The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-22

the August MeetinG-The Horses
on the GrOunds-John Harper's
Stables.
A correspondent writes from Saratoga
on Tuesday:
Much disappointment is daily ex.
pressed that Kingisher, who was to
run the great four-mile race with Long.
fellow next week, has gone amiss, and
will win no more glories on the turf.
Five thousand dollars have been wager
ed on each side for this race, one-half Of
which is forfeited. Helmbold and Bar
ney Williams have been substituted for
Kingfsher, both being distinguished as
four-mile racers. As this is Bar.
ney Williams first season at Sara
toga, he is not SO well known as his
rival, Longfellow; but he comes with a
good record, made both in the South
and West. He won the great fast
stake at St. Louis last month, and with
it great honors. ITe is a dark chestnut
horse, sixteen hands high, of powerful
frame, and is altogether splendid an
imal.
Ispent yesterday at the race.course,
inspecting the stables, and admirng the
horses, which were taking their custom
ary afternoon airing, mounted by little
white or black urchins, and looking as
placid as though there was no such
thing as racing, and utterly unconscious
OF the great interest and anxiety centred
in them at thistime found old Mr..
John Harper, the owner OF Longtellow,
sitting under the shade of atree, upon
a rustic bench, darning a broken girth
for his pet steed. The old man came
honestly. by his knowledge of the needle
and thread, for he has lived bachelor
all his days. Simple Kentucky back.
wcodsman as he is, he quietly refused
to take $4,000 for LongfelIow-not be-
cause he held him at higher value,
but because money could not fill the
place in his heart of the horse which he
has raised and trained, and of which he
has so much reason to be proud. Mr..
Harper is the owner of three horses
here-Longfellow, Lytleton andlExpress.
All of these bring with them good re-
cords from the South and West, and the
old man told the stories Of their vic
tories to me in quiet way, but with an
evident satisfaction in the tone OF bis
voice, as he went on stitching with hi:
needle and thread.
Lytleton, who is four years old, wou
the purse, and made the fastest time or
record in Kentucky, running two miles
in 8 min. 374 sec. Express, three year:
old, ran the mile heat in Lexington, be
fore coming to Saratoga, in min. d;
sec. Longiellow, in whom so much in
terest is now evinced, brings with hin
from his Kentucky home the record o
splendid victories. He won the two
mile stake in Cincinnati in 1870, anC
the post stake at Nashville in the fal
of the same year. Finding no hors,
who dared contest his laurels, be ais
walked over in another race at tn
same place. Then shaking the dust o
the CITY where he had triumphed 81
easily from his feet, this Pegasus OF tn
turf went to Memphis, where he wO'
the post stake. At Lexington, KY, h
was the easy victor in two-mle heat
The coming north, he won the cup a
Long Branch in July, and the purse G
$500 at $50 entrance. Upon the l2t
of the same month he beat Kingfshe
at Saratoga, winning the cup. MI
Harper confidently expects to beat Lex
ipgton's time, min. l9l sec, in tn
coming four mile race with Longte
low. =.
Leaving the old man "still plying hi
=. needle and thread" ! visited Mr. Be
mont's stables to see Kingfsher. Th
| noble animal was led forth, greatly az
# mired for his beauty, and pited for tn
calamity which has befallen him. Th
tendons above his fore feet have relaxe
! to such degree that he will probabI
o never be fitted for the turf agalI
i Glende, whose name figured so consPl
: uouslv at the races last season, but wh
1 has met With the same misfortune {
l. KIM fisher, was also led out. 1t
e thought he will eventually recove
r Helmbold, who is one Of the best tw
j five year old horses in America, al
e who is to contest the race with Lon
If fellow, is well known, and always reaC
: finds many hackers.