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, STAR AT SHORT DISTANCES I Happy Argo Expected to Figure ] Prominently in Sprint Races. » Son of Argosy Demonstrates He Ian Carry ! High Weight and Win— Hlrseii Maps Campaign. NEW YORK, N. Y., April 12.— Happy Argo. five-year-old son of Argosy — Happy Hours, 1 bred and foaled in England a- " regarded by ; many as the best sprinter of the past five , years campaigned over the New York tracks, will be the main reliance of trainer Max [ Hirsch in the valuable sprint prizes this year. Happy Argo was imported to this country by R. H. West and was sold to Matt Brady in the summer of 1925. Happy Argo made his first appearance under colors racing for Matt Brady during the fall meet- ing at Bowie. He started once and finished ! second to Xenophon, racing for . F. Joyce and trained by James Boden. Happy Argo was then retired to winter quarters at Benning, near Washington. Some time previous to the opening of the ] eastern season Brady disposed of the horse to Max Hirsch, acting for Barney Baruch, who races under the nom de course of the Kershaw Stable. The three-year-old was transferred to Belmont Park and joined the ; other members of the Kershaw Stable. Happy Argon did not attain the fame dur- ing the 1920 season that later came to him, although he accounted for more than 50 per cent of his starts. He faced the barrier eleven times, and was returned the winner on six occasions and finished second twice. His total earnings for that year were .87,. Hirsch, however, was confident that he had in Happy Argo, a horse that was destined to race to better advantage. During the winter of 1920 and 1927, Happy Argo wintered well and when brought forth the following spring was in good condition. Hirsch was in no hurry with his charge and did not rush him. His first winning effort of the year came after three unsuccessful starts, in which he finished third once. His first victory was in an allowance race at Jamaica, in which he defeated ten others, earning the prize in the final strides from Celidon, from the Rancocas Stable. Happy Argo faced the barrier in the Speed Handicap, a dash of five and one-half furlongs, at Belmont Park. He establishsd a new track record by racing the distance in 1 :04*5, through the Widener coarse, and earned ,725. His next imposing victory was in the renewal of the famous Carter Handicap, at Aqueduct. He defeated the best field that was available and earned ,250, for his winning effort. From a racing and weight carrying standpoint, his best race of the year was at Belmont Park during the fall meeting. He carried 134 pounds and raced three-quarters through the Widener course to account for the Fall Highweight Handicap in 1:11%, and earned ,050. Happy Argo was returned the winner of two other races during the year, making a total of eight winning efforts out continued on eighth i age. STAR AT SHORT DISTANCES Co!ititin"«l from first page. of sixteen starts. He finished second three times, and third twice, failing to earn a share of the purse In three efforts. Happy Argo is training sound at Belmont Park and is being brought up to racing condition in a painstaking way. He was given plenty of long jogs during the winter, and lately has been timed several half-mile and three-quarters mile trials in an handy manner. • Hirsch has mapped out an intense campaign for this vetera.i this year and, barring ; accidents, he will be a starter in almost every sprint fixture of note. The Paumonok Handicap, one of the spring features at Jamaica, is Hirschs goal. This race as a rule brings I together the best sprinters that can be mustered about the New Yor".; tracks. The events I , at Belmont Park have been patronized, and Happy Argo has been named for the renewal of the Carter Handicap. Hirsch is more than anxious to account t for this prize which has been won but twice by the same horse, Audacious, in 1920 and j the following year. Audacious was fitted for his first victory by John Hastings for M. L. Schwartz. He raced for the Foreign Stable - the following year and was trained by S. Mc-Xaughton.
