The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-08-04
A KENTUCKY HORSE SALE.
"High Tea" at the Henry Clay Mansion

'dlgn Te6 at Cne henry clay mansion.
Irsacus in the ". Y Observer.
If was a sudden transition from the
church to horse sale.
But very near the door of the church
in Lexington where the South and the
North had been shaking hands in the
warmest of fraternal relationship, stood
my friend, Mr.. Ephraim Sayre, and
his carriage in waiting, and without
any delay we were being driven six
miles into the country to attend horse
sale. 1t should not be called fair,
for the horses to be sold belong to one
man only, who has raised them and
pursues it as his business. There are
many in this part of Kentucky who
follow it successfully. Each one has an
annual sale, and months in advance he
publishes catalogue, giving the name,
age and pedigree of each horse that he
offers for sale. Buyers come from all
parts of the country, especially from
New York city. The scene is to us
novel and interesting.
A circular range of stables encloses
large area roof projecting into the
circle all around makes shelter from
the sun, and seats are filled with ladies
and gentlemen. The round enclosure
of green grass is perhaps two hundred
feet in diameter. The stables open on
the outside Of the ring, and small
window opening in enables the horses
to put their heads out and observe the
sale as it proceeds, and to hear the
prices which their companions bring.
The auctioneer stands on raised plat
form, surrounded by reporters and cor
respondents of newspapers from far and
near, who are taking down the price at
which each horse goes, and this is rapi-
dly sent off by mail and telegraph to
distant cities. Mr.. Sweigert is the
owner of the stock now to be disposed
of. They are all yearlings. He pre-
fers to sell them at that age rather than
to run the risk of keeping them till they
are older, though the price of a colt OF
promise rises rapidly. 1t is difficult to
effect insurance on horses; they are a
precarious property, and l was told that
it is hard to ascertain with certainty
whether the horse that dies is the one
insured, or another. But of that /
know nothing. The gentlemen who
are interested in this raising and sale OF
horses are as honorable and trustworthy
men as any in this community, and
some of them never engage in racing
or any speculation with the stock, con-
fning themselves to the legitimate bus
iness of raising horses for sale.
We reached the ground in the midst
of the sale. Seats we're Immediately
provided for the ladies. We were in
troduced to several gentlemen of dis
tinction in Kentucky, who were deeply
interested in the horses and the prices,
and while the sale was going on we had
time and opportunity for making pleas
ant acquaintance.
A yearling colt has not developed in
to ga thing of beauty" He is not
filled out, but has more good "points"
about him than he will have when he
has more flesh with year or two more
of age. Yet there was a great variety
of form, color and action. The printed
catalogue told us of each one, who was
his father and grandfather and so on,
and as a negro boy led him in and trot-
ted him around the circle on the grass,
leading him, not riding him, he was
under the fire of critical eyes, and eyes
of good judges of horse flesh. The
buyer must form his opinion of what
the colt will be one, two or three years
hence; and he will make up his mind
from the family to which the colt be-
longs, and the popularity of limb and
muscle which he sees in the embryo
trotter and racer before him. To me
there was no great difference in their
build and action, and it is quite likely
that what to me was beautiful animal
had no attraction for man who cared
nothing for ''looks," but knew very
we'll what was the sign of future speed.
And when the sale was going on of
these little and unhandsome creatures
my surprise was great when three hund-
red, thousand, two, three, fourA and
in one case five thousand dollars and
over were bid for one, and not the best
looking one at that. Great applause
greeted this sale, and it was felt that all
! former horse sales were now outdone.-
And so it proved. For when the forty
five colts were sold at prices varying
from 5000 to $500, it was found that
the sales amounted to $50, 900, or more
on an average than $1,000 for each
yearling. Other sales had recently
taken place in the vicinity, and others
were held few days afterwards, notably
at the Alexander farm and stables, but
at no sale this season did the prices
range so high as at Mr.. Sweigert's.
After the sale was over, instead of a
barbecue, such as l attended at the
Alexander sale, twenty-five years ago,
and of which you read, and of course
remember the account l gave at the
time, we were invited now to repast
of savory, and, I am told, delicious
character. 1t was not convenient tor
us to remain, as other hospitalities
awaited us. l forget the name of the
great dish of this feast. 1t is composed
of stew, that takes in all nice vegeta-
bles and all kinds OF game, squirrels,
rabbits, birds, and doubtless lamb and
beef; all boiled together and suitably
seasoned, making dainty dish, fit to
set before king. And have no doubt
that for those who like that kind of
thing, this would be the very kind OF
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