Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26
AMONG THE TKGETa.Ies.
Horse Talk from the Famous zsiun
Grass Region Of OfIeentucky.

General Withers's, principal stable is a
kind of horse cathedral. This is by no
means common. Many fine animal, al
most as much the pride and pet Of its
owners family as if he were Of Arab
stock, is led out but from shabby quar-
ters. The stables of the regions are clean
and wholesome, but do not incline to fam
tastic elcgances Of adornmont such as are
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 princi-
pal aisle, or nave, strcwn with soft straw
for exhibiting the PAGES of the animal up
on could not be neater if it were that Of Il
drawing-room. The main dimension it
155 feet, and this is crossed by transept
of 100. The stalls are toward sixteen feet
square. They have outer as well MS inner
doors for egress in case of fire, and these
are never kept locked. Little orno fancy
iron work in the way of stable fitting is
used, wooden racks and managers being
preferred. Wide open spaces over the
partitions and transom ventilators carry
mows above, and the corn and oats slide
uoNh ny tiuHS iiito blllN.
there is place for sulkes and road wag-
ons, harness room aud harness mend
ing room, and great collection Of the
mysterious looking boots and weights used
in breaking in the trottcr. Near by II lit
tie courtyard is reserved as hospital,
and in it stand few animals awaiting
dolefully the end of their woes.
81 am no great believer in veterinary
Il Ill
more than they cure. i blanket my patti
ents protect them from sudden extremes
of tile weather, and give but little medi-
cine. That is my system
Visitors sit comfortably in chairs in the
cathedral-like stable, and the horses are
brought out before them.
Each blue-glass breeder OF prominence
has his regularly printed catalogue of stock,
revised yearly, generally with wood-cut
of the best stallion on the cover Some,
as Gen. Withers, insert the selling prices,
from which "no deviation is advertised.
In looking over such catalogue, from
S400 up to 81, 900 are found to be demand
ed for the younger animals. with proper
tionately more for elder than could be al
once made useful. But when horse has
really entered the ranks of the great "hy,
ers, there is hardly any limit to his value
One with record of $50 may be esti
mated in general way worth $4,000
From $50 down to 2:20 81 900 may be
added for each successive second. Wher
we come into teens and near the head o
therecord, jogging with gold and dia
monds is coarse occupation in compari
son. Mr.. Bonner is said have paid S}3
600 for Dexter and 233, 900 for Harris
and Mr.. Vanderbilt $4,000 for Maud S
But this last was before she had made hel
great time now that she has made it yol
are told confidentially that a person stand
ready to draw his check willingly for S75,
600 whenever he can get horse that vii
lead her, and give him the distinction o
having the fastest trotter in the world
But how does it pay? Well, it pays frs
in stock raising, 1t pays next in the op
portunity to take purses and stakes Of
fered by the great system Of racing circuits
and no doubt even those gentlemen VIII
withdraw from racing and do thcir driy
ing in private life, find it pay ina plea
sure and improved health from this kim
of recreation, extravagant as it is, whicl
they might not be able to procure so we
from the expenditure of equal sums i
any other direction.