Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15

jog" instructed the trainer, then let
her down to forty eight"
The boy nodded and cantered away
while the two men moved to the rail,
watch IN hand. Intently they studied
a drab blur moving swiftly around
to the half-nile post, where the
mares stride suddenly heightened.
Mckee's thumb pressed the stem OF
his watch.
A little later when the mare flashed
past them her riders elbows were
crooked back ard his hands drawn
we'll toward the body Mckee glanced
at his timepiece and closed the lid
with a satisfied click.
Under double wraps he observed
quietly. land a hurdre d-ard-twenty
ave-pound boy"
Pennington's eyes glittered. Sandy,
It's a miracle. Two or three races
and she'll be IN form"
Mckee frowned. She's ready now.
and she runs but one race"
The Pennington handicap"
i The trainer nodded. i've entered
her already.
Tod Pennington smiled sadly
SANDY. you're overplaying your hand,
There are three horses here that can
beat the mare at her best and they'll
all start"
Yes" Mckee agreed, they'll star,
and lot OF others. but it will be q
two-horse race"
"One horse" corrected Pennington
st Ivan-the greatest stretch run.
! ner in. America: mile and a quartz,
| in zoe is seconds. Who can beat
him."
! Sandy Mckee'g pale eyes warmed tc
tanat!cal fervor. My III OF rec
stockings" he exclaimed, fercely
that's who'll beat him. That's Who'll
win the Pennington handicap. They've
never beaten the Pennington colors
| in that race, and they never will. The
handicap's ours."
| ton.
Better than that" Mckee told him
| she's down for 121 pounds. the old
weight, and she'll run in bandages
Lord valor's heart and True Blues
| speed: 40 to 1, and a two-horse race"
"Ah" breathed Pennington, 81 never
| thought I'd be back at the old game
Ten thousand to the winner, and ~
to 1!'
"The old place is for sale Mckee
interjected at wouldn't take much
to At 1t up as a stock farm. There's
Lady COURAGEOUS"
You old fox" laughed Tod Pen
nington. you'd like to see me keep
I'D the family tradition, wouldn't you?
Darned IL you haven't got me going,
too! Saturday? You're on! The old
wheel of fortune, eh. Sandy? Well,
wen give 1t one more spin"
The Friday evening sporting extras
and the overnight entry sheets were
singularly alike in their tips on the
Pennington handicap. st. Ivan was
the unanimous selection, despite his
top weight of 1913 pounds. Friar John
was given the second choice, and the
Harbridge entry, third Concerning
Lady Courageous the comment was
also uniform:
Been working fast, but first time
! out in a year. Legs doubtful"
| Late that night a Waterman patrol
| ing the darkened stables stopped to
listen to a voice that sounded melan'
choIy chant from a distant stall:
| Wrap me up In my old stable jacket.
Put q slab ut my head and my toe.
| And get you 8 penknife and scratch there:
| Here lies q poor duYer below.
I y r u X
i-HE morning ushered in gray clouds
| i scudding over a track that was
lightning fast Tod Pennington
showed up early In the afternoon with
four trusted agents. He sought ou'
Sandy Mckee.
I'm heeled, Sandy: you and arr
iafty-fifty II the little mare comes home
| in front"
| The trainer shook his head. ''The
| purse is enough for me; that and thu
Lady. You'll need everything you car
make to get the farm back and rebuild
the stable"
| "Fifty-ffty,' insisted Tod Penning
| ton; we're partners no matter wha'
happens"
The frst states on tho miie-and-a
quarter Pennington handicap. with 9
field Of eight starters. gave prices or
st. Ivan at evea money, with Lady
Courageous chalked up at 25 to l, bu'
almost Immediately the former was
cut down to 4 to 5 and then to un'
der the pressure of public choice
! When the odds on the Mckee entry
had heightened to 40 to /. Tod Pen
nington and his quartet Of commits
sioners hit the betting ring from fiv'
/ points Of vantage.
The mares former owner was reccg
nised 1t the third 6oek by Zig Jake
/ Grha afAr In answer to the laSoer'.