Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-30
The Patchen Horses.

The exhibition of four colts of this cele.
brated stock at the Fourth National
Horse Show will give interest to what fol>
lows relating to their history The trot>
tirg horse, George NJ. Patchen, nov own.
ed by Wm. Waltermire, of New York. and
kept near that city, was sired by Csssiu.
Clay, horse of high fame at the First
National Horse Show. John Bulkley of
Sordentown, New Jersey, purchased the
Patchen horse when three years old, of
George NJ. Patchen, and named him after
his first owner. Soon after tho purchase,
the colt taken sick with distemuer,
which left a thickness of the throat, from
which it did not recover for several wears.
On account Of this thickness, Mr.. Buckley
rarely drove him hard, and it vas report
ed that Patchen had no bottom. During
ell this time Patchen was standing at the
stable of Bulkley, at SIS services, and do
ing but little business. The first proof Of
his endurance and speed was thus acci.
deatally discovered: His owner, who ais
ways insisted that he was a wonderful
horse, had occasion to seek the services
of Mr.. Humphrios, celebrated animal
painter of Camden, for a likeness of bis
favorite. The artist decided that the
horse would look best in motion, and suc.
gested that he become excited and press.
ed to the top Of his speed. Mr.. Bulkley
assented, and mounting him barebacked,
rode off to wake him up. Greatly to the
surprise of the artist, the horse on his
return shot by like an arrow, renderingit it
almost impossible to get sketch, and
obliging his owner to ride him back and
forth several times before Mr.. Humphries
Gould transfer him to paper. During all
this exercise of many miles, the horse
showed no indications Of fatigue or signs
of distress, and from that moment his
reputation began. Well do We remember
the FIRST picture of this slashing stallion
and his owner a. the horse show rooms in
this city, and Mr.. Bulkley's letter to the
secretary OF 1858, that "hs New Jersey
nag would show Ethan Allen some time
an awful gait" The resul. OF this proph-
ecy is well known. OF the stock of
Patchen, % tive.year old and few of -four
years, are all Of the oldest that can be
traced. A characteristic of these animals
IS slow maturity, heavy tails, and a strong,
lengthy stride, indicating speed for a
long distance. 1t is said that none o
these horses interfere in trotting. Their
size, constitution and disposition are unu-
sually good, and their color pretty unl>
formiy blood bay. They are sought for
o. high figures by men who apI reciate
speed, and two have recently changed
hands in Philadel phia, one at $4,000 and
the other at Zoo. Mr.. M'Donald, Of
Baltimore, the owner of Flora Temple,
has purchased one named Burlington
that is considered fast. c. w. Bathgatc &
Co., of Fordham, n. Y, own four of five
year olds, among which are the we'll
known horses. New Jersey and Major
Low, exhibited at our late fair. Both
seem destined to do credit to the
old horse and for New Jersey it is
claimed that he is the best bred and
hsndsomest of stock horses. l.. B. Brown
Of New York, the well known owner and
protector of the Century team" is as
sociated with Mr.. Bathgate in breeding
this family of horses and though his
winter quarters are Florido, he is evident
ly expecting to renew his horse show ac-
quaintance here with younger team:--
Springfield Republican.