Daily globe., 1883-08-20
Turf HiStOru.

Under the above caption Captain B.
Atkins of this city contributes the follow
ing interesting article to the Chicago
Horseman of the 18th:
s'The term sensational trotter is applied to
horses that suddenly show fast rate of speed
without previous experience in races, or long
preparation. The gelding Captain Lewis,
known as the plow horse, is notable example,
The first sensational trotter to appear on the
turf, showing a low rate of speed under such
circumstances, was the young stallion Robert
Fillingham, subsequently named George Wilkes.
This was early in the season of 1861. During
the previous winter rumOrs were rife that
there was then in New York, a young stallion
only four years old, that could show a
rate of speed at the trotting gait equal to Geo.
NJ Patchen or Ethan Allen, who were at the
time the most speedy entire horses in the world
The universal belief at the time was that it was
simply impossible for horse of that age with
out track experience, to possess the speed claim
ed for the young horse, and great was the sur
prise to the horse world when it was announced
in the New York papers that a match actually
had been made between the young stallion and
the reigning queen of the turf, Flora Temple.
This announcement created a great sensation
throughout the country, and the match was a
general topic of conversation among horsemen,
for president among politicians. The race did
not take place, however, it being forfeited on
the part of the horse, but resulted III making the
name of the young stallion familiar one in al
sections of the country.
s'The next season, 1852, another startling SEN
sation was created by the announcement that
this young and untried horse had been matched
in large sum, $4,000, against Ethan Allen,
the matured veteran of many contests on the
turf oy,d hovi0n fhpD ropOr1 Of E.D1A The
race came off Sept. 10, 1852, mile heats, best
three in i've, to harness. and resulted in splen-
die victory for the young stallion, he winning
in straight heats in the then wonderful
time, for staIlior, of 2:24}3l, 2:25M, 2:31.
''During the next season, 1863, he was the
winner of four match races, two against the gray
gclding Rockingham, and one each against
Lancet, aud General Butler. His name was
then changed to George Wilkes, under which ne
was the winner of eighIten races against the best
horses of the day, including Com. Vanderbilt
Lady Thorn, Geo. NJ. Patchen, Lucy, American
Girl and others. He was also the winner fol
five match races in double harness hooked witt
| Honest Allen. During his turf career he did not
have the benefit of exclusive training in prepa
ration for his races, but was in daily use by his
owner for road driving, and many of his matches
were made as the result of a lively brush on the
road during the after talk at the road house.
| In the spring of 1873, when the great per
! formance of Dexter and other sons of Handle
tonian had made the blood first N demand witt
breeders, George Wilkes was taken to the blue
grass region of Kentucky, and placed in the
stud, where he was largely patronized until hi
death, which occurred in 1881, becoming the
| fountain h. ad of the renowned family of tur
| performers and roadsters that bear his name
| He was among the most prepotent sons of Ham
bletonian, being the sire of some fifteen per
formers with record under 2:30, besides man!
young trotters that are now awaiting an oppor
| tunity to make themselves a name in turf his
tory, as well as to add to the fame of their sirt
| by the merit of their performances