Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-18
AT THE RACES

When the photo sign lighted
up on the Bowie infield boarc
after the Abrah a m Lincoln
Stakes on opening day, there
was one quiet, small man in the
crowd who outwardly showed
little emotion, but inside wa:
hurting.
He didn't need the photo tc
tell him that his horse had just
dropped tough one by head
right on the wire.
The man was kindly Trainer
Elmer Trueman and the horse
was Kinda Smart. The pair hac
spent some long. cold hours al
Bowie this winter working to-
gether for this new $4,000
Bowie stakes and Elmer wanted
to win this one for Mrs. Ella
Bryson. who owns the 5-year-olc
Splinter.
There was nothing like re-
sentiment in Trueman's heart
about Weeper Bays victory MOI
against 26-year-old Trainer BOZ
Brown. who was taking the ap-
plause for the upset victory. Ell
mer has been around too long to
let one race get him down.
Just before the race. Jockey
Dave German. who was sched-
uled to ride Kinda Smart, COM
planned of a sick stomach and
cancelled the rest of his days
mounts. Although Trueman said
little about it. he seemed sure
that the substitute rider, Joe
Regalbrito. had muffed his in
Structions and had taken Kinda
Smart to the lead too soon.
The veteran trainer merely
added the experience to a grow
ing list in his memory of how
races can be lost.
~ \
You don't learn to roll with
the punches that race track life
dishes out in a week or two,
but more than a half century
on the turf has a way of sea-
soning a man.
1t was back in the spring of
1904 that a skinny, 15-year-old
Elmer Trueman appeared at the
Woodbine track in Toronto try
ing to get a job. any kind as
long as it was around horses.
After being turned down re-
peatedly, one trainer. w. B.
Freeman. finally showed some
interest.
Elmer relates that while he
was being questioned by Free
man, the trainer sent some
money from the barn to bet on
a horse. The trainer rubbed
Elmer's head and, when the
horse won. said: Kid, you're
lucky, you've got a job"
One Of the qualifying ques-
tons asked Trueman was about
the size Of his shoes. The answer
was size 3 and this helped him
land the job because boys with
big feet invariably pick UP
weight fast.
Trueman'S first assignment,
taken against his parents wishes,
carried him to Dallas. Tex.
where he was soon breaking
broncos and learning to ride.
Old-time Washinetonians with
long memories might recall
Jockey E. Trueman at the long
defunct Benning track.
-
Elmer can't remember the
horse nor the name of the race
but he recalls winning a stakes
at Benning in 1908. He remem-
beers 1t being a mile race over
what was known as the Columbia
Course, which led over a small
bridge.
Another highlight in True
mans riding career took place in
Shreveport, La, where he rode
a horse named Cadillac to FIVE
straight victories in FIVE days
There's something Of a record for
Bill Hartack to think about.
Elmer's size three shoes proved
to be an inaccurate gauge OF his
weight potential and. from a 78-
pound start, he grew too heavy
TO ride by 1910 and turned to
training.
In 1912. Trueman turned up
at Louisville with a running mare
named Flamma and entered her
In the Kentucky Derby
'Ehey did0l' make as much