The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-03-12
FROM BOSTON 70 WoRcEsTsR.
TrOt Of Thirty-eight Miles in Two Hours
and Thirty-three Mfnutes--Death
OF the Winning Horse.
From the Worcester CMass) Spy Feb a.

From the Worcester (Mass) Spy, Feb. 24.l
The much talked-of long race for Bos
ton to Worcester, between the horse
Empire State, of this city, and Ivanhoe
Of Boston, came off on Saturday, and, a
the result shows, was one of the mos
extraordinary and cruel that has eve
taken place in this country. The term
of the race were to trot from the mil
dam In Boston to Worcester, for $500 I
side, each horse to carry 400 pounds
sleigh or wheels, rain or shine, play OF
pay. Owing to the bad condition of the
road at the mill dam, the start was effect
ed from the Charles River Hotel in
| Brighton. Both horses were attached
to sleighs. Empire State was driven by
! George r. Wesson. and accompanied by
William A. Eager, his hacker, both of
this city The word was given to go at
1916 o'clock, and both started off at a
moderate gait, with Empire State leading.
From Brighton to Watertown the road
was bad, the sleighing having worn away
to bare ground, and progress was neces-
sarily much impeded.
At Watertown the sleighing became
good, and Empire State was still leading
about fifteen rods, under strong and
steady pull. He then commenced the
long and powerful stroke for which he is
noted, and trotted with clock like precis-
ion up hill and down. drawing his heavy
load behind him with apparent ease, and
trotted so well within himself that he
was allowed to go as he pleased until
Northboro was reached at 1887. The
distance thus far travelled was twenty
eight miles, and the time one hour and
ffty-one minutes, nearly four minutes to
the mile A rest of seven minutes was
here taken, and Cruel, wine. water and
hay offered the horse, but he refused,
and was with difficulty kept from running
away. Once more given his head he
seemed to be possessed, and trotted mile
after mile at three-minute gait, and all
the time within himself and under
steady pull. This he kept up until he
reached Long Pond, where he stopped
trotting, and walked into the city, arriv-
ing at Washington Square at l:l9 o. clock
having come the last ten miles in thirty
five minutes, and the whole distance,
thirty eight miles, in two hours and
thirty three minutes, which is a little less
than mile in four minutes for the whole
distance
Soon after his arrival the horse became
sick, and although every effort was made
to save him, the over-driving had killed
him, and he died at midnight of spasmo-
die collie. Ivanhoe, his competitor, was
last seen at WATERFOWL, but arrived at
Northboro long after the winner had left.
and finding it no use to follow, his driver
wisely withdrew from the race, and put
up the horse. Empire State, the winner
was one-fourth thoroughbred, sixteen
hands one inch high, weighed 1850
pounds, ten years old, and light bay
color. He was raised in Kentucky, and
at one time was owned by Dan Mace, and
called the John horse" His temper
was not of the best, and it is said that he
could not be used for anything but racing
purposes. This most noted and fatal race
is without parallel for speed, powers of
endurance, and thorough gameness, and
is fully as extraordinary feat as that of
trotting twenty-nine miles in an hour
Humane and sensible men will wish it to
remain without parallel.