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. On the Trot I By MORRIE KURLANSKY 1 Knox Hanover Cracks Track Record Lowers Good Times Mark to 2:03 At h lone Ruler Races on at Old Age SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., June 21. — Knox Hanover, four-year-old pacing son of Hambletonian winner, Hoot Mon, . from from the the Dean Dean Hanover Hanover from from the the Dean Dean Hanover Hanover mare, Lucine Hanover, cracked Good Times long-standing track record in one of the most thrilling races ever seen at May wood Park when he defeated the world champion pacing .filly, Countess Vivian, in the splendid time of 2:03 in the first heat of the featured Capital Capital Airlines Airlines Stakes Stakes I Capital Capital Airlines Airlines Stakes Stakes last Friday. Starting from third position in the six-horse field, the colt immediately engaged in battle for the lead with Miss Shine-A-Mite and reached the first quarter pole on the outside of the Chicago-owned mare in :30y5 seconds. On the far turn, Mel Harmening pulled Countess Vivian out of fourth position and took the lead near-ing the half-mile mark, the first half timed in 1:02%. Once on top, Harmeningr continued to set a rapid pace, with Knox Hanover in second position, Miss Shine-A-Mite in the three-hole, and Gay Order, Dale Wingay and Thomas Hat close up. This order didnt change on the backstretch, and Countess Vivians time for the first three-quarters was 1:33. While the field bunched up rounding the last turn, Countess Vivian was still- in the van by IVi lengths when Knox Hanover made his bid at the eighth pole. Countess Vivian, as game as they come, was all out in the stretch drive, but Knox Hanover was gaining with every stride and collaring the filly at the sixteenth pole, closed with a terrific burst of speed, reminiscent of the best sidewheelers, such as Good Time, Jimmy Creed, Dr. Stanton, Poplar Abbe, Kings Counsel and Irish Hal that have raced at Maywood Park, to win by li lengths in new track record time. This was the sixth victory out of nine starts this year for the Saunders Mills pacer, who, since his first start as a two-year-old, always has raced with the best of his age and gait and was a stakes winner in two seasons on the Grand Circuit. Having won the first heat as an 8 to 5 choice, Knox Hanover was bet down to 3 to 5 in the second dash and, for a while, it looked as if the Ohio pacer would cause a minus pool both for place and show, so confident was the public about his chances. But a big surprise was in store for everbody when Knox Hanover, who, on account of his victory, had been allotted the rail position In the second heat, made a break before the start and lost 10 lengths before Don Hall had him straightened out. What Knox Hanover showed after he got going bordered on the sensational, even if he did not win, but finished last. Thomas Hat, who had a comparatively easy race in the firsfheat, where he had finished in the rear beaten oyer seven lengths, was hustled away from the gate as soon as his driver, Harry Burright, noticed Knox Hanovers predicament. The Saunders Mills team, however, had not given up, after a furious pursuit for over half a mile, Knox Hanover connected with his field when they reached the clubhouse the second time around. Meanwhile, Thomas Hat had taken away the lead from Dale Wingay and maintained a half-length advantage all the way down the backstretch and around the final turn. When they straightened out for the ,tretch drive, Thomas Hat was challenged by Dale Wingay, Countess Vivian and Miss Shine-A-Mite. In the- middle of the stretch, Dale Wingay and Miss Shine-A-Mite faded, but Gay Order loomed up and it took all of Burrights great reinsman-ship to withstand the Maywood pacers mighty rush to win the race by a diminishing half a length. Countess Vivian, apparently bothered when Knox Hanover made his break before the start, almost offstrjded herself, but again raced creditably, although she hung in the stretch to finish third, a length in back of the winner, while Knox Hanover, unable to overtake any of his five opponents, was but two lengths off Thomas Hat at the wire to demonstrate his class, even in defeat. Another outstanding performance that will not easily be forgotten by the many thousands of harness fans present was by the 14-year-old pacing gelding, Athlone ruler, who raced the entire mile on the outside of the pacemaker, BHaven, to win all the same in the fast time of 2:05, which is a new half-mile track record for the yeteran sidewheeler. Owner-trainer Harold Wilson deserves all the praise for the great job he has done with this courageous horse, and he surely will hate to see the day ap-proach when he has to retire the geld- doesnt permit horses older than 14 years to race at a pari -mutuel meeting-. Harold Snodgrass, capable Indiana trainer, for the third time this week had his picture taken in the winners circle. After Dominant and Bella Marie had won their respective races at the lateral gait, it was the trotter Black Worthys turn on
