The New York herald., 1921-04-10
TR0TTER'S VIGOR
IN A NOVEL TEST
OF HORSE RACING
Can Lucille Bingen Now En-
dure Long Campaign of
Heat Racing?
CASE Is tTNEXAMPLED
No Precedent i'm Turf History
for Mother Of Four F0als
to Race Again.
BY q. CHAPLIN.

BY q. CHAPLIN.
century of harness racing under
the three-in-fve heats system has re-
suited in so many striking demonstra-
tions Of the superior hardness and en-
durance OF the American trotting horse
that 1t would seem as il no new feat
could be found but the proposed cam
paign of the ten-year-old broou marc
Lucille Bngcn. 2:0sa.. in 1921, win
afford test of vitality and vigor here
tofore unknown in horse racing, whether
trotting or running
Bred by ex-senator J. w. Bailey of
Texas. the daughter OF Eingen. > :G6 V,
and Lucille NARROW, :09h, was lightly
trained as n two-year-old. taking
record of :16ai against time. She was
then purchased by e. X q. Billings for
his CurIes Neck Stud, in Virginia. but
beforD being put to breeding she was
further developed as a. thres-year-old
until she lowered her record to :0sia
At four she was mated with The Har-
vester, . :0l. and in 1915 produced the
bay Ally Harvest Dream. that earned
record of .22A as q year-old. In
the following year she gave birth to
another filiy by the same sire that was
named Lucille Harvester, and that last
season defeated the great Emma Har-
vester in a race at PoughkeepSfes
Grand Circuit meeting. taking a record
or 2.0SH as a three-year-old In 1913
Lucille Bingen produced her third ioaI,
the PAGER Harvest. Moon, that made
record OF . IA as a two-year-old last
season In the meantime the mare had
been purchased at Mr. Billingss dis
persal sale by James Smell Of Lexington,
Ky. who bred her to the champion trot-
ting stallion Lee Axworthy, 5S ~ and
In 1919 she produced her fourth foai.
Pnt fn Training AEnin.
When she had weaned this colt Mr..
Smell decided to withdraw her from the
stud and put her in training again. As
early as last July THE NEW YORK
HERALD reported her first fast work--a
mile In 2.0S%, with the last half in
1:01A and the last quarter in 0 O:2SM.
After this wonderful display of speed
her owner sent her to Walter Cox. who
drove her a mile in 2 :06 at Columbus
the first time he asked her to go along.
This was in September. Eighteen uays
later on October s, she started against
time at Lexington and made her record
or 2 .0334, going to the three-quarters IN
/ 30h-better than a 01 gait--ac-
cording to the official time. One week
later she started in the first and only
race she has ever trotted, the Ashland
Purse for horses Of the 2:11 class.
Peter Manning, who had just won the
fastest three-heat race on record, IN
2:03. .02M and 2 :02 ". was among her
competitors. and he defeated her, but
she forced him out in :04A, :03& and
2 .04A, finishing second in each heat
her own time being 2:04M, 2:O4 and
2:04ia.
Never has any othe. trotter put in
three such heats at the first start in
rf.txa 1II .tcrvan Ia ia
have done so can be counted on the fin
gers OF one hand. Mr.. Smell at once
began to receive tempting offers for mis-
rcjuvenated broodmare. but he refused
them ALL fixing her price at S25.O0O. In
February Lyman Brusie, trainer for the
New York bank president who races in
the name OF Brook Farm, went to Lex
ington and bought the mare, paying. IL
is understood. substantially what Mr.
Smell asked for her.
Lucille Bingen has been entered in the
early closing races for both IL trot-
ters and :OS trotters at the opening
meeting Of the Grand Circuit in Cleve-
land. and Is being nominated In ALL the
big races down the line. where she will
have to meet such formidable young
competitors as jeanette Rankin. :06 u
Greyworthy. 206; Bill Shsren. I'll y
CALI Curci. :o3a, and others like
them.
Horsemcn's Opinions Differ.
Can she, at her age, and after having
given birth to four foals. stand the
strain of heat racing at extreme speed
week after week? That is a question
which horsemen are discussing with
animation just now. and the answer win
be awaited with the keenest interest BY
breeders, trainers and turfmen every
where. There are many who believe
that Lucille Bingen's vitality must have
been sappcd by the repeated ordeal Of
maternity. which ordinarily makes all
animals quickly grow old in appearance.
and that she cannot now endure the
strain OF continued campaigning. 9th
crs, however, point to the remarkable
display OF speed and stamina at Lexing-
ton, and express the belief that she viii
race quite as we'll this year as if she
had gone on from her three-year-old
form without producing any foals.
There Is no precedent by which to
judge OF the future Of Lucille Bingen. 4
ten-year-old mare that is the dam OF
four colts. and yet there are several fast
records In the annals OF harness racine.
made by mares that had prev iously pro-
duced one foal. Hulda, :0Sia a great
trotter OF thirty years ago, Us credited
with one OF them. Her speed was me-
teoric and her stamina seemingly un-
impaired. but In two memorable races
she suddenly collapsed. The great pac-
ing mare. Lady Maud G.. 00i5 made
her fast record after having produced
foal. and she was q campaigicr OF
the first order for several years.
Perhaps the most reassurlng case on
record for those who believe Lucille
Ringen viii not lack vitality for her
coming campaign IL that Of the bay pac-
ing marc Queen Abbess, :03h. now
owned by Charles Weiland Of New York.
She too Was 4 brood mare az Curles
Neck Farm and produced two foalg be-
fore coming into hcr present owners
hands. Yet SHE came back to win
her last four races last season and be
beaten scant head IN :06 q on a half
~~i:- track. Although sine Is one year
elder than Lucille Bngen Mr.. Weiland
expects her TO beat her record next
season.
Among thoroughbred race horses
Mother Brown was ono ~ the few ever
trained after having produced foal.
81 years old. after foalIng she ran
aud Won four races, including = King q
Plate at four miles. This mare lived
20 years ago and was about 80 years
old when she had her last foal
START FOOTBALL PRACTICE.