Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-25
Clingstonc's Oraer Explains.

The great Clingstone, who beat Edwin
Thorne during the first part of the grand
circuit and put in heat in PA, and i'm
mediately fell off, to the great surprise of
his admirers, is still unable to come up to
his former speed. The correspondent of
the Spirit of the Times, writing from Bos-
ton, at the time of the great Blanchard
race saw the owner of the great Clingstone,
Mr.. Gordon, and opened up the question.
The correspondent says:
Thinking that there must be some cause
out of the common course of ''ups and
downs" in the career of a great trotter
which has prevented Clingstone fulfilling
the predictions of experienced horsemen
based on his performance at Cleveland,
July 90, last, 1 waited on Mr.. W. J. Cor
don, his owner, who kindly gave me the
following information in reply to my re-
quest, as follows: ''Clingstone, having
beaten Thorne at Detroit, Cleveland, Buff
falo and Rochester, the public are unable
to satisfactorily understand why horse
of his breeding should have been defeated
by the same horse in slower time, in their
subsequent races at Utica, Hartford and
Boston, and, if you can account for it,
am sure it would prove very interesting"
Eyes, have ascertained, beyond doubt,
that Clingstone was greatly weakened by
the use of a sheet copper muzzle, to more
effectually prevent him from eating his
bedding, than was accomplished by the
use of the ordinary muzzle. This muzzle
1 allowed to be put on him with some mis-
givings at Detroit during the first part of
June last, but, to the unscientifc eye, the
horse appeared as well as usual, and my
apprehensions were allayed until he trot-
ted in Buffalo; then it was observed that
he had failed a little, as compared with his
form at Cleveland; and the change was
still more apparent at Rochester; but after
he lost his race at Utica in such slow time.
I was convinced the muZzle was the insid-
ious cause and Immediately ordered, by
telegraph, its use discontinued, and to
have it sent to me by express. On its re-
ceipt I had the perforations carefully
counted, measured, and mathematically
calculated, and it was ascertained that the
openings were only fraction over six
per cent. of the perforated surface of the
muzzle, consequently admitting a mere
fraction of the necessary supply of fresh
air, and correspondingly preventing the
escape of the vitiated air from his lnngs,
he was therefore compelled to use his own
breath. to great extent over and over
again. On the same day that ordered the
use of the muzzle discontinued, l. sent a
skillful veterinary surgeon to Poughkeep
sic to make careful examination of the
horses condition, who found his pulse en-
feebled and greatly retarded, his tempera-
ture much lowered. his respiration very
rapid, and the visible parts of his mucous
membrane ivid; there was also consider
able catarrhal discharge from his nostrils.
The same person critically examined him
the following week at Hartford, and found
decided improvement in his pulse. respi-
ration, and temperature, but his race there
showed that he had not fully recovered his
strength. Two weeks later I had the ex-
aminations continued by the same party
at Boston, we then learned that his pulse,
etc., was in normal condition, and, as he
manifested III every heat so much recovery
of strength, 1 and many others, believe,
with fair play. he would have undoubtedly
won that race. ALI these facts, and others
equally convincing, prove conclusiyely that
the muzzle has been the principal, and.