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Twenty Years Ago Today Chief Turf Events of June 24, 1904 Racing at Sheepshead Bay, Hawthorne, Buf-I falo, Union Park and Fair Grounds at St. Louis. "You may make the positive announcement that my namesake will not be a starter in the Worlds Fair Handicap tomorrow," said Tommy McGee at Hawthorne today. "The horse was shipped from here this morning, the Illinois Central officials holding the train thirty-five minutes in order that the car could be attached, and it was the intention of Mr. Corrigan to go tonight, but we are in receipt of telegrams that it is raining and that the track cannot be other than heavy. Consequently I have just notified the railway officials of Mr. Corrigans instructions to ship the horss back to Hawthorne by the first train. He will be taken from the car and should be back here tomorrow." The Worlds Fair Handicap at St. Louis will be run tomorrow over a muddy track. A heavy, drenching rain fell today and it is not beyond the range of possibilities that there will be more of it tomorrow. Notwithstanding the report that Hermis would be an absentee in the event of a heavy track, the son of Hermence and Katy of the West can be put down as a certain starter. Hermis today is justly deemed one of the best horses on the American track. He was not conspicuous as a two-yearold and as a three year-old was discredited when he was taken East after running poorly in the American Derby, won by Wyeth. However, before the racing season of 1902 terminated he had effaced the stigma of that unsuccessful race and by a series of brilliant performances vindicated his title to the name of a great race horse. In fact, he was never afterward beaten that year, winning nine races consecutively in the best of company and retiring to winter quarters the undisputed champion three year-old cf the East.
