The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-10
ATIRRIN,
= the DOPE
uIHHNHHHuHlnHlHHIHHIHNIuIIHIINlEIInIHnIuHHHaH
By vEDDER GARD

k-~---4 dA . WILLIE W IlJs NSthJ
persons have asked just what is
meant by 2:1S trot-or any 9th
err such classification. On the sur
face it appears that horses entered
in 2:1S trot have never made any
better time. But it is not that
easy.
There is a qualification which
alters the case. A horse which is
. entered in an early closing event
can 60 just as fast as it'likes AFT
Z ER entering and still be eligible
for the slower race< The horse is
rated according to its best time in
a winning race BEFORE entering
the event. 1t does not matter what
it does afterward.
After the horse has made a
certain mark it cannot enter a
slower classification event. In
Thursdays program at the fair
Sayde Worthy, the mare which
won the Governor purse, a 2:1S
trot, in reality has gone much
faster than that this year.
But at the time the entries
closed Sadye Worthy had not
made better time than 2:1S. There
2 fore she was eligible for the 2:1S
class.
If the mare was to be entered
in a race tomorrow she could not
compete in the 2;1S class. Next
year in the early closing events
she will be eligible in much fast
err class-regulated by her best
time made this season in a "win-
race"-the word used by horsemen.
There is another phase of the
eligibility question. AutOmat-
ically a horses time is raised two
seconds each year in which it
does not make any better mark.
If a horse has a mark of 2:10 at
the start of 1929 and never bet
tiers that mark, in 1927 it is in
the 2:12 class. Only six seconds
can be added i'm this manner.
4, All marks must be made in ac-
tual competition in which the
horse wins the race. One fast
heat does not alter a horses rating
unles the horse also wins the race.
This may all be as clear as mud.
But a careful reading may make
things a bit more lucid and add
interest to the harness horse
summaries.
TIT may be interesting to
know that Indianapolis is
0 considered the best harness
race city in the United States.
Those who follow the Grand Cir
cult say there is more interest here,
more enthusiasm than anywhere
else.
The second city in this regard
probably could not be guessed. 1t
is Atlanta, Ga. They like their
PAGERS and trotters down there.
Just why? Don't ask us.
The playground track surprised
The horsemen Thursday by the
papidity with which it dried out.
1t really was remarkable that
racing was possible in the after
noon after the terrific down.
pour of Wednesday night.
GN7OME famous names are con-
10 nected with the harness
IL races. e. Roland Harr1-
man, son of the former million
aire railroad king, is the owner
of the Arden Homestead stable of
Goshen, N. Y. The Calumet stock
farm of Lexington, N. Y, is the
hobby of w. M. Wright, the origi-
nal Calumet baking powder manu-
facturer.
Wright is well up In the seven
ties now, but still takes an active
interest in racing, and was in In
dianapolis. this week. 1t is said
that he has spent 100000 in de-
veloping the Kentucky breeding
farm.
Coca-Cola is represented by Wal
ter T. Gambler, son of Asa Gambler,
of Atlanta, Ga. Several of his
horses are at the State Playground.
Gamblers stock farm is at Inns
burg, Ind, near Charlottesville.
"1HERE has been some fine
racing at the Indiana State
- Fair during the past week,
and there has been some not so
good. A lack of entries in some
events has detracted somewhat
from the interest.
This latter situation has been
caused by rival attraction-the
Michigan State Fair at Detroit.
All the horses which raced at
Syracuse last week did not come
here. The fact of the matter is, ,
that nearly half of them went to
Detroit, including Guy McKin-
ney, the winner of the $4,000
Hambletonian Stake.
The Michigan meeting is not a
Grand Circuit affair. Usually the
Circuit owners and drivers stick
to the "big time" in preference
to other meetings.
But personal element entered
Into the situation this time. The
Michigan State Fair this year had
a new race manager, undoubtedly
one Of the most popular men con-
nected with the harness game.
Walter Palmer, whose official
title is director Of exhibits, was
largely instrumental in taking
many OF the good ones to Detroit.
He used to be a driver himself.
He has host of friends among
the horsemen an6 the fact that he
was in charge of things no doubt
Influenced many Of his acquaint-
nnces to ship to Detroit. Z