Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-06-27
10 BROCK.
The Story of the Fastest Horse in the

From the Vicksburg Herald.


OF all the great horses of the past,
Diomede, Sir Archy, Eclipse, Boston,
Black Mariah and the hundreds of others
which are considered illustrious, there
is, perhaps, but one that can compare
with the animal whose name heads this
article, and that was his grandsire, the
blind old hero, Lexington. And right
here we will add that the strain which
gives so much strength and speed to Ten
Brock is this same Lexington blood.
Ten Brock is by imported Phaeton,
who was by King Tom, out of Merry
Sunshine, by Storm, which is enough on
his sire's side His dam, Fanny Holton,
by Lexington, is the dam of Lyttleton.
She was out of the celebrated mare
Nauturah, by Branwers Eclipse, who was
also the dam Of Longfellow.
Ten Brock first faced the starter in a
dash of three-fourths of a mile, for two
year-olds, in the fall meeting at Lexing-
ton, in which race he was unplaced, but
as none of his family ever ran in this
early form his owner was not surprised at
his defeat.
Again in the spring of 1875, at Lex
ington, he was again unstripped in the
miles which he captured in the mud in
9Th.
He first started in the sweepstakes for
3-year-olds, one mile and half, won by
Bob Wooley, in l :54-two seconds faster
than ever made before. Ten Brock was
not completely himself in this race
and at first did not show himself the
mighty horse he is, and it put him in a
proper form to meet and vanquish not
only Bob Woolev but such other flyers
as King Alfonzo, Elemi and Emma c.,
three days later, at one mile and five
eighths in 2:492a-the fastest on record
st that distance.
On September q Mr.. Harper brought
out his colt in post stake, at three
miles, for which he had named his half
brother Excel, but as Endorser's son
broke down a few days before, the old
man was compelled to let the colt go.
Knowing ones thought it was shame he
should be placed IN such a race, ''where,
of course, no 3-year-old could have
show" but in this they were mistaken,
for the gallant bay, although over
weighted, landed the stake with the
greatest ease in 5:31, the fastest time
ever made by his age at that distance,
and on that day he could have run four
miles in 7:20. Going to Nashville, being
the only time he was ever out of Ken
lucky, be won the Merchants post
stakes at two mile heats, making the dis
lance in 1886 and $40, the fastest two
miles and the fastest two mile heats ever
run over that course. Four days after,
October 9, he won the Maxwell House
L.
the fastest mile heats ever run at Nash
.ille.
SNComing to Louisville, he captured
purse at two mile heats In 3 :3S and 1861,
distancing the field; then won the Louis
vile Cup, p miles, in the easiest man
ner possible, and two days after took in
the Gait House Plate, p miles, III 4:355.
In the fall Of 1876 Ten Brock entered
his appearance at his home, winning Il
miles in 2:51&; also a purse, q miles, in
4:5Sz-fastest on record. After these
races he went to Louisville again, where
he was to cover himself with imperish-
able glory. Again, in the post stake, 3
miles, he was victorious in the wonder
full time OF 2:263, and it was this race
which induced the Louisville Jockey
Club to offer the special purse against
time at 4 miles, that was won by him in
the most renowned race that has ever
fallen to the thoroughbred; for as long
as the English language is spoken, and
even longer, 7:15& will be remembered
with pride and ambition.
At Louisville, on May Doth, Ten
Brock ran two miles against time, and
: again came out winner, thus making
him the fastest horse in America. He
was started nearly at the one-eighth
pole, and, with ST. Louis at his side, sped
away to glory. They reached the GUAR
ter in 251, the half in 50, the three-quar-
tiers in l Is, St. Louis close at the hero's
side. As they bounder into the stretch,
Necy Hale began cantering forward, and
Joined Ten Brock at the string, St. Louis
dropping out Of the race. The mile was
made in AZ, and Mr.. Harper, who was
assisted by Mr.. ]. t. Williams, shouted
to Walker to let the horse 90 for all that
was in him. Necy Hale was unable to
maintain the pace which Ten Brock now
cut out. She kept company with him
as far as the quarter, which was pafsed
in 2:099, but was behind him in the
half, which was reached 2:35. As they
rounded the turn the horse never ran as
Ten Brock then. The three-quarter
pole flew by them like a bolt from
catapult, the flag falling as the watches
adicated the remarkable time of $40,
..csss Ten Brock came springing down
the home-stretch, having bid Necy Hale
farewell. When the first mile was run,
the crowd with difficulty restrained it's
enthusiasm at President Clark's sugges-
ton, but now as Mr. Williams ran toward
the horse waving his hat to urge the
jockey to put the gallant steed in his
mettle's extreme, wild burst of applause
went up to the skies, and Ten Brock
crossed the score, with the spectators in
an uproar 1.-TWO, twenty-six.o Two
twenty-eight." "He beats McWhirter! "
q Ran for Harperl" and other ejacula-
tons of similar nature were heard amid
the yelling throng about the reporter
desks. La moment Mr.. Green stepped
from among the time-keepers, and taking