The sun., 1919-09-21
Young Reinsman and Veteran
Have Engaged in Many
Thrilling Sulky Duels.
sIDELIGHTS ON DRIVERS
History Is Being Made on
Grand Circuit This Year,
Says Gocher.
by w. II. GOCHER.

man. Lyman Brusie with the Brook
Farm gelding Mr.. Dudley, and the vet
sran SPop" Geers behind. Dudette, whose
sire. Etawah and dam, Dude Archdale,
vsre In their day the brightest stars In
his racing stable. While at the first i've
meetings Henry Thomas defeated both
~ them with Natalie the Great, they
finally came through In front of the
eastern loop. Mr.. Dudley won at Phila-
delphia and Dudette at Hartford after
she defeated the great Miss Morris at
Boston.
m these races the skill of the older
relnsman was frequently Offset by the
dash and zip of the little Yankee. Fear
less and with a light hand. Brusie sends
his mounts away from the wire on the
high gear and keeps them going until
they win or run down. At the July
meeting at Cleveland Lyman made the
whole country sit up when he won the
half mile dash for two-year-olds with
Mr.. Dudley in ;o2N. This was flying
and the clip was continued at Kalamazoo
the following week, when Echo Direct
won in 2:07A, edualling the four-year-
old record for geldings made by Uhlan
In 1908.
Al Syracuse Echo Direct gave this
mark another rap when he won a third
heat in 2 :O5A to sulky with wrecked
wheel. A little thing like that. how
ever, did not disturb Lyman Brusie
The first time l saw him in a race he
was driving the PAGER Rhoda Ashbourne
over the half mile track at Windsor
Conn. Some one bumped into him and
crushed n wheel. In order to keep going
he climbed out on the opposite shaft
and almost won the heat.
This young man is destined to make a
mark as reinsman. There are but five
letters in his alphabet They are
h, o, r. $, e. On account of this he has
limited vocabulary and is minus the
gift of CAB" which has made his father
conspicuous ,on the New England race
tracks and banquet halls. He will never
miss It, however. as a driver frequently
says more in minute than he can take
back in a week.
Geers 90 Years Young.
Geers. now in his sixty-ninth year, is
making his forty-third trip over the
Northern tracks. His first victory in
the East was won over Fleetwood Park,
y. Y, in 1877, when he defeated Sir
Walter, whose son, Sir Walter. Jr.. sired
the dam of Uhlan, :5s, and Hogarth
with Alice West.
AT this track in 1892, when in the en-
piOs VI \" .betTS also secured
the best horse he ever drew rein over
Ina three horse race Geers won two heats
with Glendennis before Champ Brown
showed in front with a little knee sprung
gelding. Brown also won the fourth
heat, after which Glendennis died of the
humps. While Geers was looking at
him c. ]. Hamlin made a remark about
the race and Geers suggested that he
go and buy the little gelding while he
buried his PAGER. Hamlin followed. his
advice. The horse was Robert J. He
reduced the worlds record to 2 :01 y /.
and Geers said that he combined the
elements of extreme speed, gameness,
endurance and gentleness in a degree
second to no horse he ever saw.
In his day Edward Franklin Geers
has raced more phenomenal horses than
any man who ever sat in a sulky with
the exception of Charles Marvin, who
at one time held all the worlds records
for trotters. This remarkable reins-
mans group runs in the pacing world
from Brown Hal, Hal Pointer and Star
Pointer to Direct Hal, Heir at Law, Ma
poleon Direct and Goldie Todd, while his
trotters include ST. Frisco. The Harvest
er, Dude Archdale. Anvil, The Abbott,
with which he cut the worlds record to
2:o3h Lord Derby, Nightingale, Eta
wah and Molly Knight.
When Geers was racing Star Pointer
every one expected to see him start the
two minute list. c. ]. Hamlin. however.
refused to buy him in the spring OF
1885,. The horse was purchased by Bos-
ton parties. They turned him over to
Dave McClary, who drove him in / :5sA
at Readville on August %, 1897, after
he became the property of James MUIR
ply Other drivers dropped horses into
the two minute list. but Geers always
fell shy of the mark until Napoleon d.
rect won at Columbus, August IS. 1916,
IN 59se, while last year he also rode
two miles below even time at Toledo
when he defeated Miss Harris NJ. with
single G. in the fastest three heat race
on record.
Heart stiiI Young.
After his varied turf experiences, dur
ing which he has met all sorts and con-
ditions Of men, Geers is still as diffident
as boy. Except among those with
whom he is well acquainted. he has but
httle to say. but once the reserve is
broken througtfSthe visitor finds a pleas
ant Southern gentleman, familiar with
every detail OF, his business and replete
Nlth Information that is as reliable as
Il is entertaining.
striking example of his thoughtful
ness for others was seen after his acct
ueht az Syracuse. When taken from the
New York State Fair grounds Geers was
unconscious As soon as he came to the
nrst question that he asked was whether
Lon Mcdonald was injured. Mcdonald
was driving Zomidotte, He took her
pack little on the turn. Heglar was
Dehind her and his foot caught In Nc
Donald's sulky. After being dragged
Tor - couple OF strides Heglar fell and
Geers was throwp out.
deers never makes pets of bis horses
ms business is to train and race them
Atter familiarizing himself with all OF
nelr peculiarities he moulds them to
ooey orders and race from behind II
pupil shows a rebelious spirit II will
hot De long before he learns who is in
command.
hal Pointer. of which he was prouder
man any horse he ever raced, tried to
make a roughhouse at Cleveland one
usy nut after Geers whisked him with
ue whip a few times the gallant geldins
was willing TO admit that the man in
me Hulky had the best of II. st. Frisco
vas also another favorite, but last Deco
fsuon Day when Ben Walker and Rober-
Neu laid a wreath OF wild flowers or
mat good trotter's grave at Billing,
rark Geers sat on bench and smoked
inc King of his stable was dead. He
vas looking for another.
". ]. Andrews career on the mile
racks dates from 1890, when he wor
me Charter Oak purse with Prince Re.
Heht. He was by Mambrino King out
vi Estaoella, and possessed every quail
IVY that goes with a racehorse. II,
mad speed, class racing manners ant
sho1rance. His early death. as wei