Litchfield enquirer., 1868-10-22
AT THE FASHION COURSE.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES STAKE.

When this stake closed, some two years
 ago, with twenty-one subscribers, $500
 each, half forfeit, but $1O0 only if de-
 clared, there was good reason to believe
 that the result would be large field and
 good trot. It was not to be expected, how
 ever, that thcre would be any such field as sometimes appears to contend for purse The uncertainties and accidents to which colts are liable in their second and third
 years were sure to put many out of it; and the sharpening up of the final preparation
 was likely to settle the chance of more. On the lst of last January thirteen of the subscribers declared out, and eight paid
 SloO each more One of these-Mr Halls
 Zoe, lilly of uncommon promise, by
 Young America afterwards died, and thus reduced the possible starters to seven.
 Then NIT. Motts colt by Col Walter, who
 had also showed we'll, took the distemper to the great disappointment of the ownor.
 Mr. Van Weeks colt by Jupiter Abdallah exhibited good speed, at home, at Flatbush,
 but at the course he got off, Both these were compelled to pay the forfeit. This brought 1t down to five, viz: Capt. Ryn- der,s bay colt by Hambletonian out of wid- ow Machree, Mir. Felter's bay colt by Ham, bletonian out of Virgo, MT. Nodine's lilly by Volunteer out of Drew marc, MT. Robert Fletcher's lilly by w. H. Denton, and MT. Hitchcock's lilly by Ashland out of Highland Lass. The Hambletonian colts had both to be let up in their work, and being robust, hearty feeders, they put on flesh, and were not really fit to go. They were both on the ground, and both shown and admired. MT. Felter had mo- tion to start, but finally concluded that as hls driver, Dan Mace, was not on hand, he would pay forfeit. Capt Rynders also paid This reduced the starters to three
 the attendance was not large, but it inclu- ded gentlemen who take much interest in
 young trotting stock, and there were a number of ladies present. It blew hard and drizzled rain between twelve and one o'clock, but for which, we believe, there would have been very good gathering.
 When we reached the course we walked down "Cherry alley" and in one of the stables on the right-hand side, found Carl Burr and MT. Hitchcock with tho Ashland lilly. She has been worked latterly at Mr. Burr's, away down eastward on the Island, and came here by boat. When Carl strip ped her, we found her to be a very long, powerful, bony lilly, !modeled much in the style of her aunt, Lady Thorn. She has 8 plain bony head, big ears, good shoulders, frstrate arms, big hips, long, big thighs, and good hard legs She is a good one to look at, and turned out to be as good as she looked. Tho other Allies were much smaller, but both neat and nice. When three o'clock came, MT. Peter Dubois, MT. Harker, and Mir. Robinson kindly consent ed to officiate i'll the judges stand, and MT. Chambers took the distance flag. It rain ed just before the start, but they agreed to waive all question as to good day. The track was in capital order, and the drizzle stopped before they actually began to score. MT. Felter, after some deliberation >rH % g cag"4 't"ti0n with his p partner a7i in the