166 RACEALONG 



in 1877, Geers said that he was eight days in a car 

 with Ahce West. He was under orders to win with 

 her at Fleetwood Park, and Hartford if he could, and 

 then return to Tennessee. On the way north Alice 

 West filled up in the car and when it came to rac- 

 ing she did not show very well for three heats. Sir 

 Walter won the first two and Hogarth the third. By 

 that time Alice West got under way and won. 



"And do you know," remarked the old gentleman, 

 'There was not even a cheer. Finally a darky about 

 seven foot high threw his hat in the air and yelled, 

 'Hooray for old Kentucky.' 



"Two weeks later Hogarth defeated Alice West at 

 Hartford after she had won two heats and Galatea 

 one. This was my first visit to Charter Oak Park. 

 In 1917 on my fortieth annual stop, the association 

 presented me with a beautful silk flag." 



As the conversation drifted to judges and race 

 meetings Geers said: "In 1883 I was racing Joe 

 Braden in Texas. It was a rough country in those 

 days. The betting was very heavy among the cattle 

 men and a few of them would not stop at anything. 



"In the first heat I was closing on the favorite in 

 the stretch and would have beaten him if my horse 

 had not made a jump near the wire. Some one did 

 not like the looks of it and I was taken out. The 

 man who was put up saw that Joe Braden was dis- 

 tanced in the next heat." 



Some one said, "Did you protest, Mr. Geers?" 



"Not down there, my friend," replied the old mas- 

 ter. "I was glad to get the horse back." 



