Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-27

Horse Talk from the Famous
Blue Grass Region OfHen-
-'s @ lucky 81.


harper Tor october,
General Withers principal stable is
kind Of horse cathedral. This is by
no means common. Many a fine ami
NAL, almost as much the pride and pet
Of its owners family as II they were Of
Arab stock. is led out. but from shah
by quarters. The stables Of the region
are clean and wholesome, but do not
incline 10 fantastic elegances Of adorn.
ment such as srs growing in favor
among ourselves in the Northern
cities. Here the light strikes down
upon us through colOred glass win
dows; the whole interior is faced up
with hard woods, and the floors Of the
principal aisle, or nave, strewn with
soft straw for exhibing the PAGES Of the
animal upon, could not be neater il it
were that Of a drawing room. The
main dimension is 1855 feet, and this is
crossed by transept Of 100, The
stalls are toward sixteen feet square,
They have outer as we'll as inner doors
OF egress in case Of fire, and these are
never kept locked. Little or no fancy
iron work in the way Of stable fittings
Is used, wooden racks and managers
being preferred. Wide open spaces
over the partitions and transom ven,
tilators carry off all doors. The clean
hay is piled in mows above, and the
corn and oats slide down by traps into
convenient bins, Then there is place
for sulkies and road wagons, harness
room and harness mending room,
and a great collection ofthe myterious
looking boots and weights used in
breaking in the trotter. Near by a
little court yard is reserved as a hos
pital and in 1t stand a few animals
awaiting dolefully the end Of their
woes. NJ n
i am no great believer in veterin-
ary doctors, says our host. They
kill more than they cure. | blanket
my pstientsprotect them from sudden
extremes of the weather, and give but
little medicine. That is my system"
Visitors sit comfortably in chairs in
the cathedral like stable, and the
horses are brought out before them.
Each blue grass breeder of promi-
hence has his regularly printed cata.
logue of stock, revised yearly, gener-
ally with a wood cut Of the best stall
lion on the cover. Some, as General
Withers, insert the selling prices, from
which mo deviation" is advertised.
In looking over such a catalogue,
from SiO0 up to $4,000, are found to be
demanded for the younger animals,
with propOrtionately more for older
ones that could be at once made use
full. But when a horse has really
entered the ranks Of the great flyers
there is hardly any limit to his value.
One with record of 2:30 may be esti
mated in general way worth $4,000.
From 2:3O down to 2.20 $1,000 may be
added for each successive second.
When We come into the teens and
near the head of the record juggling
with gold and diamonds is coarse
occupation in comparison. Mr.. Bon
ner is said TO have paid $4,000 for
Dexter and S36, 900 for Rarus. andMr.
Vanderbilt $4,000 for Maud s. But
this last was before she had made her
great time; now that she has made il
you are conGdentially told that per-
son stands ready to draw his check
willingly for $40, 00O whenever he can
get horse that will lead her, and give
him the distinction Of having the
fastest trotter in the world, But how
does itpay2 Well, it pays first in stock
raising; it pays next in the opportuni-
ties to take purses and stakes afforded
by the great system Of racing circuits;
and no doubt even those gentlemen
who withdraw from racing and do
their driving in private life, find it
pays in a pleasure and improved
health, from this kind Of recreation,
extfavagant as It is, which they might
not be able to procure so we'll from
the expenditure of equal sums in any
other direction.