Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-10
Commodore Ktttson,s Horses.

Commodore Ktttson's Horses.
A day or two ago Mr.. Dan Woodmanses,
VINO superintends Commodore Kittson's
string Of trotters and PAGERS, and who,
= since the trottting season Of 1889 closed,
has been at Cincinnati with the horses,
returned to st. Paul. Mr.. Woodmansee is
in fine spirits and reports that all the ami
mails belonging to Commodore Kittson are
in good health and excellent co--u,uon.
Just as tney ought to be at this season.
When the string vas frat sent from CHI
cage, at the close of the last meeting at
that place, it was not definitely settled
Just what should be done with the
animals. 1t was matter
of discussion with the COM
modore, Mr.. Woodmansee and Mr.. Splsp,
as to whether the horses should be taken
down through Kentucky, Tennessee to
New Orleans, and so on through the south
or whether they should take them to Gin
cinnati, and there remain during the win
ter. About the first of November last
they reached Cincinnati when it was final
~ determined they should there remain
till spring and not go further south.
HOW THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
In brief interview with Mr.. Wocdman
see it was learned how the animals were
cared for. Their shoes have been taken off
and they are allowed, on pleasant days, to
run out in the paddocks, roll in the dirt
aud enjoy themselves. When the weather
is cold and it is rainy they ars generally
kept in and given some exercise by plac-
ing boy on one of them and having him
lead another. In this way they are all
kept in excellent condition, so that they
can be taken up and put into training at
any time with the prospects of obtaining
the best results. Mr.. Woodmansee says
the grass down there where the horses are
is just as green rs it is anywhere in the
summer, and that whenever they have
trosts they are of very light character.
Tde animals are never allowed to go cut
till the frost is off the ground. TIL ars
given exercise of some kind every day.
MAUD S.
This famous mare that put the trotting
record down where it hiss not yet been
reached by any other horse is also at Ches-
ter park, where the commodore's horses
are, in charge OF Bair. Mr. Woodmansee
says che looks badly, and that horsemen
that have seen her express the opinion
that she has seen her best days and will
never again go under the wire with any
thing like the speed she has shown. Her
left fore leg has been blistered on account
of lameness, and the leg seems to have
thickened up somewhat. Bair hopes that
she will come around right in the spring
but knows nothing about the intentions of
Mr.. Vanderbilt in regard to her.
THK TIME OF THE HORSES.
Mr.. Woodmansee naturally feels pride
in the animals under his charge. There
are right of them in all, as follows: John
ston, 2 10; Little Brown jug. 2:11A; Gem,
2:132; Fannie Witherspoon, PIT; So SO,
2:174 Minnie R., 2:19; VonArnim, 2:19I {;
SilYerton, 2:204. This gives an average
of PIG, and he does not believe there is
another stable in the land that can lead
out eight horses with an average of PIG.
JOHNSTON THE PAGER.
This animal stands very high in the esti-
nation of Mr.. Woodmansee and Mr.. Splan,
Klttson. This estimate of him is based
not alone upon what he has done but upon
what they ell have a belief he can do, and
that is to set the record down good deal
lower than it now stands. He is, as all
know,a bay gelding, 151 hands in heighth,
six years old, and weighs 900 pounds.
There are no white marks on him. His
withers are sharp, and he has thorough
bred neck and head. In his hind quarters
there is the unmistakable pacing formation,
and that is the only spot about him that
does not indicate the pacing gait. He
shows great deal of speed at the trot-
ting gait. He is a good strong looking
animal with rangy, rakish appearance.
In this respect he is quite different from
Little Brown jug, who is bunchy. Mr..
Woodmansee represents that Johnston has
held matinees almost every day since he
has been at Cincinnati. Everybody wants
to see the pacing wonder, the horsemen
come from ali around to inspect him. He
is playful and coltish all the time, and
wholly without an ugly trait. In the en-
thusiastic language of Mr.. Woodmansee
she is the kindest dispositioned horse on
earth. Anybody, even child, can drive
him." This horse started in five races,
first at Detroit, and passed through the
Michigan circuit, winding up at Chicago.
He has never lost heat or a race, and did
not in any of his races make but one
break, and that was at Detroit in q big
field of fifteen or sixteen horses. He went
through all of these as though they we're
pulling for him to go through. From his
first race he increased his record, and con-
tinued to increase it till he touched 2:10
without trouble, and it is known well
enough that he can put the figures still
lower. Mr.. Woodmansee says
that if the judges should think
he WAS pulled and put another
driver up behind him it would make no
difference as he would go right along just
the same with the new driver. Anybody
can drive him. He goes fast because he
loves to go that way. He wears light shoes,
knee and quarter boots, with nothing be-
hind. The knee and quarter boots are now
put on not because they are needed but
simply for safety.
The following is the pedigree of this
grand animal: He was sired by Bashaw
Goldust, he by Billy Bashaw, he iby Gems
Bashaw; Basaaw Goldust's dam was by
Champion Goldust, and her dam was
thoroughbred; Johnstons dam is byssNed
Forrest, her dam by Steers Kentucky
Hunter; Ned Forrest is by Edwin Forrest
and his dam by young Sir Henry, grand
colt of Henry.
.Johnston's gait is..perfect at all stages
and he moves as frictionless as oiled ma.
chinery.