without which he would be al
most champion.
1t was amusing to watch Lu Prince
ton finish his great miles. Trotting to
his very limit, the rough going stallion
would come through the stretch. and
even when the finish was OF the eyelash
order he would dig his toes into the
dirt as he passed the wire. anxious to
get back to the paddock without any
more work. But when he was brought
back for the next heat he would Try
Just as hard to get it over with as
quickly as possible.
Early Dreams Same Sort
Lu Princeton was not NE only win
ner who had been foollng trainers. His
greatest rival, Early Dreams. is of the
same sort. This gelding had been tried
and found wanting by Geers, after
showing we'll on the half-nlile tracks.
then went back to the two-lap ovals
and again made good.
When Lon Mcdonald came out with
him last summer, nobody thought the
trottcr had enough class to race among
the elect, but when he got the right
foot forward at Detroit he showed that
there was something he had been hid
Ing. Two weeks later at Columbus he
trotted IN 2:0IA and won the big
stake, following this with five other
notable victories which brought in more
than S22 900
Captain David Shaw, of Cleveland.
who is one of the characters of the
sport, IS going TO do more half-mile
t1ack racing this year, as he has a lot
Of fun out of the game He has in
structed his heavyweight driver. Mike
McDevitt. TO get as many ready as nos
slble for the June meetings. and unless
some of them are extra good the Grand
circuit may not see much Of this vet
eran.
Last year the Shaw stable took :.
cracK at tne smai. oval, and the trotter
Mack Forbes divided honors with The
Woodman of being one of the hest in
the Middle West In fact. it would have
been interesting in July to have seen
these two pitted against Loyal w.
Harry j. S. and Binworth, the Eastern
cracAs-lt would have made a great
race.
While Mack Forbes has 6 record of
2:o6A, ne is eligible to the 2:I3 class
on the small tracks, and in that divi-
SON he will be hard to catch. Lee
Parole, 2:14's, can get into the 2:1e
trots' and as he worked in 2:06 on \
nAiie track he also appears to be Of
the right sort Prince Loree viii start
IN the slow classes, and as he has =
matinee record Of 2:07s4 to cart. with
Shaw, who is close to seventv-ti
years old, driving he viii be worth the
shipping bills
Captain Shaw holds world record
among owners, and it does not aprear
as though anybody is apt to wrest !.
from him. He is the only owner of
loUr mares that raced in better than
200 While in his stable Joan. 2:04A:
Lillian R.. 2:0i'z; Miss Directed.
2;O41a and Grace, 2:043.. In 1914
Grace won the Kentucky tuturitv for
nm, and IN 1911 The black Joan
marched away with the Transylvanin.
which was but one Of her notable vic
tories.
Lillian r. was one OF the best free
Ior-all trotters Of her year, and has
become famous brood mare since
then. Maybe the three geldings he
now IS getting ready Will step into the
select 2:o5 list, and if 50 CAPTAIN
Shaw viii be in the front row Of the
makers of fnvf \