Daily Republican., 1880-02-28
LOCAL sPoRTlHG MATTERS.
A Revival OF Racing I'm Whining.
tOB-SOsd TFOstiBG Promised I'm
The spring-Interesting Turf
Topics OF the Fast.


A we'll known gentleman Of Whining
ton, who takes an interest In sporting
matters, remarked yesterday, that 1t
appeared to him that this city was in
fair way to have good track sport un-
der the auspices OF a reputable associa.
tion, in the near future. He added
that he knew Of nothing that could
prevent the success Of Trotting Asso-
citation here, If the matter was properly
conducted.
The second meeting Of the Delaware
Trotting Association will bs held at
Schuetzen Park, about "Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday, June End, 3rd,
and fourth. The programme will soon
be announced. The amount Of pre-
miums offered will be abont $1,000. 1t
is proposed to have arunning race each
day Two trots each day, and hurdle
race on the last day. The highest
trotting prize will bs about $500. The
meeting will be inauguratsd with good
racing, and 1t will be kept up. A
meeting will also be held In the fall, at
which premiums aggregating $1,000 will
be offered. The present Association
stands in very good credit, and owners
are anxious to enter their horses here,
being sure of their premiums.
If the racing at Dover and Middle
town is excepted very little really
good track sport has been witnessed in
Delaware for many day. Years ago,
however, a great interest was taken in
the matter around Wilmington and
good racing was much encouraged. d.
Those who were at the head of such
things q quarter of century ago were
George G. Lobdell, Bryan jackson, IA.
dock Townsend and others. Nothing
first started trotting about the time tn at
the Agricultural Society gave annually
what was called Seattle show" where
the Old arsenal stood near Ninth and
Washington streets, which was then
an open lot. After that good racing
was held on the Old Kings Road near
Ninth street. At this place there was
small track, only one eighth OF a
mile long. But Notwithstanding this
some of the most exciting races Will
mington ever saw were trotted over it i
in the presence of thousands. The next
move was to Scheutzen Park, and the
racing has taken place off and on ever
since.
Delaware has produced some good
horses who have speeded over these old
tracks at pace that was very fast for
the period. Possibly one of the best
was Morgan Blackhawk, the sire of
Delaware, oflater fame. He was owned
by Mr.. Sylvester D. Townsend of this
city in 1868, aud attracted much at
tention from local and metropolitan
sporting men. Another was Montreal,
a brown stallion, who was owned by
Mr.. Henry Grant and sold to the late
William Fleming. Montreal was raised
in this State, and trOtted once in 2:2S
to the surprise Of many. Hs became
great favorite, and would have done
wonders had he lived. One night in
Philadelphia he was poisoned to pre-
vent him from taking part in a race on
which much money was stated and
which he was almost sure to win.
Jennie Lind, grey mare, owned by
Mr.. Philip R. Clark, became fast and
got record at Point Breeze of 2.30.
She became owned by outside parties
and has not been heard of for some
time. A horse that was considered
one Of the best in his day was Old Abe,
a roam, owned by Mr.. John Merrick,
his record was about 2.44. Abe was not
a favorite on the track, and was not
considered fair trotter altogether, but
won many races. Hop was a brown
horse that was around here about ten
years ago, and was raised by colored I
man near Newark, and Thomas Coch-
ran Of Middletown bought him.
At Point Breeze, Hop trotted mile
In 2.251. William II. Doble bonght
him for Col. Russell, the owner of Snug
yler, and his name was changed. A
horse of more recent years,
that might have surpassed all others
rom this State that preceded him is ,
thought to have been Delaware, raised
by Sylvester D. Townsend. When Mr.. Il
Townsend had Delaware. in 1873 he
,rotted in 2.35. His record soop came s
lown to 2.27. At Suffolk Park, not
ong ago, during race with Sadie Bell,
le was run into by the fiery little mare ,
md severely hurt. If the accident had .
lot occurred he would have trotted the
ace in 2.20, it is thought. Delaware i
Ind Sadie Bell attracted great attention )
It the local races here year or two 4
Igo. G
An old sporting man relates an inter- tt
sting reminescence of trOttipg meeting
Vhen the course was at Ninth street y
nd the Old Kings Road. The entries
we're Montreal, Morgan Blackhawk and @
foscow. The first heat was close, and fl
hough rain came up great excite :,
lent existed, the two former horses q,
eing favOrites and rivals. A colored
nan drove Moscow and John Hagan, u.
driver, cut him over the Of
cad with whip. Montreal was ruled
q for this and Moscow won, although % ov
Q was the slowsst horse. Dexter trot-
ID at Scheutzen Park on one occasion q
nd made the fastest time ever record tt
/ here, 2.2S. Last Fall the brown
lare Dora made the next best time, sE sli
hich was only u second slower.
Years ago the raising of blooded hor- tn
's was entered into with much spirit u.
ere by several gentleman. Mr.. Lobdell Ii.
as one of the most extensive of these, su
ut he has abandoned it to great ex- thu
mt. Wilmington has MT manv fast
,rses now. The list includes Mr.. w. wa
. Thompson's Preston, record 1928; 'u,
r. J. ". Reeves Scissors, Mr.. G. +. he,
udolph's iron gray roadster, Mr.. Geo. prt
Millington's 2:50 span, and Patrick So