RACEALONG 347 



with doubtful or very uncertain horses. His most 

 unexpected coupe for Hubinger was scored at Detroit 

 when he won the $10,000 purse with Royal Baron. 

 The fast but high strung mare Grace Hastings was 

 for several seasons the star of the New Haven stable 

 and when she was on her good behavior nothing 

 short of a champion could show her the way to the 

 wire. 



Hubinger and Spear parted in 1899. The following 

 year he got in touch with Elmer E. Smathers, who 

 after purchasing a horse through him to brush on 

 the Harlem Speedway in New York gradually built 

 up a racing stable which was one of the best on 

 the mile tracks. 



As soon as Smathers struck his stride in light 

 harness racing he took up the amateur as well as 

 the professional end of it. Being an expert reins- 

 man with the proper temperament for driving races 

 he rapidly forged to the front and was soon challeng- 

 ing men who were for several seasons recognized 

 as the leaders in the fun racing brigade. 



In 1902 the Memphis Trotting Association at 

 Memphis, Tenn., offered a $5,000 gold cup for a 

 free-for-all trot to wagon, amateurs to drive, Elmer 

 Smathers purchased Lord Derby and won the first 

 race for it from The Monk driven by C. K. G. 

 Billings. Under the conditions the cup had to be 

 won twice to become the property of a club. Lord 

 Derby represented the New York Driving Club and 

 gave it one leg. 



In 1903 Lou Dillon was; sold at auction at Cleve- 



