NO Bridle or Bit?

I was digging through some references in an attempt to update the
Escanaba/Northcoast Raceway, Mich web page and stumbled across the following
interesting item from the Nov 9, 1938 Harness Horse and the Dufferin Park
article:

"Something unique in harness horse racing at the Dufferin will be witnessed
when the fans lamp Calumet Ado (pacing 2:041/4) rigged out for trotting. As
is known the horse was raced on the pace until this spring when it was
decided to shift him to the trot, but that was more difficult to do than was
expected and after a long siege, with patience about exhausted it was about
to be given up for a bad job, when the happy thought of trying him without a
bridle or bit occurred to trainer Haner, and immediately after being
equipped with only a halter and the reins buckled into the rings on each
side of his head the horse commenced to trot and since then has been raced
in that manner. Whenever this versatile animal is raced on the pace the
bridle and bit is added to his equipment and away he goes at his old gait.
At Escanaba, Mich., one afternoon he was raced on the pace and won and the
next day started in the trotting event and annexed it, taking a record of
2:121/4. His appearance here is looked forward to with much enthusiasm."

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Regarding Calumet Ado:

from the Sep 18, 1930 Trotter and Pacer.

The Show Ring Winner

THE show ring division of THE TROTTER AND PACER Stake, to which all starters
in the two divisions were eligible, was put on in front of the Reading Fair
grandstand at two O'clock, the afternoon of Thursday, September 11. The 13
colts eligible were all exhibited except two-Cindy M. Jr. which was starting
back in a race that afternoon, and Pola McElwyn, which had broken a bone in
her ankle during the race the day before.

They were led up the track by their attendants, then lined up for the
inspection of the judges, who went over each one carefully, had several led
at a jog and finally narrowed the number down to about six which they
inspected more carefully. For the horsemen familiar with the youngsters
shown there were some mild surprises. Several of' them looked entirely
different to halter than in harness, the difference sometimes taking a turn
for the better and sometimes for the worse.

The two judges, Charles R. Hamilton of Philadelphia and Walter G. Sibley of
Meadowbrook, Pa., are not trotting men but saddle horse and hunting judges.
This at least assured everyone of impartial judgment, as neither of the
judges was familiar with any of the individuals shown. Dr. Harry B. Roshon
of Reading accompanied the judges to pass on soundness, and several of the
youngsters, all of which had been through a hard racing season, were
undoubtedly passed over for some blemish pointed out by the veterinarian.
While there might have been some disagreement here and there with the minor
awards, all horsemen present seemed to like the award of first prize of $250
and a silver cup to Calumet Ado, the brown son of Belwin, owned by R. C.
McClenathan of Erie, Pa. The young pacer is a splendid individual. Second of
$125 was awarded to General Hanover, the son of Peter Volo, owned by the
Hanover Shoe Farms, another very handsome stud colt, although not as fully
developed as Calumet Ado. Third of $75 went to Peter Ingomar, another son of
Peter Volo, owned by W. B. Eckert of Reading, and fourth of $50 to Dermat,
still another of the Peter Volo tribe, owned by Congressman James S. Parker
of Salem, N. Y.

This innovation passed off, on the whole, very pleasantly, and many
complimented THE TROTTER AND PACER upon introducing it to futurities. It is
the first concrete effort towards providing for show ring trotting-bred
youngsters that anyone in the harness racing world has recently made.

CALUMET ADO (3) 2:091/4, adjudged the finest specimen of the standardbred
horse in the show ring division of THE TROTTER AND PACER STAKE last week.
Bred by Calumet Farm and owned by R. C. McClenathan, Erie, Pa.