New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
Thousand TrOts
And Pace Races
On 1919 List
Rig Boom Seen i'm Harness
Events as Result of Wars
Close
BY Frank S. Cooke

associations IN the United States and
Canada indicate that there will be in
the neighborhood Of 1900 trotting and
pacing meetings this year, which will
be up around the record. During the
last two years 1915 meetings have
been held, 1913, with $50, being the
leanest season in long while.
While the war had a tendency to
curtal racing in some localities, the
big influence which cut off many meet
ings last year was the epidemic of in
fuenza, which led to the declaring off
of fairs and meetings everywhere on
the continent after the middle of Sep
tember.
OF the meetings held last year fifty
nine were on the mile tracks, and OF
these thirtythree were regular races.
In all there were 5,S42 races, in which
1855 horses took part. The mile tracks
paid out S619,951.33 and the half-mile
tracks S1,S4S,251.77, a total Of $2,468.-
203l0, which is about half a million
dollars less than the year before and
this is accounted for by the September
rains and the fatal malady which
for amusements.
Some Liberal Programmes
Programmes announced for 1919 are
rs liberal as in any other year, es-
pecially in the instance of the half
mile tracks, where many $1,000 and
$4,000 events will be raced. The tend
ency on the grand circuit tracks ap-
pears TO be to cut down the size of
bo I.
early closing or stake events. Cleve-
land has stuck to the $1,000 mark for
the Ohio Stakes, but Kalamazoo has
cut the Paper Mills from $4,000 to
$4,000, and Toledo has brought the
Fort Miami from $4,000 to the same
figure. Now comes Columbus with the
S. and S., the feature of the August
meeting, at the $4,000 mark.
1t is almost certain that a $4,000
event will attract larger entry than
one OF the old-fashioned $4,000
beauties for the ante will be $3.50
against $500, and this will let in lot
Of small fry that could not reach the
former fee. 1t should make the racing
just that much better.
Always of interest are the doings Of
Tom Murphy, than whom there is no
more skilful trainer and driver any
where, which Ia borne out by Murphy's
habit of being at the top of the list
OF money winners among the mile
track artists. His stable at POUCH
keepsie has undergone a number of
changes since last season. several of
his 1918 herd having been sold or pass
ing from his control, while their stalls
now are filled with new talent, selected
after careful investigation from vari-
Gus parts of the country.
Murphy Recruits in West
The West has contributed four trot-
tiers and one PAGER to the Murphy
string for this year. These are Ruby
Aubrey. 2;13A. and the PAGER Direct
{. Burnett, 2:07A, whose careers have
been reviewed in these columns, and
the trotters Joe l., Mariondale and
Dr.. Nick.
Joe l.. was picked up at the Dean
farm near Chicago for stiff price,
having been owned by one of Deans
assistants and bought on the recon-
mendation of that clever horseman. AS
a colt Joe l.. did nothing to convince
Dean that ne was worth the SOS he
cost as a yearling, but Louis Lindrew,
one OF his assistants, liked him, so
Dean sold out.
Makes Slow Progress
Lindrew drove the colt on the road
and started to train him as three
year-old in 1917 He did not make
much progress, and just as his owner
was ready to send him to the discard
he began to step, then went out and
raced valiantly, following it last year
by record Of 2:15A Joe L. is by
AzoF and out of Maud Pilot, 2:17A
that was member of the Castle
stable
Mariondale, 2:1oA. is by Archdale,
and came out in 1917 as a three-year-
old, taking half mile track record Of
2:l5A, and knocking five seconds off
1t last year, but failing to land the
race in which he made best time, so
he is eligible to the 2:17 class. He
beat 2:lZ in race on the half-mile
track at Burlington, Iowa.
DR.. Nick is by DR.. Igo and has q
three year-old record Of 2:13h. He
was brought out by Fred Parks, a
negro trainer, who developed Sadie
5. and others, and in Nebraska they
pick him for a good prospect.
Sixty-one races in the last three
years is the record Of the little West
ern PAGER, Dude Highwood, 2:O5A,
and from the way he finished his last
campaign he promises to make just as
much trouble this year. After taking
part IN twenty-nine races in 1917 he
came out last spring and started by
winning at Omaha in June, following
this with victories at Lincoln, Aurora
and West Point, Neb.; Marshall, Mo-
betley and Sedalia, Mo-; doubling back
to Lincoln, then up to Huron, S. D..
and back to Nelson, Neb.; Poplar Bluff
Kenneth and Charlottesville, Mo. His
record was made at Sedalia, the only
mile track he tackled.
Clarence Cole, of indianapolis, who
has brought out some good ones, re-
Gently bought the PAGER Junglewood,
2:l4A, by Hedgcwood Boy, 2:0l. Last
year Junglewood won five Of nine
starts, and on the half-mle track at
South Bend was separately timed in
2:0oh last half In 1:03A. It is more
than likely that she will be seen in
the great Western circuit this year
and perhaps hit the big line on the re-
turn Of the stables from the East.
Evidently the matinee game will
nave big. year at Pittsburgh. where
members Of the two amateur clubs own
a lot OF high-class stuff. During the
winter the gentlemen" jockeys have
picked I'D these record horses from the
auctions and others at private sales:
IRA e., 2:o6A; Helen Stiles, 2:o6N !;
!odd Temple. 2:09h; Bovolo, 2:12% !;
a. X. g., 2:l3A; Belgian, 2:14A; Lord
Jack Custer, RITZ.
:. George ID. Sherman, of Port Henry,
y. {, whose breeding and racing op-
erations extend over period OF years,
~ again patron Of Lon Mcdonald,
VINO some while back, raced Frank
,"1ison, 2:osH; Sadie Mac, 2:o6A :;
aary D., 2:i0k. and other good onea