Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-23
NOTES OF A SUMNER TRIP.
No. III.


tality, and found the hostess at home sur
rounded by a quartette of Kentucky bellies.
there on d visit. i was welcomed in the
| charming and courteous manner with which
this lady always receives her visitors an 4
was made TO feel that was among friends
The evening brought to "Srring HILL" the
social center of Woodford county, IL not of
the blue grass region, a throng of young
| ladies and gentlemen from Versailles and
! vicinity. 1ntrOtuctions followed, and an
! agreeable and extensive acquaintance was
speedily formed. On This occasion had the
PIE assure OF ag ain meeting DIR. Carter and his
, sister. OF Versailles, both OF whom had met
| in Louisville.
The following day. and the second day Of
! my visit TO Woodford county. DIR. Carter was
kind enough TO take me in mis- buggy on his
! way to see his patients, and show me some
! of the fine stock farms In the vicinity. one
| objective point was the residence OF Mr. Al
exander, and In order TO reach there, slthou gh
| the place adioins the 'Spring HIP estate
we mad a drive OF over five miles by the pub
THE HARPER STABLES.
| En- route for this celebrated seat We had 10
pass the farm of the well and favoraoIy
| knWn kentucky raiser of thoroughbreds
| John Harper, lately deceased. The estate is
| now the property OF a relative-a nephew, I
| believe-of the former owner. We therefore
| gave Mr.. III. a call, and were Hospitality re-
| ceived, and shown all the stock in his stables
This gentleman gives his whole attention 10
| the rearing and training of fine thoroughbred
! horses. Fir. Harper has no trotting horses:
they are all thoroughbred races in his stable
| lie never would own trotter, and always
| expressed contempt for any but the racer
! L consider the kind OF stables in which the
| Dlooded racing stock are kept, on Mr.. Har-
| perIs farm, worthy of especial notice. The
| buildings are the simplest of frame struc-
| lures, each stall or apartment about twelve
feet square, with the weather boarding up
right. They are One-story high. without a
| loft, and without plank flooring. The en-
| trance is usually closed during the day, by
means of a bar OF with section doors the
lower one only being shut. The stables are
| generally IN long rows, or occasionally facing
each other, under one root, but with a pas
| sage-way of Is or 80 feet between; and when
single with shed or porticO about ten feet
| wide over the entrance, and extending the
whole length OF the structure. Ths earth
| form ing the floor is kept dug up thus MAX
| ing IL "a soft mould, TO depth of ten or twelve
| inches. Mr.. Harper informed me that il was
Sug up twice a day, or oftener; hence IL will
be seen that the horses stand on a loose, dry
soll all the time, and sleep upon the same
Inc COTS, or running stock, from the age of
one year are handled and exercised almost
daily. The trotting tracks in Kentucky are
kept smooth aud hard; but the track used for
lhe running stock is frequently ploughed and
HMa ar smoothly, SO as TO keep il soft.
Here we had an opportunity To see the fa-
nous morse Longfellow, now Withdrawn
from The track, owing To an injury he re.
eelyed on the track at Sarat oga. He is a
noble looking horse. ana seems To be in fine
condition, and is still highly valued by his
owner. Sixty thousand dollars was refused for
MN before he ran his last race. Mr.. Harper
"ss u plumber OF fine young horses in train
ing.
THE ALExANnER STOCK FARM.
Mr.. AleXanders stock farm; which has
produced some of the most celebrated stock
in America, adjoins tha. of Mr.. Harper. Tue
estate, should say, consists of a number OF
farms, or adjacent tracts of land, acquired
probably by separate purchase, all of them
of the finest quality of blue grass soil and
known as "Woodburn." Having passed a
part OF my youth on farm, and still retain
ing some Of the tastes then acquired for see
ing good stock and neat farming, was par
ucular anxious to visit an establishment, SO
celebrated throughout the United States as
that OF Mr.. Alexanders. Although grain
growing Is, 10 some extent, combined with
STOCK raising, they are quite distinct inter-
ests; and do not. in all respects, harmonic.
Mr.. AleXander's farms are conducted chiefly
| TO The end OF making the lands serviceable
| for hay and pasture. Owing to III health
Mr.. A. entrusts the active management of
his estates and stock to his agent, Mr.. l..
BrOdhead.
We found Mr.. j. at the stables when we
arrived, busily engaged in giving directions
| 10 numerous employees. He and DR.. Carter
were acquainted, and was introduced as a
| gentleman from Washington, curious to see
| some of the fine Kentucky stock, and par
ticularly DESTROYS to see the
OLD KING OF THE TURF
Lexington. We were informed that this IA
nous horse had died about II O'Clock the
| night before, and that the men were then en-
| gagged in burying him, but that If we would
drive over Immediately to his stable, nearly
a mile distant, We might possibly get there
| in time to see his body before il was inferred.
Mr.. Brodhead assured us he would be pleased
| to show us the stock in these stables on our
return.
1t was agreed that we should go at once.
BY the time We reached the other stables the
digging of LexingtOn's grave and the boxing
| II up with boards for a coffin, had been com
pleted. He was TO be buried in the north end
OF the enclosure, just In front of his stable.
THE FUNERAL OF LEXINGTON.
The great racer had been Ia ken from his
stall day or two before his death, and
| placed in his pasture, OF about four acres,
| just before the stable yard. This enclosure
| was the same which had always been as
! signed him, and il was here, i'm the north
| western corner of the pasture, that he died.
The horse lay extended on his right side, O.
the blue grass sod, and seemed to have died
| without a struggle. He was covered with
canvas to keep of the sun and flies and a
| number OF cOlored labOrers were standing
the grave We stated to the foreTnan H our I9
wish 10 see Lexington, and he promptly re-
| moved the cover. At first sight my impress
| sioh was Tic OOuy WAS muCn smaller
| than had expected, and as is usually repre-
| scented ia the published accounts of this horse.
| 1t is recorded that In his prime Lexington
| was fifteen hands three inches high, but he
| now looked less than fifteen hands. 1t is I'M
derstoOd that of late years he had shrunken
| In size, which Is not improbable or wonder
ful when II is remembered that he had
reached his twenty nth year. His feet were
| white over the pasterns, aud Were fastened
| together by rope preparatory to MS removal
| and burial. From the appearance of the
| hoofs. which were well formed, should Judge
| that he had not been shOd for some years.
The only mutilatiOn or interference his body
had received was the skinning Of his tail for
| preservation.
| We made rather close but has inspec-
| ton OF the old hero of the American turf.
Dr. Carter had often seen the horse when in
| the vigor of health, and had therefore less
curiosity than myself The depth of chest
and consequently large size of the shoulders
| and hips, were points particularly nOticea-
| Die, ana In contrast with his apparently short
| limbs. The backbone was Unusually large
| as were also the bones OF the tail, now ex-
posed, and which, on account OF its SIZE led
us TO carefully examine the whole spinal
column. The frame was well nourished
although neither deshy nor lean. His coat OF
hair was smooth and soft, his color q bright
1 bQv. the head