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NearSighted Owner Set Custom of Letter on Cap CapCHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS Louisville Ky May 4 Major Barak G Thomas founder of Dixiana Farm and at one time one of Kentuckys most noted breeders of thor ¬ oughbreds is credited with establishing the custom of each starter in the race carry ¬ ing a number on his saddlecloth Major Thomas started the practice by putting the j letter T on the saddlecloths of his horses in order that he might more easily pick them outNduring a race raceActuallyr Actuallyr Major Thomas was slightly nearsighted and had trouble discerning his horses when the field was racing on the backside While campaigning his stable at Churchill Downs here Major Thomas originally conceived the idea of attaching a large silver T to the side of his jockeys cap capA A correspondent for the Spirit of the Times wrote the T glistened so bright ¬ ly in the sun it could be seen a halfmile away
