Thousands Throng Weequahic Park and See Two World's Records
Fall
Peter Manning Establishes New Record for Three-fourths Mile — Peter
Bean Breaks Long Standing Two-mile Record to Saddle
By Paul R. Carr
NEWARK, N. J., Oct. 22. - 1927 A PERFECT October day with air crisp, but
not chill, and plenty of sunshine made Weequahic Park a glorious setting
for one of the greatest days of unadulterated sport ever seen today. Everything
combined towards the success of the Road Horse Association's Gala Day. Three
of the great racing stables of the country, the Arden Homestead Stable,
the Good Time Stable and the Hanover Shoe Stable, co¬operated with the
amateurs to produce a memor¬able day. The public showed its approval
by its attendance, the total number watching the events being variously
estimated between 25,000 and 40,000. When the first matinee racing started
at 10:30 in the morning several thou¬sands were on hand, and by 2 o'clock
they had swelled to a crowd that crammed the large grandstand and occupied
most of the space on the low hills encircling the track.
Besides the patronage of the general public, horsemen from a half dozen
states attended, and it was undoubtedly the greatest single day's get-together
for them of the year. The horses shown included several that would be
considered as the most valuable alive, including Peter Man¬ning 1:563/4,
Fireglow (2) 2:04, Guy Ozark (4) 2:021/4, Sam Williams 2:021/4, Hazleton
(4) 2:013/4, Peter Etawah 2:033/4, Nescopec (3) 2:0654, Double Cross (2)
2:073/4, Ace High (3) 2:031/4, Mazie Brooke (3) 2:111/4, Isonta (3) 2:081/4,
and Peter Bean 2:091/2.
While some of the stars were not driven fast miles two world's records
were produced dur¬ing the afternoon. Peter Manning, driven by Tom
Berry, went a terrific three-quarters to lower his own world's record
for that distance to 1:331/4. The track was not as fast as it was three
years ago when the champion went a mile here in 2:031/2 and his time was
very creditable.
The other record to fall was one of 64 years' standing—the two-mile
trotting record to saddle. Back in 1863 George M. Patchen made the dis¬tance
in 4:56, but today Peter Bean, ridden by "Bill" Young, trotted
in 4:531/4. It was a fine example of the versatility of a trotter, for
later in the day Peter competed to harness in the free-for-all trot.
The other miles at speed by Guy Ozark and Peter Etawah were simply exhibitions.
Guy Ozark did not care much for the footing but trotted a very creditable
mile alone in 2:11, with the last quarter in 311/2 seconds, driven by
Will Dickerson. Peter Etawah, accompanied by a runner and driven by Tom
Berry, his former trainer, accomplished a mile in 2:091/4. and that after
going two winning heats in a matinee event.
The four stars from the Good Time Stable— Fireglow, Hazleton, Sam
Williams and Nesco¬pec—were not shown at speed as they have
been let down, but Walter Cox jogged them around and showed the crowd
a quartet that has been racing hard all season of which every member looks
as though it had been in the pasture all summer. Both Hazleton and Sam
Williams are fat and as healthy looking as could be wished for, while
the champion Fireglow is also in splendid physical condition.
The Road Horse Association of New Jersey presented trophies to the Good
Time, Arden Homestead and Hanover Shoe Stables for their co-operation
in making the day a success. Messrs. Sheppard and Berry of the Hanover
Shoe Stable, Cane and Cox of the Good Time Stable and Mr. Dickerson representing
the Ar¬den Homestead Stable, were all called out in front of the grandstand
and publicly praised for their support by Secretary Beldon, who feelingly
referred to the generous way the professional end of harness racing has
co-operated with the amateur branch.
The matinee racing started at 10:30 in the morning and was not completed
until nearly five. There were no halts, something was doing every minute
of the time. In all 10 amateur events were raced, of which two went to
visiting horses. Besides the drafts from the Grand Circuit stables the
Road Horse Association's amateur brethren from Boston and Mineola were
represented by several starters and each of the visit¬ing clubs took
home a winner's cup.
The 2:30 class was the opening event. At first it looked as though W.
J. McDonald would take the silver flower basket home to Boston with Atlantic
Belle, but the three-year-old, Miss Otella, began trotting in the second
heat and won for H. E. Bray. Arion Maxey won the 2:24 class after a hard
battle with Baron Knight, but Dr. Bodenweiser made up for his loss of
this event by teaming Mabel Tramp to a straight-heat victory in the 2:19
class.
The first speed of the day was exhibited in the 2:12 pace, which had
four starters, repre¬senting three clubs. The winner was W. J. McDonald's
Albia Maxey, which paced two heats in 2:13 and 2:131/4 in beating Margaret
Napoleon from the Nassau Driving Club. The largest field of the day came
out in the 2:17 class, but George W. Edmonston's Sister Volo had an edge
on her field. W. J. McDonald's Miss Princess made a game try for the second
heat but broke near the wire.
Mazie Brooke, J. W. Van Buskirk's three-year-old filly, gave evidence
as to why she is the club champion for that age by winning the colt trot
from Double Cross and Isonta, two speedsters from the Hanover Shoe Farms.
In the free-for-all pace Peter Etawah, for several years the Newark club's
champion pacer, met his younger rival, the three-year-old, Ace High. The
latter, driven by his owner, M. I. Aronson, showed some flashes of speed
but made several breaks in each mile. He finished the first heat very
fast, after being well behind, but could not catch Peter, which Bert Boylan
was teaming ably.
The fastest trotting events, the free-for-all and the 2:15, closed the
program, and each pro¬vided some interesting sport. The Ripples, from
the Nassau Driving Club and owned by Dor-wood Farm of Manhasset, N. Y.,
captured the free-for-all. Guy Henry and the mare finished like a team
in the first heat, but she was a nose to the good. In the final Guy went
away badly and Woodrow L. furnished the opposition but broke in the stretch.
Will Strang won the 2:15 class with his four-year-old, Peter Hayes, which
trotted the last mile in 2:121/4, A very creditable exhibition.
The committee in charge of the affair, consisting of George T. James,
chairman, J. M. Beldon, A. R. Boylan and D. J. Knight, deserves commendation
for the way in which the affair was handled. The usual slip-ups were cut
to a minimum. The absence of Guy McKinney 2:01 was unavoidable as Guy
is still at Lexington, waiting for a good track and good weather to go
after his record. If weather permits he will be brought to Weequahic Park
within the next two weeks so that the Newarkers may see him.
Oct. 22.—2:30 Class. Prizes.
Miss Otella, rof, by J. Mal. Forbes - (Bray) 6 1 1
Atlantic Belle, by San Francisco - (McDonald) 1 3 2
Colorado I., bc, by Directum I. - (Hay) 2 2 3
Fanny Silk, bm, by Bingen Silk - (Van Blarcom) 3 4 6
Patsy Brooke, 4-5-4; Atlantic Forbes, 5-6-5.
Time—2:26, 2:241/2, 2:221/2.
2:24 Class. Prizes.
Arion Maxey, bg, by Judge Maxey - (Wade) 1 2 1
Baron Knight, by Baron Bond - (Bodenweiser) 2 1 2
Crescent Dillon, by Dillon Range - (Goldsmith) 5 3 3
Baby May, bm, by Gen. May - (Boylan) 3 7 6
Marching Peter, 4-4-7; Confidence, 7-5-4;
Proctor, 6-6-5.
Time—2:231/2, 2:201/4, 2:181/4.
2:19 Class. Prizes.
Mabel Tramp, rom, by The Tramp (Bodenweiser) 1 1
Dixie Lassie, brf, by Peter Volo (Wade) 2 2
Naebody, bg, by Etawah (Boylan) 3 3
Sheriff Stout, bg, by El Canto (Strang) 4 4
Hollyrood Alec, 5-5; Trackstar, 6-6.
Time—2:173/4, 2:221/4.
2:12 Pace. Prizes.
Albia Maxey, bm, by Judge Maxey (McDonald) 1 1
Margaret Napoleon, by Napoleon Direct (Looney) 2 2
Margaret Truckey, by Hedgewood Boy (Edmonston) 3 3
Kipling, bg, by Belwin (ReCorr) 4 4
Time—2:13, 2:131/4.
2:17 Class. Prizes.
Sister Volo, bm, by Peter Volo (Edmonston) 1 1
Miss Princess, bm, by The Exponent (McDonald) 3 2
Peter Kop, chg, by Chestnut Peter (Strang) 2 7
Marie Guy, bm, by Guy Axworthy (Smith) 4 3
Lilac, 7-4; Jim Dale, 5-6; Bonnie Sue, 8-5;
Carter Silk, 6-8.
Time—2:163/4, 2:163/4.
Three- and Four-year-old Trot. Prizes.
Mazie Brooke, by Justice Brooke (Van Buskirk) 1 1
Double Cross, bm, by Dillon Volo (Berry) 2 2
Isonta, bf, by Dillon Axworthy (Wise) 3 3
Time—2:201/2, 2:143/4.
Free-for-all Pace, Prizes,
Peter Etawah, bg, by Etawah (Boylan) 1 1
Ace High, bg, by Peter Volo (Aronson) 2 2
Time—2:101/2, 2:10.
Free-for-all Trot. Prizes.
The Ripples, rom, by Peter the Great (Robley) 1 1
Woodrow L., blg, by Wilbur Lou (ReCorr) 3 2
Guy Henry, bg, by Guy Axworthy (Strang) 2 5
Maryland Girl, chm, by Peter Hamlin (Kennedy) 5 3
Peter Bean, bg, by Peter Montgomery (Bray) 4 4
Time—2:123/4, 2:151/2.
2:15 Class. Prizes,
Peter Hayes, bg, by Chestnut Peter (Strang) 1 1
Myra Guy, bm, by Guy Axworthy (Morris) 2 2
Colorado Brooke, bg, by Justice Brooke (Hay) 7 3
Duet, bg, by Etawah (Rawson) 3 7
Dewey the Great, 5-4; Victory Loan, 4-5;
Hollyrood Mac, 6-6.
Time—2:151/4, 2:121/4.
To Beat 1:333/4, Trotting, (3/4-mile.)
Peter Manning, bg, by Azoff (Berry) Wort
Time 1/4 1/2 3/4
:30l/2 1:02 1:331/4
To Beat 4:56, Trotting to Saddle. (2 miles.)
Peter Bean, bg, by Peter Montgomery (Young) 4:531/4
Exhibition Mile, Trotting. Guy Ozark, bg,
by Guy Axworthy (Dickerson) 2:11
Exhibition Mile, Pacing,
Peter Etawah, bg, by Etawah (Berry) 2:091//4
PETER BEAN 2:091/2
The new holder of the world's record for two miles under saddle, as he
appeared in action at Weequahic Park, Newark, N. J., Saturday last.
