Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-01-09
NUMBER 8.
FLORA TEMPLE.
Sketch Of the Life Of the Fastest Trottsr
in Her Time on the Turf.
PhiIadelDhin T;vuea

, sketch OF the Life Of the Fastest TrotteI
in Her Time on the Turf.
Philadelphia Times.
Flora Temple, the world-renowned
tr0tter, and the fastest on the turf while
she was in active sporting service, died
last evening at the stock farm of her
owner, Mr.. Aristides Welch, near Chest
nut Hill. She was foaled in 1845 and
bred by Mr.. Samuel Welch in Oneida
county, New York. Her sire was One
Eyed Hunter, who was by Kentucky
Hunter, and her dam was Madam
Temple, who was got by . spotted
Arabian horse owned at that time by
Nh. Thomas Terry and brought from
Dutchess county, New York. When
four years of age Flora, being regarded
as willful and unscrviceabie, was sold
by her owner, q Mr.. Tracy, to Mr.. VIM.
H. Congdon, of Smyrna, for thirteen
dollars. After passing through several
hands for remarkably small prices she
was purchased for $3.50 by Mr.. George
y. Perrin, of New York, and while with
him she became a true stopper. Her
first regular appearance on the turf was
at the Union course, Long Island, in
September 1850, defeating Whitehall
and three others in 1862, 2:55, 1862,
2:49. In 1854 the most important part
of her career began. In her first race at |
Hunting Park Black Douglas defeated
her, but she turned the tables in two sub
sequent races. Her only defeats were by
Tacony, Black Dougiess aud Green
Mountain Maid, but her victories in
cluded seven over Tacony alone. The
next year Green Mountain Maid beat her
once. The gray mare Sontag defeated
her in 1855 and she lost twenty mile
heat against time through casting shoe.
After defeating Tacony, Ethan Allen
and Lancet, in her contests in the
next two years, and having attained
a 2:244 record, Mr.. William McDon-
aid, a wealthy Baltimorean, bought
her for $1,000, and thirteen victories
crowned the years record. In 1859 she
defeated Ethan Allen and the great Cali
fornia mare Princess. The latter won
the second race, but Flora never allowed
her any other revenge. In the race at
Kalamazoo, Michigan, for 81, 900, against
Princess, she made the astonishing time
for those daysof 2:19}, and after another
victory over Princess and Ike Cooke, and
at the Union Course, November 81, in
against George M. Patchen un-
der saddle, made 2:28 and 2:23, the third
heat going to Patchen because the mare
crossed him. The concluding heat was
run after dark, and although Flora won
it was not given her. The postponed
race for the next day was not run. She
defeated Ethan Allen at Union Course,
November oath. Her victory in the
spring of 1860 over Patchen, at Union
Course, in 2:2l, 2:24 2:2l4, was said to
be her best. Patchen won tae two mile
IN the one m1le '2nu TWO mile FACES H !
and again at Union
Course, and also defeated Brown Dick at
Fonda. August 18th she won 81 500 +,
race over Patchen at Boston, and also ,
beat Ethan Allen at Kalamazoo, but
failed to beat Dutchman's time after
ward at New York. She then made
tour with Patchen. In 1861 John Nor
gan was the only competitor who offered.
and he was beaten in One-mile and two
mile races, the best time being 2:24a.
The government confscated her in 1861
because of her owners secession sympa-
thies, and her trotting days were ended.
died in 1865, and Mr.. WEIGH, :
Of Chestnut Hill, bought her for $1,000,
and her last public appearance was at
Dubois track, when General Grant re-
viewed the great trotters Her hind legs
failing her soon after, she was henceforth
Kept for breeding. |,