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When Guy Won from Mussolini—,• Few persons generally know that a. man still residing in Endicott accompanied an American-bred harness horse to Europe back in 1032 and there won the Mussolini Cup in Home, Italv . . and that racing against the finest Europe had to offer ... including Net Worth, owned by the pompous little Italian dlc-tat or himself. But, it’s a fact. And that man is Guy Booth.Guy was associated with all of the fine old names, in harness racing, including the three Toms, Ackerman, Murphy and Berry, and waa top bam roan for many years when *BilIy Snow guided the destinies of the George W. Johnson string at what was then known as. Ideal park here.Mussolini, in those days, was at his swaggering best in Italy, , hut he hadn’t yet developed to the point where he couldn't be argued with and so, one day he and a young captain, Venc.arlo by name, nad a falling out. The reason isn’t important to this piece, but suffice to say that the falling out inspired a determination in the mina of Captain Vencarlo to take II Duce dowp a peg qr two.Mussolini's Net Worth had Just won the championship of Europe in harness racing circles- by trimming the best that Germany, France and the rest of the European nations could produce. Thus, Captain Vencarlo looked across the Atlantic in scgrcb of an animal that could defeat the pride and joy of the Mussolini stables.He found that animal in Eye Bright, by Peter Volb and out of Atlantic Express. The mare waa owned by Joseph Roberts of Worcester, Mass., and you don’t have to be told that the owner of every race horse has his price. Vencarlo met the price asked by Roberts and then looked about for a caretaker and trainer for his prize. Guv was picked from among 15men available for the task of whipping the Mussolini entry and sailed for Europe with -EyeBright along about the last ofJune or early in July. He had three months in which to condi-*lion the American-bred mare for European racing conditions, which called for covering a distance much longer than that generally assigned horses in this country.If memory serves me right, the race was for one mile and a half, three times around the track, which means that in addition to the greater distance, the horse had to make approxfmately thrice the number of turns it would have been called upon to perform in this country—and this from a standing start.Well, Eye Bright, under an Italian driver named Bartkinf, did all that was asked of him, set a new track record of 1:06, 1:06, 1 :Q6 and negotiated the last quarter in 30 seconds flat to take the coveted Mussolini Cup and to permit Owner yencarlo to reap a measure of vengeance on the Duce.As for Booth, he reported that no one from the Mussolini faction ever came near him—until after the race. Then he had theFleasure of a personal visit fromI Duce himself and the greatman’s apologies for the “oversight.** But. all that and Mussolini, as well, are history today Anyway, 1 just thought you’d like to know that there is a man still residing in Endicott who won the Mussolini Cup m Rome, Italy, back in 1932._
Newspaper Details
Endicott Daily Bulletin
Endicott, New York, US
Tue, Nov 27, 1945
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IL, USA 02 Nov 2019
Other Publications Near Endicott, New York
Endicott Times
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