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On the Trot I By MORRIE KURLANSKY 1 Illinois State Fair Richest Meeting Program of Year Offered Wednesday H. D. Hanover Proves His Greatness STATE FAIR GROUNDS, Springfield, HI. While the Illinois State Fair here, with a record purse distribution of over 00,000 in six afternoons, is the worlds richest horse race meeting, the harness racing program of the year was offered on Wednesday afternoon, and again an enormous crowd, including almost all of the states political and legislative leaders and a host of celebrities of entertainment, sports, business fields, filled the Fair Grounds facilities to capacity. The weather was simply beautiful and the famous mile racing strip was in excellent condition to make this afternoon for every one present a memorable one. Five races were on the program, and among them were such outstanding events as the fifty-seventh renewal of the Review Futurity for three-year-old trotters, Big 5 Pace, Ann Rutledge Stakes, Castleton Farm Filly Stake for three-year-old trotting fillies and Castleton Farm -Filly Stake for three-year-old pacing f illies, as well as the Henry J. Knauf Memorial, a 24 class trot, and half a dozen record trials. , Although the purse distribution for Wednesday just topped the 0,000 mark, no pari-mutuel harness track in the country could possibly afford to present the same array of human and equine talent all in one program. With hardly an exception, there were the nations best three-year-old trotters of both sexes, Americas fastest three -year-old female pacers and, last but not least, elite members of the pacing brigade on the same, card to strive for the most coveted honors in harness racing, victory on the Grand Circuit. As far as trainers and drivers were concerned, where could anyone possibly see such famous horsemen as Bi Shively, Fred Egan, Tom Berry, Frank Ervin, Edgar Leonard, Harry Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Wingf ield, Harry Burright, Wayne Smart, Harry Pownall, Joe OBrien, Benny Schue, Al Winger, Jake Rodman, Del Cameron, Ralph Baldwin, Johnny Simpson, Harry Harvey, Ned Brown, McKinley Kirk, Del Miller and many-others in action on the same card? The racing itself more than fulfilled what the illustrious names of drivers and horses promised, and the many thousands of spectators witnessed several record performances, the most outstanding of which was the victory of H. R. Warren and Sons East Moline, Illinois-owned H. D. Hanover, great free-legged pacer, in the first heat of the Big 5 Pace. Starting from the Nov5 post position in the 14-horse field, Leonard circled his opponents with the small but racy-looking son of Billy Direct going down the backstretch and around the last turn to be a half-length victor in the sensational time of 1:58 flat. The term "sensational" is used advisedly, for in the century-long history of recorded harness racing, this was only the sixth time that a pacer raced to such a fast mark, and only one sidewheeler was clocked a tick faster, the unforgettable Good Time registering, over the same track; his 1:57 last year. The other four horses that raced to a 1:58 record were the world champion over mile tracks, Billy Direct, sire """of H. D. Hanover, Direct Rhythm, Prince Adios, and; only two weeks ago, the world champion over half-mile tracks,-Hi-Los Forbes. If one, however, considers that H. D. Hanover started from the second tier in his great race on Wednesday, it is safe to assume that his actual, if not official time was even better than Good Times record, and several private watches did catch him in from 1:57 to 1:5746. Coming back for the second heat, H. D. Hanover was assigned the rail position, but this time racing luck was against him. In a field that comprised no less than six horses with a record of 2:00 or better and two more pacers with just a fraction f.bove that mark, speed from the outset was terrific and when they had reached the first turn, H. D. Hanover had been outbrushed for the lead and boxed in at the rail. All the way down the backtref ch and around the second turn Leonard was unable to find any racing room for his pacer and, after a mighty stretch drive while still on the rail, finished fourth, beaten but a long neck and separately timed in 1 : 59 Vs against the winners Mighty Sun, 1:58. Under the conditions of the race, separate heat winners return for a third mile dash and one hour after the second heat, with excitement having reached a fever pitch, Mighty Sun and H. D. Hanover came out for the decision. Although appraised of the fact that if the winner of this heat went in 2:00, he would be holder of the world record for a three-heat race, Joe OBrien, in the sulky behind Mighty Sun, an outstanding stakes winner by Volomite and owned by S. A. Camp Farms, Inc., of Shafter, Calif., elected to set a somewhat moderate pace, saving everything for the last quarter. Leonard f ollowed Mighty Sun closely, he also being content with the slow pace. Just before turning into the homestretch, Joe hit Mighty Sun but once and the giant pacer responded with, a burst of speed the like of which this observer has never seen before. H. D. Hanover momentarily los about a length or so, but with Leonard rousing him immediately, in a few strides he was right back, literally breathing down OBriens neck. Then something happened that made the crowd gasp with consternation. Leonard pulled H. D. Hanover out to let him loose for the final attack and the Billy Direct son was about to pass his opponent when he hit the wheel of Joes sulky, stumbled and broke stride. Although being back in stride within a second, he had lost more than two lengths, too much to make up even for a flying horse. H. D. Hanover lost this race, but nevertheless established himself once and for all as one of the greatest pacers of this era, and while sons of Billy Direct have dominated the lateral gait for the last ten years, H. D. Hanover definitely is one of the best of them and might go on to be the very best. H. D. Hanovers owner received two offers, independent of each other, by two of the largest breeding establishments, one offering 0,000 and the other 00,000. No decision was made at the time, and it is hoped that H. D. Hanover, when eventually retired to stud, will stand in Illinois,
