Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-06
A HOME OF FAST HORSES.
A Negro Boy Riding an Animal
Worth 500, 900 after the Cows
The Harper Family and the
Horses They Have
Put on the
Track.

Lexington (Ky) special to the New York
Sun: Riding along the Frankfort pike the
other afternoon, we drove to the Harper
farm. The quiet, dwarfed old dwelling of
the Harpers nestles near grove of large
trees about mile from the road. The farm
contains FIVE hundred and seventy-nine acres
of excellent land, part pasture and part
woodland. There are only about forty head
of blooded stock on the place. Mr.. +. B.
Harper, the present owner, grew up IN the
old home. One Harper was killed here by
guerrillas, and two we're murdered In their
beds few years ago. The murderer used
an AK which had been worn down blunt as
hammer. No one has ever been openly
charged with the murder, and tie
mysterious tragedy is still talked about by
Kentuckians in whispers. Mr. b. +. Harper
is d rather kindly faced farmer of sixty. He
wears spectacles, and talks slowly in friend
" tone Young Frank Harper, a nephew,
assists in running the farm. Frank was alb
sent in Louisville with string of horses, get
ting ready for the spring races. We had
been informed that the old gentleman was
very reticent, and were, therefore, agreea6ly
surprised when we found him willing to talk
about his famous horses. Leading the way
to the weather beaten and dllapldated stable
few rods in front of the house, Mr.. Harper
directed Harry Hurley, frlZzled, sun dried
old negro. with a face like sphinx, to bring
OUT Inc HOIocSs lAC ACSLO WoAhO0 0hNOA a
narrow shed that extended along In front Ct
the barn doors, without saying word, dis
appearing through stable door. lie soon
reappeared, leading Longfellow by the halter.
While the handsome stallion was pranclng
around, Mr.. Harper looked on with beam
of satisfaction lighting his face. There, he
said, lis one of the only two horses in America
that ever ran mile in l 40. The other one Is
in there. He ran in :394. Longfellow is
in splendid physical condlUon, but he will
never run again on the turf. All OF Mr..
Harper's colts and hllies are by Longfrllow.
"Longfeliow was old Uncle johns pet,
said Mr.. Harper, ''but Ten Brock was al
ways mine"
After admiring the horse a few minutes
longer, Mr.. Harper said: They want Long
fellow to go to Tennessee next year, to Cen
eral Harding's; but If he goes he won't be
mine; they'll have to buy HIM"
This was said in Z manner that indicated
q princely price. He then turned to the
African sphinx, sayiag: "That'il do, Harry
take him back and bring out the horse"
Harry whirled around silently as an auto
maton, and led Longfellow back to his box.
Entering an adjoining stall, he soon returned,
leading Ten Brock. The King of race
horses is now seven years old. As he came
| bounding into the sunlight, his bright bay
coat shone like satin. His eyes were full Of
| fire. He raised the sphinx from his feet every
| time he threw his arched neck in the air
| Mr.. Harper looked at the horse with pride;
then stepping to the writer's side, he said:
There's a horse that has made the fastest
| six races ever run in this country"
After allowing time to admire the horse
| Mr.. Harper continued:
my uncle wanted to run Ten Broecb
| when he was youngster, but L saw points
about him that convinced me he would turn
out great horse. So 1 fairly begged hin
not to spoil hun, and he finally consented"
| "Was he large colt"
"No. Anyone that saw him then wouldn'
have given fifteen dollars for him. He wa
| little runt, and used to feed with th'
| sucking calves. Even as a two-year old ht
| was so small that was ashamed of him.
''You take good care of him now, l sup
pose?"
Nothing extra. The boys often ride hin
i after the cows, and go to the postofice or
his back. Ny neighbOrs cuss me Tor alloEinl
it. but the boys do as they are a mind t
| with him.
Here Wesley James, good-natured younl
| darby, the trainer of Ten Brock, who stoot
back of MIR. Harper, grinned from ear to ear
when Ten Brock was a two-year old,
continued Mr.. Harper, ''he was beaten In hi
first race by Bill Bruce, at Lexington, in 1874
| After that rae, | still asserted that he was tn
best horse | had ever laid my hands on-bet
ter than Longfellow.
After gazing at the horse intently again
Mr.. Harper said: ''He began to spread GU
and improve after that race. His joints de
veloped. There is something peculiar abou
hls fJrmatIon. You see ne stands over SIX
teen hands one inch high. Well, ne is ex
actly the same in length from his hips to hi
breast. A painter of racehorses says he
the only horse he ever saw whose shoulder
are longer than his head. They are usual
of the same length"
''What condition is the horse in now"
''He is Just as good as ever he was, an
could run as fast as ever this fall. His lun
are as sound and his legs stronger. He ca
run now without any training. The hors
has never yet shown what he really can dc
| believe If / had run him one mile furthe
the day he beat AID three miles, he woul
have made the four miles in 7:10 or 7:iE
The boy had to hold him so that his finger
were cramped to such an extent that
could ret ungirth the saddle after the race
He can change his feet, move his head, an
swing from side to side quicker than an
horse | ever saw, thus relieving the strain o
mis- muscles without losing time. And $
says Ben Bruce. Mr.. Bruce declares ths
there is no other horse in the world like him.
would you sell the horse, Mr.. Harper?
"Well, some English duke may come alon
some day and get him"
A recent visitor is said to have asked MI
Harper, "Will you sell Ten Broeck?"
Eyes" he answered, "for my price.
"What is your price?"
"Rather high"
body, was Mr.. Harper's reply.