Evening star., 1950-08-10
Del Miller Wins Hon1bIetonion
Due to Late Change of Drivers
BY the Associated Press


GOSHEN, N. Y, Aug. 10.-Del
Miller, a veteran youth" of the
Grand Circuit, found the $75,209
Hambletonian Stakes on his
plate, so he just gobbled it up.
The 37-year-old driver who
halls from Meadow Lands, Pa,
just beyond the range Of Pitts
burgh's smoke, whipped Lusty
Song home to win the silver ami
versary Hambletonian yesterday
in two straight heats.
Miller, who is the fourth driver
of Lusty Song in two years. never
had an idea he'd be up in the big
brown colts sulky until 10 days
ago.
Then E. j. (Gene) Hayes, the
boss of the Hayes Fair Acres
stable, Du Quoin. ILL.,. and owner
of Lusty Song, decided to release
Trainer-Driver Roy Funderburk
and look around for another
Hambletonian driver.
Miller, who trains and drives
for w. N. Reynolds, the Winston
Salem, N. c., Tobacco tycoon, got
the job.
Miller had a f1lly, Mysteria, as
his chief Hambletonian hope, but
she didn't show enough to war
rant a starting place in the race.
Hayes obtained Reynolds permis-
sion to approach Miller, and the
Pennsylvania driver accepted.
10 Per Cent of Fat Purse.
That was a gamble worth 10
per cent of Lusty Songs $40.537
Hambletonian booty for Miller,
who never had won Americas
greatest harness horse event. In
fact, he never came close with
two Reynolds horses-Don Scott
In 1946 and Judge Moore in 194S.
But yesterday was the big day
for both Miller and Hayes. The
latter was tasting his first
Hambletonian victory in two
cracks at the three-year-old trot-
ting classic. The Hayes entry OF
Scotch Pal and Atomic Maid
finished eighth and ninth a year
ago.
Lusty Song, a son of Volomite-
Scotch Song, had been beaten
twice this year on half-mlle
tracks by Stars Pride.
So the crowd of 16,942 eStab-
lished Stars Pride and his stable
mate, Florican, the Us favorite in
the opening mile heat of the
Hambletonian. Lusty Song was
the second choice at to 5.
Miller never made mistake.
The only time he was in Lusty
Songs sulky before the race was
the final tuneup last Friday when
they did Good Time Parks mile
in 2:0225.
Workout Was Convincing.
That was enough to convince
Miller he had the horse to beat,
for the workout time was the
fastest in either a race or workout
for any sophomore trotter this
season.
In the first heat, Lord Steward
from the Milwaukee stable Of
Ralph H. Kroening. went into
the early lead. Miller watched
Lord Stewards dust past the first
quarter mile, then gave Lusty
Song the word. Lusty Song went
to the front before they hit the
half-mile marker, but Stars Pride,
with Harry Pownall driving, was
making his bid.
That was all there was to the
challenge, however, as Listy
Song came home with a length
and a half of daylight between
him and Stars Pride. Lord
Steward was third in the field of |
Is starters.
In the second heat, Vic Song,
owned by S. A. Wathen and son,
Fort Fairfield. Me-, went to the
front soon after the field got
away. But once around the first
turn, LuSty Song and Miller were
up there again.
Vic Song faded and at the hall,
Stars Pride was challenging. The
eyes of the crowd were on the pair
as they battled around the final
turn and down the stretch. Stars
Pride was travelling, and it appear
ed as if Lusty Song might break
stride. He didn't and Miller whip
ped him under the wire in cloud
of dust-a scant neck ahead of
Stars Pride. Florican was third
in the final heat.
Both heats were clipped off in