The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-08-22
Race NOtes..Thc Saratoga Meet.
ing--Harper and Its HOrses--An N
Englishman's $25, 900 Wager.


A correspondent of the New York
Times, writing from Saratoga, gives
some information concerning the turf
celebrities now there. The story of
Kingisher's going amiss in his training,
thereby putting oh his great match with
Longfellow, is thus told:
The facts are that on Thursday morn
ing, as the horses were taking their
usual training exercise, Kingiisher sud
denly dropped and staggered in bis fore
legs, then a quiver, as though i'll pain.
shook his body, and he limped badly
He was Immediately taken to the stables,
when it was asceltained that the ten
dons were strained, and that he could
not run in the coming race, and would
not soon, if ever, be able to resume his
former speed. The poor creature fire.
quently lifted up and looked down at
his bandaged limbs with a pathetic ex
preston and Whitney.
JOHN HARPER AND HIS HORSE.
l had an interesting interview with
his owner, Mr., John Harper,the veteran
Kentucky turfman Mr. Harper is the
proprietor OF 5000 acres of land and a
large number of equine and bovine
stock. He is nearly seventy years of
age and bachelor. His dress is ex-
ceedingy plain and his entire appear
ance very like that of the late Henry
Clay. l found him seated upon a bench
in front of his stables engaged in mend
ing broken surcinsle, and he gave me
brief history of his pet. Longfellow
was sired by bennington, dam Nantura.
This year he won the Post stakes. for
all ages, at two mile heats, winning the
two heats and beating four others. At
Lexington, Kentucky, this year he walk
ed over tie course, all other horses hav-
ing been withdrawn. He also won the
Monmouth gold cup, valued at $500,
at Long Branch. This was for all ayes,
and in it he beat Helmbold, Regards,
and Preakness, (time 4:4l;) also the
Saratoga cup, for all ages, two and a
quarter miles, easily beating Kingfisher
in 4:024 Lonefellow ran the first mile
of this race in 40, Kingfsher in about
l Al, J second mile in :53-making two
miles in ;33-and the last quarter mile
of the race at the rate of so, Mr..
Harper says that he has loved horses
ever since he was "a little shat er," and
will until he dies. AS he spoke, Long
fellow, accompanied by Littleton and
Express, came up, and gently placed
his nose over Mr. Harper's shoulder,
and acted very much like a fondled
child. The other horses followed suit
and were patted afIectionately in return
This old gentleman sleeps in nice
comfortable place near his pets Wher
he is absent, which is seldom, "Jimmv,'
a gray-haired assistant, remains. -Four
faithful colored men are also there at al
hours. A trained watch dog guards The
, door Fifty thousand dollars in casl
, have been refused for Longfellow. Lit
tleton has achieved great success ip Ken
lucky, having, at Lexington, won two
f mile heat in 3 341. He is four years
old. Express is but three years old, il
light, graceful and quick, and has alst
met with fine success at the same place
THE ENGLIsHMAN' WAGER.
i, Mr.. Pryor, of England, has oferec
to place an English colt, with stake o
five thousand pounds sterling. agains
any American colt in one and on
half mile race The proprietor of Har
ry Bassett will accept the challeng
with twenty-five thousand dollars.