St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-27


stable. The season was commenced with
four horses, Johnston, Minnie R Fannie
Witherspoon and Revenue. The latter hurt
himself and became so lame that he was
sent home, it being Mr.. Splan's and also
Mr.. Woodmansee's idea that Revenue is too
valuable an animal to take any risks
with. 1t was therefore deemed best
to let him lay over the remainder of the sea-
son. This was great disappointment to all
including Commodore Kittson, as the horse
had shown to them in private some remark
ably good work, and all accordingly expected
him to mark his mark this season. There is
no doubt he would have done this but for
the misfortune referred to. The other horses
continued around on the circuit and have
returned to st. Paul for n.er quarters.
All are in excellent health and viii have
their shoes pulled off and will be allowed to
run out at least part of the day. The
work of the season has improved them all
and they appear more like playful colts than
like trained animals.
JoHSsToN's SHOES.
During the talk Mr.. Woodmansee in
formed the Commodore that Johnston had
on the same shoes that he wore when be
made 2:10, and 2:6sl that the front shoes
weigh twelve ounces and the hind ones
seven ounces, and asked the Commodore
how many of them he wanted. In this con-
nection he remarked that he did not know
that they would be able to get home with the
shoes on the horses, especially Johnston, as
everybody wanted them, and were trying to
crnff Tha oc11lf Of fba foil ct1h-
ject was that Commodore Kittson will have
two of the shoes, Mr.. Woodmansee one, and
the fourth win go to the stable They will
be silver plated and stamped upon them will
be the record of 2:06I.
GOING FAST.
Splan told in his interesting way, some
thing of his experience in fast driving. He
claims that travelling around with horses is
not calculated to bring out their speed and
keep them in good health so that they can be
ready for work at all times. He prefers
keeping them in one place where they will
have the same kind of water and feed. When
horse is at fine point very slight change
in water or diet will throw him off and then
there is an end to all fast work. A sick
horse can't trot. When Johnston made his
.2:06H Splain said heIhad a splendid day.
The weather was warm and the air was good
but the track was not so good. Had the
track been all right the figures would have
marked something lower, for Johnston is
great PAGER. He goes so easy
and never breaks. He has broken but
once this season and that was in Mime
apolis. Wherever the track is rough it seems
TO scare Johnston. When a horse trots or
PAGES as fast as he PAGES Splan said be ought
to have track as smooth as a steel rail. If
the track is rough it creates an uncertainty
on the part of the horse, and ne does not
have confidence. Mr.. Woodmansee agreed
with Mr.. Splan in regard to the 2:064 being
great surprise to everybody, and Mr..
Woodmansee told little story in regard to
j. |. Case, the owner of Phalas and Jay Eye
See. When Johnston made 2:10 Mr.. Case
remarked that he chad shot his last wad."
So when Johnston scored 2:0614, a gentle
man telegraphed to Mr.. Case that Johnston
''had shot another wad." While the 2:06L
of Johnston was great record it was not
one that surprised Splan for the reason that
he says he has seen something good deal
better. Mr.. Splan thinks that under certain
conditions he can pace in 900. He has
| gone quarters in less than 80 seconds which
is at the rate of less than two minutes to the
/ flli4Cs Ilc IL anu uintEe
from most others as his speed lasts through
the mile and stays up through the last quar-
| ter. Mr.. Splan expressed the belief that if a
running horse could be got that could stay
at his work through the whole mile that
| John stOn can pace mile inside of two
! minutes. The trouble is that the runner
who draws the LOAD, or who is expected to
draw it gives up on the last part of the
mile just where his speed is needed
the most. He thinks that Johnston and
Minnie r. would make good double team
and that they could probably show together
something better than any single horse has
shown. Johnston has never lost race and
but one heat, which was lost to Richball at
Minneapolis, in consequence of Johnston
losing a boot.
Mr.. Splan has great admiration for Minnie
X. She won every race she paced in single
| harness, and made record of 2:161z. She,
like Johnston, is one of those horses that
never breaks. She has shown in private
trials degree of speed that leaves no doubt
on Splan's mind that she win have no diff
Guilty whatever in cutting down her record.
He thinks also that Minnie r., if she could
have a running mate that would do his part
of the work, would beat Westmount's record
of 2:0l4. In speaking about Fannie With
her ont at Chicago, when she finished up in
| 2:16L, in a good deal less time but for the
| fact that Woodmansee came running down
the home stretch with both hands up for him
to stop her so as to keep her in the 2:17
| class. Mr. Woodmansee, who was holding
his watch in the grand stand, said he saw the
mare was coming too fast and that she would
cut down her record unnecessarily, so he left
his seat and ran down TO stop her. 1t was
fortunate that he did, for she was coming at
fearful rate and would have cut her record
all to pieces all for nothing.
COMMODORE KITTsoN AND sPLAN.
During the conversation of Splau anC
| Woodmansee in Commodore Kittson's office
while they told over their experiences on the
different tracks in the circuit, the commo
dore occasionally put in few words, but 70
most of the time he listened with great in-
terest to what was said He evidently has
the highest estimate of Mr.. Splan's ability a
driver, and values highly his temperate
habits and pleasant, gentlemanly ways. Tit
season has closed and Mr.. SpIan goes east
The writer asked Mr.. Splan wing he severed
bis connection with the commodore's stable
and he replied that his wife was east and al
mis- aud her interests were in tn
east. Furthermore, he remarked, W
all have to look out for our OWL
interest. He regards Commodore Kittsor
with the kindest feelings, but thinks with hi
reputation as a driver that he can open ;
stable of his own and drive horses entrusted
TO his care. The fact of the whole matte
is Mr.. Splan wants to do business on his owr
hook, and yet at the same time he has nc
definite plans formed for tue future. HI
has not engaged to drive for anyone else snC
dos m. intnnn 70 VI, ni-n nrrrr rn-.,nr n,