New Britain herald., 1928-07-03
RACING STARTS AT SAGE PARK TRACK
Harness Horses to Compete for First Time for SS5,ooo Purse

where for the first time on q half mile track harness horses wilt race for a 3e5,000 purse.
 This event. the Allan J. Wilson New England Derby, scheduled for the afternoon of the holiday, will have 2 field that at this distance seems certain to call for racing elim- ination heats.
 Horse racing is not sport of sure things. but with four weeks cam- paigning behind them, the Eastern candidates have. with one exception, raced themselves into long shots"
 Widow Grattan alone has stood the preliminary tests in a satisfac- tory manner, and she now rules fav- orite. Not a pronounced one, as she would be but for the really untried Grattan Bars.
 The Widow has met her relative once before. but so long ago that their single mile dash counts noth- ing in the coming race. The other starters she has defeated almost as she pleased this summer. and were Grattan bars not on hand she would be top heavy choice for the win ners' share of the rich, purse.
 Most Talked Of Pacer
 Grattan Bars comes to the Wind sor race the most talked of pacer in history. Part of his story listens like fiction, but his terrific speed Is real. He came to his present owner. Fred Thrower, a farmer living not far from London. Ont. when 16 months old along with &200 in re- turn for 10 calves which had cost Thrower $200 the Fall before.
 He made a sensational campaign over the half mile tracks in Canada last year and, naturally, attracted the attention of the ivory hunters through the winter.
 Nat Ray offered $15,o0o of his own money for him. and said when he failed to land him that he de- sired to have him more than any other horse he had ever seen. An offer of sc4.o0o has lately been re- fused for him.
 Twice he has raced in the United States, last month at Mansfield and at Sandusky, winning as he pleased. The time was not fast, judged by what our Eastern stake horses have made, but he did his work impress lively.
 Last week he was idle as regards racing but was trained with his coming mile track engagements in mind. After a mile in 2:04 1-2. Vic Fleming breezed him to the quarter in 2Sl-2 seconds. to the half in 1902 then after loafing third quarter he stepped the last quarter in 2S 1-c seconds.
 His manners at the score have been gossiped about much. but in his two Ohio starts he did nothing to cause his followers worry. How ever, in training he has at times shown lot of temper. and despite double kicking strap. which is reg ular equipment he has unseated Vic.
 Grattan Bars is untried. His test is to come. He meets this week a field which can so to the half close to a minute. and member of 1t has raced to the finish not all out in 2:04 S4. over track which no otoer horse has ever won heat faster than 2:o6S S-4. Grattan Bars will have to be every bit the horse he is thought to be if he is to win on Wednesday, provid- ed Widow Grattan holds her Cherry Park form.
 The Widow was not often men, toned as the Derby was talked of through the spring and the railbirds at Goshen, where Charley Mabrey trained her, seldom passed comment on her. She won seven races last season in IS starts. four on the Grand Circuit.
 Perhaps had she not injured 8 knee on the brick wall of stall she might have been carried in mind as likely prospect. The injury left her with stiff knee. and when Charley Mabrey advised John C.. Thompson 10 buy her. more than one trainer said TOO pad.
 Mabrey has handled her faultless- ly in training and racing, with the result that she now is held favorite for the Windsor Derby.
 Disappointed at Avon
 Kinney Direct was disappoint- ment at Avon. The Kansas City selding must be a considerably bet ter horse than he showed in his first eastern start. He had tough racing luck in being thrown after getting away at the pole. and it may be the fall took a lot out of him. He ap- peared to have some bother in get ting around the turns.
 In the third heat Parker set out in front, but he did not have foot enough to measure strides with the Widow when she came alongside. Racing luck plays very import ant part in all big races. and the larger the fields the more the win ner needs whatever aid the Goddess of Fortune disperses.
 May the breaks .be all even and the best horse win at Windsor on the holiday. It is going to be an event we'll worth witnessing and IS pretty certain to set . new record | for the Sage park course. The Derby of course overshadows all else at Windsor this week. but without this $.5.0O0 purse the meet ing should be one of the very best the New England summer circuit 1 has ever known.
 The class arrangement and the bor.oa nam cd follow.