Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-17
MURPHY TOPPED
BELMONT FIELD
Poughkeepsie Reinsman
Easily Lead Field of Purse
Winners at Grand Circuit
:'POP" CEERS RUNNER.UP
B, ROBERT T. PAUL

Tommy Murphy, the popular pough-
kecpsic. y. Y. reinsman. who has been
conducting a Murphy week" at the
five days stay of the Grand Circuit in
this city at the Belmont Driving Park,
departed this morning with the largest
slice of the purse money.
Secretary Saunders failed to make an
official report after yesterdays events,
but an unofficial rumor has It that
Murphy won almost $1,000. which in
cludes the $4,000 Matron Stakes Pop
Gcers. the iXty-seven-year-old veteran.
was next in line with more than $1,000.
The great difference between the win
nings of Murphy and Gecrs Is the result
Of the Poughkeepsie horseman entering
more events.
The unofficial reports give the other
drivers the following purses Valentine.
$4,000: Sout Brothers. $500. ard the
Pastime Stables. which includes Drivers
Lee. Walker White and Wise. $500
What Walter Cox. the big winner of last
years meeting, won is not known. Saun-
ders announced that he would make an
official report last night, but efforts to
locate him were futile
Busy Person
Murphy was the busiest person on the
track during the five days stay The
son of Erin competed in fifteen races
and had the unusual honor of finishing
under the wire first on nine occasions.
He was second three times and fourth
and fifth once.
In the fifteen events it was necessary
for him to ride in exactly forty-one
heats Twenty-sX of these were regis
tered as wins, while he finished second
six times, third on five occasions, fourth,
fifth. sixth and seventh once. In tho
rening event on Monday he was dis
tanced In the first heat.
Murphys greatest feat was on Tues
day. when he competed in three events
and won the entire trio. He piloted
| Chestnut Peter to win in the race for
tnree-y year -olds for the Nawbeek Stock
Farm purse of $4,000, drove Ohio FIno
under the wire first in the 2:14 pace
against such star performers as Sam
Hurst. Able Bond, Game of Chance.
Flora A.. William Patch and Billy
Cochato In the final event of the day
he drove Allan Watts to victory il
the 2:l3 trot.
Won Ten Straight Heats
Another remarkable item connected
with Murphy's driving was the fact
! that he scored a run of ten straight
victories in heats. eight of which came
on Tuesday His poorest afternoons
work was turned in on Thursday when
he won but one race in four attempts.
1t has been stated that Murphy holds
| forly.Seven worlds records. including
| tie premier marks for the fastest pacing
| stallion, gelding and mare His best
q 9.
races. He has been driving great all
season and should have little difficulty
! in passing this mark this season.
Murphy Is tall and spare and it is
very seldom that he is willing to talk
about his achievements on the dirt
tracks. He is forty years of age and
has been driving since he was a young
ster fourteen years old. He owns sew
eral horses, but the majority he trains
and drives for men throughout the coun7
try.
Next to the wonderful work of MUIR
ply comes that of the veteran Pop
Geers. Geers was winner of three races
the two-year-old trot for a purse of
$1,000, the Winoga Stock Farm Stakes
of $4,000 for the 2 III trot and the special
free-tor all trot yesterday.
Other Winners
The other winners were Cox in the
2:O7 pace, Valentine in the Adephia
Hotel Stakes Ernest in the Bellevue.
Stratford Hotel event, Walker in the
ZIG trot, Shinn in the Directors Stakes
open only to local drivers. and McAllis,
ter in the three-year-old pace for the
Matron Stakes.
Geers furnished the best bit of rae
ing Of the week yesterday afternoon
bn ha l..
track in the special free-for-all trot In
the worlds record pacing time fol
stations of 2;01%. This equals the
mark established by St. Frisco last yeaI
at the Poughkeepsie. n. Y, meeting.
The meet this season, the second ever
held in this city was success from o
financial and racing viewpoint. Great
credit for this is due ID Al Saunders
who worked both night and cay to make
} the meet a success.