DECEMBER 27. 1941

DOWN .

nTHE-

BACK STRETCH

We acknowledge with pleasure a Christmas greeting from our very good friend, E. leRct Willis, West- mld, NB. IVLr. Willis is well over {our score years but is an annual visitor to our races and Provinc- ial Ebdrtbltion. Ftorty years ago and further back, he was one 0f the leading harness horse owners of the Maritimes and also owned hotels in St. John and Sydney, N. 5, Among the horses he raced with great success was Special Blend, s. son of the noted Prince Edlwa Island trottcr Black Pilot 2.50 1-4. made his debut at the Maritime colt stakes October. 1893. where he won against. such horses as Israel. stranger and C.P.R.. It was the late sit-Mayor P. S. Brown who drove htm the final and winning nest, The next day he was purchas- ed by Mr. Willzs, for $700 and later on he beat Arclight and Ram art, Jr,, at St. John. and won the ree- gopail st Charlottetown.

For years he held the track ne- cord at Charlottetown of 2.19 1-4. In a winning race tn Ma"ne he reduced his mark to 2.18 1-4, Mr. willis had him on exhibition at his hotel in St. John on several occasions. Originally the nrme of the horse had been Pilot Jr, but when Mr. Willis purchased him he paid the required rmcunt t)‘ tlhe National Trottzng A°S€Clt1tlCI1 to have his namc offidally changed to special Blend. Among other track records which he held‘ was the Halifax trotting record,

An Island horseman who fs mak- ing good in the race game in Que- brc and Ontario is Louis Prought of Cherry Valley. bro-tthcr of Leo Pranght. Louis shook the dust of the Island soil from his shoes about tertregears ago and has trained and ra horses throughout New Eng- land, Quebec and Ontario since. He is a cod fitter, trainer and driver and t e so-brlquet of “Cowlbofl has been attached to him by the Que- becers, probably because Louis sculling them home uses a, western

ll that considerably accelerates he rogress of the steed he team ng. At Present he is at Duflf- erin track, Toronto, and recently drove the pacer Joe Harvester a winning race over a big field. "Cowboy" got a. lo of applause from the stands, particularly from the long-shot ticket holders. He has looked over a lot of ones there and has tentativey lcked out two or three that he fee ll make good‘ racing next season any- where. Island horsemen interested in something that can get away from the crowd might do well to writ: Louis, who is johnny on the ll>°

Amon recent; letters none was more pr d than one from Walter S. ‘Found. Merced. California. Walter. like other Californians, is now flbufilly in the front line as the We are manoeuvering st not too great distance from the coast. Hawwur, they are all taking it in ltrlde and it is not interfering with interest in names horse rac n8. in keeps up their hob- bies l0 ll not to worry too much.

conserving

m H80. the“ mew!“

Enclosed in the letter was snap of Walter F. 2.02 1-4, good pacer that won a number races in California the past sea- son, but in future must be classed as s. heo-for-allcr, according to their rules. Walter is not sure whether ho will race him the com- ing year, but If not. Walter F‘. will be retired and live the life Riley. He. has several others ccm- ing on that 100k like the goods,

year-old by Tru-

a his

than anything he has ever seen, trots like an old campaigner and has lost all coltlshness. A fullsis- ter one year older, was a mile in 2.17 before bein and

o in

gccpcot is s filly '5' . Lord Jim 2.00 3 . tells

us the weather has been very pleas-

ant, this fail and the rainy season

has not really set in at date of Writ 10th The If"! wears s

issrecnsndalinsturc WIQIIIIIHXIGPUOR

‘in last week's notes we promised to ive a more extended account of he former Grand Circuit star driver, Waiter Cox. who passed away st Goshen, N.Y.. December 15th with his lifts-lone friend. that great reinanan, Dick McMahon. at his bedside. Walter Cox was born at. msom.N.1’-I.. September 18th. 186d, and when a young boy be- came assistant ‘to his father

Killed in some nnall anchester. ~N~.H., where the 1w had moved‘ and his father was doing busineI.

As he acquired more skill he took up training race horses for owners and s. few years later when his family was well establish- ed. purchased the track and plant known as Granite state Park. Dov- er. NJ-I. Along about i908 he he- came recognised as a leader among trotting horse trainers. and daapltc the vigorous winter weather of his northern training grotmd he turn-

ed out some wonderful horses, even D

col-t trottcrs. He was a great. man for making friends and his wife Who w-as a woman of mistress abil- ity and tact, conducted a small ho- tel near the track which became the headquarters for hrrrsrmen from New England states and fur- ther afield. Marv Marivmers via- lted there. notably Frank Boutllter, who has the plcasantest reodlec- lions of the t-rcat-m-ent accorded by Walter and Mrs. Ccx.

Among the first colts of real note "tat was trained there wes Pav- 9 til‘. that he gave a record of 2.10 P! a t-wo-_\'c'~r-0'd ard 2X5 as s. three-year-oid. Day-Star held the

YWIT-old trnPrr, (“tunht-s, Ohio. September 19W. Cox was always on the lock ("it '01- prod rem-ea and 1013 W“’~‘h'"f"‘ the B'n""a trct'er Wr- 1""- tl"vr‘l“n“v' by !-“"'"k BultJPer, "Y‘ " ‘Pm =~"' '- H- 41MB 1-1- c-"ve Bar-int; s trotting recwd of 2.0" 1-4. '"_'“‘ B f"u"‘-* r’ gird s‘c"e¢ w'th hm on |,.,_1v__v,‘1., 1,... v.8 av" F-ld Wm m "-01-- In v-r -.- ntviwp 1"": lI-aV-‘lqq .3 ‘gs-m. -.q |_»_ pa; at are Pm- mn- m» an Pm:- en the Maritime trotting record.

15th,

t. . When Mr. Fte rd financial difficulties

S0 wldel known had his fame as a. Gran Circuit trainer and driver become that when Stoughton Fletcher of Indianapolis. owner of Laurel Hall Farm. headquarters of Peter the Great 2.0’! 1-4, for whom he had paid $50,000 three years previously-required a trainer. he engaged Cox. While there he de- veloped many star tiotters. The most noted was The Great Volo rm 1-4. full brother of Peter Volo 02 tcher go into and sold his trot-sec. 00x was quickly grabbed by W. H. Cane. construction ty- 00011 of New Jersey, who oracle him not only trainer but manager of his horse interests.

His association with lvlir. Cans was a most pleasant and profitable one to both. Together they have done much for the harness horse industry by rehabilitating the Goshcn mile track and spending an enormous amount of money on it until today it is one of the best in the land and the scene o! the Hambietonian Stakes, which an- nually draw some 75,000 people.

I-t was at Good‘ Time track, Go- shen, N.Y.. that Cox had his atest success with colts. There e trained Fireglow in 1am, a twc-year-old colt b1’ Ban Francisco. that Cox bought at the Walnut Halt Farm the previous fall. He showed so well in training that William Bradford of Bennincton. Vermont. bwsht him for $10,000 and left him with 00x to train and race. The colt did not disappoint the new owner as he went on -to win the Junior Kentucky Futurity and take a world's record for two- year-old trotters in a race of 2.04, In that event he ltoaded Scotland 1.59 1-4 and Spencer 3. 1.56 3-4, the“. like him. lIwo years old.

Another great feather in his cap was his development of the fruits;- Hazelton, that he won many of the leading trotting purses with

1n and established the world's record

for s. three-heat trotting race at syl-‘lcllbe. N-Y. Finally at Lexing-

il 3°11 he Save him s. record of 2.00

3-4 and sold him to parties in Italy for $15,000. There he became the greatest race winner ever tak- en to Europe, winning the leading trotting classic of France two years in coessio . In 1923 Cox won the Kentucky Futurity with 15mm. inda and gave her the world's téhorgeiygar-old record for fillies of

It was reserved for the year 1929. however. to show what a really re- markable trainer and picker otf wit: Cox was. Colts that he had trained for the Hambletonlan Stake, richest trotting purse. won as m]- lows: Walter Dear 2.02 3-4 first. Volomite 2.03 1-4 second, Sir Guy Mac third. and Miss Wocrncrt fourth. They had all been develop- ed, trained and managed by the rcdoubtablc Walter. The annals of the trotting sport can be searched and no duplicate will be found for this performance. Later on in Ken- tucky that year Walter Dear won the three-year-old Kentucky m- turlty and was sold w Gennany elrly the next 81111113 m- $25,000.

Among other notable horses Cox trained and drove to low records and won large hunks of money with

of can be included Lou Princeton 2.01,

trotter of his day. Mabel 'I‘rask . 3-4. greatest stake winner of her day, and a more so high-spir- tcd that it was thought impossible

to make a race horse off her. In P

partnersht with San-ford Small of Boston, ll e-lang friend, he bought the trotter Peter Scott, then with a. record of 2.16 1-4, tralnedhiln the following season-in which he made such a good showing in one of the stake races the/t ‘Ihomas W. Itlltiftphynpaid $30,000 for him to hold h for the next year's stakes. Incidentall it may be said that Peter Sect. proved a good invest- ment as he won every race but one, and st the end of the season his winnings were over $50,000.

Among those who were intimates of Cox throughout. man years of his training and racing l e may be mentioned Professor Shh, meg.

very stea-t (Bnsgtilisr of no“) fir.’ I‘. W.

Mower. n. an o s lim- ited ex nt. the writer. These and many more tried and true friends throughout the United States and Canada will mourn the of s mat friend. t trainer and float 1cm‘ of rses. lvltrs. Cox, Wlliefs well beloved wife, died as he result of an auto accident two years previously.

We often wonder whether the

ensure we get. in writing about

lport we loveso well inds an echo in other hearts

reason to receive Christmas from readers in eve Canada and many s ates of the Union to the south, from far away California, Vancouver, yes, even from our gallant boys on duty ov- erseas. We have no words to ro- ly convey our thanks for ese ibutes to our snail efforts. We take the liberty of printing just one of these greetings, a telegram from Greenfield, Maas...“l‘tic greatest of leisure

{pleasure my hours throughout 1041 has come from own the Back stretch. with tinnks for this real source of en- joyment 1 send you best wishes for Christmas and 1942. Dr. Jchnson."

Next week our Anrvual Review of Harness Racing in the Marltlmes will appear. ft WllLbe as complete as we can possibly make it and we hope you will read it sad like it and perhaps send a copy to horse- men friends abrcad. And new we take this o trrtunity of wishing ou one an all, a very Happy and

rcsperotu New Year.

Remember When

my ‘rho Csnsdiz-n Press)

Fritz Hanson's sensational run- nfn in the national football final nga nst, Hamilton Tillers earned him a twc-to-cne majority vote as the outstanding pref-rmer amonlz Canadian ath!e‘es in 1935 The award was announced six years ago m1; Hmson led thc \l\'e=t’"?‘l‘f t» t :1: frat naticna! rugby title that year and he was instrumental in their victory over Ottawa Relish Riders thil Year.

n, gluh ls pinto

Ray other

G

PAUL SEV EN

‘Leafs Can Co Into N.H.L.

Lead Over

Weekend;

Bruins Idle Until Tuesday

(Canadian Press)

Maybe some time before the Na- tional Hockey League season ends there Will. bc z wekoitd that doesn't hold out possibilities oi drastic changes in the league standings, but that weekend isn't in sight yet.

Tonight and Sunday night pro- vide four weekend fixtures that may make the closely-packed stand- ing look considerably different by Monday morning. with Toronto Maple Leafs in me bcst spot v0 do something about it.

The Leafs have another of those two-game weekends in store, and the chance of moving ahead of Boston Bruins again and taking a firm hold on first. place. One point behind the Bruins tiftcr beating the-tn during the week, thc Leafs take on Detroit Red wings in Tor- onto tonight and then move on to New York against the Americans.

That ‘vcs the Leafs a pztentiat four points, in two gamcs against weakc-r clubs for Detroit, and Brook-

lyn are standing respectively fifth and sixth in the standings. And if Leafs should cop both those games, Bruins can't do a thing about slipping back to second‘, because they are idle until Tuesday.

Rangers are the other club with a busy weekend schedule. After meeting Canadiens in Montreal to- night, they make a quick move to Detroit for a. Sunday night tilt. Two wins would put the Rangers perilously close to a contending po- sition for the leaderahl , if they can overcome the tioub hardship of two away-games in plus a long trip between games.

Canadiens and Amcrks play only the one game each. A win for the

sntrealcrs coupled with a Brook- lyn defeat would‘ start that old battle for last place all over again, but if the America should win and Canadfens lose, the Brooklyn boys would be in a fair way toward pulling ahead out of danger for awhile.

East’s skiing Looks to ’42 for Good season

By Harold Atkins Canadian Press Staff Writer

MONTREAL. Dec. 26—(CP)— The cry “Trackl Track!" has al- ready resounded throughout ski country in Ontario and Quebec as enthusiasts are taking advantage 0i’ early stiowfalls to got in a fcw practice licks in anticipation of a big season.

Like most other major sports, skiing has been retarded by the war. For the past two seasons sev- eral leadting eventts have been can- celled and ffr the second straight winter the sport tvill be without its National Champio Regional officials, hc-tvovrr have lzftcd some of t-hc restrictions which have cur- tailed. schedules and pan to oper- ate zone programs as fully as poss- ible this season.

In both provinces, wirk has been (lone tit season to improve fnc Laurcutinns, lllT/J-ll ors in Montreal and o" ‘i eral new trails have been cut in such favored places as Mounit Tremblant. Ste. Agatha. St. Souv- eur, Ptccltmcnt. Si, Alnrguretls and St. Adele, while additional ski tows am muslwocmiirg oi. various points.

A ski patrol rchzol has been in- augurated by the Laurcnrtlazr Ski Zone to study advanced first aid with the intention of helping the skier. It is expected these patrols will be thc forerunner of similar groups throughout. 1h;- Dominion.

The Laure: an zcun will feature the cumpc ive schedule in the east this winter. Events scheduled include the Quebec Kandahar, Taschereau, Laurentian Zone cham- tonshtps and a McGili-Dartmauth University mes-A.

y extensive in! thc off-

tvomclfs Moot

Despite the fact there w-ill be no National championships. it is be- lieved a. women's meet at St. Margaret's Jan. 24-25 will be rc- garded as of Dominion title cal- ibre, The tyre-day event is expect- ed to bring into ccmtzctition the beat the United States and Can- ada can oftfer.

In the Quebec Eastern Townships zone, main trails on Mount Orford have been improved and‘ for the first, time special markers will be placed on trails this season to malts navigation easier for The Cawansville Ski a new chalet at Knowlton Roa , while plans have been completed for s, ski at Mount Orford.

Lac Bcauport, ski playground for Quebec City enthusiasts, has also made changes to its featured that]; and officials have planned several additional -mects to handle ths heavy flow of skiers anxious to take part in competitive meets.

Ontario Clubs

Ontario ski prospects atso look Brighter this season than at any tinw for the past few winters. The provincial Iovemment has 00-01]- erated 1n developing thc sport .n various districts. and individual clubs have taken it upon thcmsclvsa w make general improvements.

The ‘Iloronto Ski Club. which boasts one of the largest member- mlps in the world-ofrli-is the hub for moat Ontario ski activities. The club operates four separate courses at. Caledon. Summit. DH - mar and Collinawocd, all wit-hn eiuy motoring distance from Tor-

onto. Slwpu providing "GO-mile D91‘ hon-r" runs. vertical drops for

jumping specialists and numerous practice hills can also bo fcund in Ontario spots at Huntsville, Orangevillc, Midland‘. Hanover, Mount MacKay near Fort William, Bethany near Pe-terborough, North Bay, Oshawa. Rcnfrew. sault Ste. Marie, Sudbulry, Walkerton, Wel- la

n .

Ottawa ski lovers rh most. of their downhill and slaicm work on thc slapbcards in Qrebcc. The Ottawa Ski can» has rs headquar- tors at Chelsea, Que, about. l! miles from the Daniel City, Sfme skiing is tlone just outside the city limits. but the only nlhcr good tctrltcry within easy distance of Ottawa lzcrldrs Choboa is at W-akoiteld. also situated in Que- bec's Gatineau Hills.

VETERAN TORPEDO EXPERT

‘PLYMOUTH —EP)~ Capt. Guy Lushlngran Coleridge. tnrtredo ex- pert, dtd on active rcrvicb after sP-cndin’! more tirrn 35 yczrss in the Rival Navy.

LOTS TO JENSlYElt FOR

The game of golf is said to have been devised by the Dutch.

Leicester City And Blackpool In Cup Final

LONDON. Dec. 26-(0? Cable)- Leicester City and‘ Blackpool tiday were (icclarcd ulnners of the South and North Fcotbail Leagues re- spectlvely as the result of Christ- mas Day matches which wound up their schedules.

The leamres now open a round robin series for the Football Lea- gue's War Cup.

Leicester, playing before a crowd of 8.000, defeat-rd Nottingham For- est 2-0 and finished six points a- head otf West Bromwicti Albisn, Cardiff City and Walsall.

Although Blackpool. which drop- ped‘ a 1-0 dc-clsicn i0 Rochdzilc yes- terday, and Lincoln City, which de- feated Mansfield Town 6-0, finish- ed m a tie tvlth 29 points each, the holida resort representatives were name the winners on the basis of a better- gcal average.

Because no papers were publish- ccl in Britain c-vcr the Ctiristmns and Boxing Day laolidals the font.- ball results wcze not. issued until today.

N. S. Sportsman Fatally injured

SYDNEY. N.S.. Dec. 26—(CPl- Fraser Gillis, 33, of Gillrs Cove. N. S. has died‘ of wounds suffered when a shotgun he was carrying discharged accidentally. according to wood reaching here today from that isolated Inverndss County vii- lage 75 miles west of Sydney.

Gtllis is believed to have been using the gun as a support in climbing a steep snow-covered hill when the safety catch became un- cocked and the gun's charge stmck him in the face.

Use lvfwuarrl’ for dandruff? BRINGING UP FATHER

Fllllllfi

SKATING ESSIONS 3-5 l’. M. and 8-10 l’. M.

FORUM-To-flav

Miners swamp Millionaires 7-0

GLACE BAY. N5, Dec. 26- (CIU-Glace Bay's powerful Min- ers blasted out a 7-0 victory over the luckless Sydney Millionaires tonight to lengthen their lend atop the Cape Breton Hoclzcy League to six and a hnlf games". The erstwhile Eastern Canadian champions locked like anything but champions as they slipped deeper into the loop cellar.

Icing only nine playrrs, the Dol- larmen had nothing to match the smooth-working Glaco Bay fortrarzl pack, Mitch connected for two goals in the first rcericd, one in i-rc second and four in the final ses- sion. The Millionaires were minim injured defenceman Ray Powell and defcnccman Bill Langelle, Jim Trcsvick and Jim Odell.

Snoring honors went to Alian Foster who netted the three iinal goals. Othel- gaat-getters were Moe White, Vince Gallagher, Pat Des- biens and Charlie Phillips.

It was the fourth shutout of ;he season for iloalie Ken MatrKlntm.

Strategy year In U. S. tennis

NEW YORK, Dec. 26_rcPl_. The smartest strategist tennis. has seen ln a long time climbed back on the throne this year as cagey little Bobby Riggs out-thought lanky Frank Kovacs to win t-he national men's singles champitin- ship, says a. tennis retricw for 194i.

The cocky midget, who gained the crown two years ago when Don Budge abdicated, then lost it to an inspired Don McNeill last. roar. hardly had the speed‘ or the flash- mglstrokcs to best thc hmtdsnnlc Californian. But he had the gon- oralshtp. Kcvacs turned pro nlJCLlt. a. month later.

A long-time contender broke through to win the women's crown. She was Mrs. Sarah Palfrey Cooke.

a finalist before but famous chiefly as Alice Marbles‘. doubles partner. Here again victory trout

lo the superior‘ strategist. Young Pauline Betz, the national indoor and claycourrt, cham ion. had more stamina. and speed ut Mrs. Cooke continually outsmartcd her polnt-xvinning shot-s.

The kid sensations who won the 1940 men's doubles Llllllilltlilfillln. Jack Kramer 0f 110s Acgcics and Ted Schroeder of Glendale, re- tained their title as Mrs. Cooke paired with Margaret Osborne. took the women's dflublcs.