New-York tribune., 1922-01-22
Term Ice TrOts
A kindergarten
ForChampions
Toronto Racing ON Ice
Is Closely Observed by
HOrsemcn Generally
By Frank S. Cooke

track at Mount Clemens, is closely
watched by horscmen generally be-
cause 1t serves as Kindergarten for
future champions. While the sport
during the two meetings at Toronto
was about the hest ever seen at Duff
ferin Park, the fact remains that moth
ing sensational developed. The horses
raced hard and often, but none among
the winners seems to stand out as did
Roy Grattan, Louis Grattan, Eel Di-
rect, Jimmy McKerron and The Eel in
their years. 1t appears to be up to the
Mount Clemens meeting to show up the
real bcar-cat, which lends more than
ordinary interest to the affairs of this
week
IT racing conditions are good at the
Bath City oval there will be plenty Of
speed uncorked, for some of the horses
that nave been in training there since
last fall have pulled OFF notable stunts
and arc believed to have the ncccs-
sary lick to repeI the invaders from
the other side Of the river
In all, eleven horses won fourteen
races at Toronto. Three Of them re-
peatcd, the trotter Locta and the pac-
crs Jim Todd Jr. and Helen patchen.
OtherS that won one race are Bella
Watts, Billy Bishop, Esta g.. May Go,
Katie Hal. Bland j., Belan. Banjo ard
Robert Direct. The most discussed
mile was by the now four-ycar-old
Robert Direct, for which Nat Ray paid
a fancy price.
Robert Direct PAGES Well
This youngstcr certainly is handy on
any kind of track, and in him RAY
may have another with which he can
top the money winning PAGERS on the
big line, as he did with Jimmy McKer-
ron last year Robert Direct paced his
! best heat in 2:14h. the fastest mile
at Toronto having been in 2:13tz. bv
Katie Hal. Billy Bishop went in 2:l5
and Esta G. in 2:15h.
at the recent meeting of the Michis
gan Fairs Ass ociaton the head of the
agricultural commission launched an
attack on "fxcd races" Of which he
hlnted there were too many. What
with the refusal of rules committees to
JON hands and the scant Improvement
IN plans for attracting the general
pubic to the average track, the trot-
t'ng sport is marvel for endurance.
but this claim of fixed races is too
much.
Taken all the way through the sport
IS TAR. If it were crooked there would
be moro men connected with it lin
CLING gold coins in their jeans. Fixed
races was habit in the long ago. but
1T passed with the high wheeled sulky
and the gradual dissolution of the old
guard. Races that are trotted the
night before are rarity; in fact, none
can be recalled by the writer, who has
seen about as many as the next fellow.
Fixed Race?
This agitation, which fell flat when
the fair managers had their saw. recalls
the story Of a fixed race that did not
stay fixed. 1t was in the old days of the
Iienvllle track at Cleveland, and was
told by the late George w. Voorhs.
leading driver at that time. They fixed
one all right and bet their money, but
they left out of consideration younr
man named John Splan, who was start
ing horse called Nobby, if memory
serves we'll.
Wnen they got away Splan took the
track and nobody could get to him. The
night before Voorhis and General Tur-
ner mad made side bet of $50 as to
which would stand highest in the sum-
mary. Voorhls was picked to go after
opian IN the second heat, but he could
not reach. Turner accepted the task in
.ne 'hird and saw at the end of the far
turn that he could not catch Splan, so |
ne snatched his horse to a gallop
ana ran into him. Turner was un-
seated, bounded on the other horse
ana fell inside, escaping with a ioltinp
Splan won, of course.
mat night Voorhis reminded Turner
that no owed him $50. ooh no.
George" replied the General 81 dc,
SIared S that off when l was riding on
Grand Circuit Unset
Inability of the rules committees of
inc two parent associations to get to-
gether puts the Recommendations of
the Gfand Circuit up in the air for the
time being. However, the bio limo
tracks are their own bosses and most
OF their racing will be the best two
OUT OF three heats. Some of the half
mlIers WILL follow this style and if the
Iule makers 90 decide to penalize all
races the two in three will become gcn-
orally adopted. Some of the halfmil
ers Will cling to the antiquated three
IN hve, which tires out horses and spec
tators and benefits only those who see
racing simply as a means of BACKING
their judgment.
The Kentucky Trotting Horse Breed
ers. . Association will celebrate it's
NJ nitieth anniversary this year, so that
w an"ual meetlng at Lexington.
starting on October 2, promises to
yotaries of the sport grand jubilee.
lexington is the greatest Of ali meet
lngs and this year President Upton is
expected to do something his customs
ers never will forget van
Durlng 1921 about $11,2So,ooO was
paid out in purses to runners, trottcrs
and PAGERS in the United States and
Canada. In five months the harness
horses raced for $4,O00,O0O and in
twelve tVs months the thoroughbreds for
81 ,2Si 1853: which is very creditable
showing for the sport of the sulky.
Rutherford Hiph School