The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21
HORSE OWNERS.
BY w. III. Go'her.

One day John Splsn. when n q phlo-
sor hical mood, said that II required
more skill to train an owr,,r than it'le
horses on which he was ;ay'inc thu
bills. OF all drivers, Splcn was In 3
better position TO give a correct onn-
ION on horse owners than any man
fh2t ever sat in sulky, N his dav
he had all kinds from Ern simmons
to L. Y. darkness. from Jerry Mon
roe 70 General Caldwell, and from ran
Dc Noyel's 70 c. F. Emery.
As Splan was rather careless in
his business methods, esnaciaiiy DUR
ing the racing season. owners expert
enCe ccusiderabl BILE diFicu.ty in max
ing settlements with him. but II they
did nor bother him he always saw
that stthe day they had a chance 10
balance all Of their expenses nv land
Ing Il couf. at attractive odo. IL they
were VIII 9 to take a chance in the
hettire ring
AT enc lime Splan trains IN attrac-
two ma'e for an Englishmau She
vas in mis- stable for two or three
wears and he never seemed % le doing
ANYTHING with her. Finally ! was de-
c!dcd Il rlys her the grant preps ra-
tfon bur lnstea or the wo~N beginning
Ia the spring. it WITS started in Tuh*
she was ready IN September and
started al the Cleveland fall meeting
No one, however. supposed that she
would hs turned loose at that time
of year. so the wise nlca backed
what they considered the ehoics w'1',e
this good ttotter was sold for a trire
In the field. Someone had TO ~huv
them, and when she won, gplan gath
cred in enough 10 winter on AS for
~" fwner-weN, he hal the same
chance.
In order To remain on the turf
there are three things that an owner
must have. The first item IL horse
IL il il one OF the Joe Patchen o.
Il. T. c. kind. he can cut ont tn.
other two. ~ il is q f'asn or apt 10
show the white feather when pincbnd.
he must have the other two. They
Nre patience ana the means to sen.
~ the outfit Sins a cog, ard II usupliv
does II there were no toits In racin-,
there would he no thrills n all ths
JOY was in one outfit. thnre would 80
no field buyers.
While there are horse owners r.h,
believe >tha- fortune favor, the bold.
III" average man, who has been te~sh.
mill a few times. will tell YOU that tN~
gentleman with the latest information
can trim the bold boy 70 a fragile
None but children and fair naSdnns
believe that all OF the starters are on.
to win. While II would MAKE nier~v
racing. what would become of til.
helper, who never fails TO collect. the
weak kneed individual who is afraid
or mark. TO say nothing Or the man
who IL Logging ono UP for killing
at the next town. Each of these
part to play in every raca and vht1a
All of them think that they are pulling
he wool over the eyes OF the judges
they find when they Gu, loose that
they have drawn a blank.
Owners who race horses FOR the love
OF The sport. and who take good and
had fortune with smile are the men
who are a credit to the turf. Thers
are times it is true when they are
forced to mingie with those that are
Just the reverse but pubic opinion
and the strong arm of the racing off
Gals are constantly putting the lattler
on the SHELF. One day Senator Bailey
declared that 1.-The cheate~ must go.
He did not say where, however. and
after a few years experience one f.
prone to admit that he is more ant 10
drift towards the betting ring than
the gate. What he gets there is~his
own business but what he does with
1 Is another matter.