The Osceola times., 1879-06-14
A HOME OF FAST HORSES.
a negro Bsy niaing An Animal Wersh
elee, ,eee Aster the Cows

.
pike the other afternoon, We drove TO the
Harper farm. The quiet, dwarfed Old
dwelling Of the Harpers nestles near q
grove Of large trees about q mile from
the road. The farm contains i've hum
dred and seventy nine acres Of excellent
land, part pasture and part woodland
There are only about forty head 81
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 were muir
dered In their beds q few years ago.
The murderer used An AZ which had
been worn down blunt - q hammer.
No one has ever been openly charged
with the murder, and the mysterious
tragedy Is still talked about By Ken
tuckians in whispers. Mr.. F. B. Harper,
Il a rather kindly faced farmer of sixty.
He wears spectacles, and talks slowly in
q friendly tone. Young Frank Harper,
q nephew. assists in running the farm.
Frank was absent In Louisville with a
string of horses, getting ready tor the
spring races. We had teen informed
that the old gentleman was very reticent,
and were, therefore, agreeably surprised
when We found him willing to talk about
his famous horses. Leading the way
to the weather beaten and dilapidated
stable q few rods In front Of the house,
Mr.. Harper directed Harry Hurley, a
frizzled, sun-dried old negro, with face
like q sphinx, to bring out the horses.
The negro walked under q narrow shed
that extended along In front OF the barn
doors, without saying word, disappear.
ing through stable door. He soon
reappeared, leading Longfellow by the
halter. While the handsome stallion
was prancing around, Mr.. Harper looked
vn with . beam of satisfaction lighting
his face. "There," he eaid, Is one Of
the only two herses In America that ever
ran a mile In LAO. The other one Is In
there. He ran in 1894. Longfellow is
in splendid physical condition, but he
will never run sgain on the turf. All
Of Mr.. Hsrpers colts and fillies are by
Longfellow.
"Longfellow was Uncle Johns pet"
said Mr.. Harper, but Ten Brock was
always mine"
After admiring the horre q few min
ntes longer, Mr.. Harper said: "They
want Longfellow to 20 to Tennessee next
year, to General Hsrding's but If he
goes he won't be mine; they'll have to
buy him"
This was said In a manner that indi.
Gated princely piice. He then turned
to the African sphinx, saying: That'll
do, Harry take him back and bring out
the horse"
Harry whirled around silently as an
automaton, and led Lonffellow back to
his box. Entering an adjoining stall. he
soon returned leading Ten Broeck. 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 srched neck in the air.
Mr.. Harper looked at the horse with
pride; then stepping to the writer's side,
he said:
"There's horse that has made the
fastest six races ever run in this coun>
try"
After allowing time to admire the
horse, Mr.. Harper continued:
"My uncle wanted to run Ten Broeck
when he was q youngster, but l saw
points about him that convinced me he
would turn out q great horse. SO
fairly begged him not to spoil him, and
he finally consented"
Was he large colt"
"No. Anyone that saw him then
wouldn't have given f teen dollars fol
him. lie was little runt, and used to
feed with the sucking calves. Even a.
a two-year old he was 30 small that ] wa.
ashamed Of him."
You take good care of him now, ]
"Nething extra. The boys often rice
him after the cows, and 90 to the post.
Office on his back. My neighbors cust
me for allowing 1t, but the boys do al
they have a mind to with him."
Here Wesley James, a good>natured
young darkey, the trainer OF Ten Broeck
who stood back of Mr.. Harper, grinned
from ear TO ear.
"When Ten Broeck was a two.year
DID," continued Mr.. Harper, che was
besten in his first race by Bill Bruce, in
exington, in 1874. After that race
still asserted that he was the best horse
had ever laid my hands on--better than
Longfellow."
After gazing at the horse intently
again, Mr.. Harper said He began to
spread out and improve after that race.
His joints developed. There is some.
thing peculiar about his formation
You zee he stands over sixteen hands
one inch high. Well. he Is exactly the
same ia length from his hips to his
breast. A painter of racehorses says he
is the only horse he ever saw whose
shoulders are longer than his head
They are Usually OF the same length"
What condition is the horse in
now 2"
Gle is just as good as he ever was,
and could run a. fast ss ever this fall
His lungs are as sound and his legs
stronger. He can run now without any
training The horse has never yet
shown what he really can do. / believe
II had run him one mile further the
day he best Ad three miles, he would
have made the iour miles In 7:l0 or
clz. Inc DDy nRu 10 nOIu 70 tnht his
fingers were crsmped to such an extent
that he could not ungirt the saddle after
the race. He csn change his feet, move
bis head, and swing from eide to side
quicker than any horse ever saw, thus
relieving the strain on his muscles with
out losing time. And 30 says Ben
Bruce. Mr.. Bruce declares that there
is no other horse in the world like him D
"Would you sell the horse. Mr..
HsrperT
"Well, rome English duke may come
along some day and get him."
A recent visitor is said to have asked