The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-08-14

hundred yards. lie never was trained
only for movement on the show ground,
and very few horses could run faster
than he could pace. He was a'so
trotter. In that day it was not popu-
lar gait. Nothing but sadders were
wanted aud never let him trot. did
not breed Tom Crowder. purchased
him of James IIutchcraft when he was
two years old. lie bred him. Hutch
craft is long since deceased. | know
all about these horses; lived in the
neighborhood of North Middletown,
where Pilot stood at the time Crowder
was bred. Old Pilot was imported by
John Hutchcraft and James Lindsay
from Canada about fifty years ago, and
is the sire of the celebrated horse Pilot
ir., as we'll as Tom Crowder.
Very respectfully,
WIN. SKINNER.
In Vol.II. of American Trotting Reg
lister, Wallace gives: "Tom Crowder
(pacer), h. foaled is; got by old pac-
ing Pilot; dem, Polly Hopkins by
Slasham, son of Comet, by. Whip; g. d.
by WHIP, 2727, bred and owned by
Presley ThomeS." In Vol.III.hc gives:
"Tcm Crowder,. (olO (pacer), b. h.,
foaled 1886, got old pacing Pilot, the
Canadian, dam by Polly Hopkins, by
Slasham, son of McKinney's roam
Comet, bred by VIM. S. Skinner,
Ruddells Mills, Bourbon county, Ky;
sold 1916 to II. B. Corbin, Union,
Boone county, KY, then to Thomas
Turpln, Warsaw, Ky, then to Michael
DeGold, 1856, Aurora, Ind, where he
died 1864. lie was the sire of Tom
Wonder and number of fast PAGERS
and trotters." 1t viii be remembered
that John M. Wood of indianapolis
states that Pilot with several mares was
taken from Canada to New Orleans by
Chas. Barker of the firm of lleinsohn
u Barker of Louisville, KY, dealers
in fine horses; that Barker sold the
mares at New Orleans, but brought
[ lot to Kentucky. We should be hap
ply to hear further from Mr.. Skinner in
regard to TIE ownership Of Pilot by
Mr.. Hutchcraft and the year or years
that he owned him.
Wallace in VolL of rs Register has,
"P''ot, bl. b. foaled about 1926. Moth
ing is known of his blood lie was
called a Canadian horse, and both trot-
t I'd and paced. At the latter gait it is
said he went in 2.26 W til 165 lbs. on
his back. He was bought in 1882 by
Maj. 0. Dubois, from Yankee peddler
in New Orleans, for $1,000. He was
afterwards sold TO ID. lleinsohn of
Louisvi'e, KY, and was kept in that
vicinity till he died about 1853. us
stock were VERY stout and fast"
Will Mr.. Wallace give his authority
for the above statementsf 1t might as
sst very much in ascertaining the real
history of this horse.
PONTIAC, H., May A, 1885.
Old black pacing Pilot was the found
er of a trotting family that bears his
name. He was French pacing stall
lion from Canada. lie stood in Louis.
vile, Ky, from 1882 until be died
making y seasons at one stable and
died at the age of A. years. His colol
was black, his height 10 hands and
inch, very muscular formed, heavy
Doned, very heavy name and tail, dc
not know his owners name. His stock
is much sought after now. Please dror
me line if you get this.
w. p. CORBIN.
AURORA, Ind, May II, 1885.
MIR. JOSEPH BATrELL, Middlebury, VT
Dear ,SU:-You will pardon me,
trust, for not answering your letter o.
inquiry, of March s, long before this
But as | was unable to give you all the
information desired in reference to Ole
Pilot, | concluded to first write to Mr.
Corbin, who once owned old Ton
Crowder, and ascertain what he knew
about bin; the result of my inquiry
you will notice, is his letter, which
enclose herewith.
never saw Old Pilot, and can give
you no further information in reference
to him than you will learn from the
enclosed letter. "Old Tom Crowder'
was a straight bay in color, with blacl
points and no marks, 10 - hands high
very strong and muscular, and | thinl
the best made horse | ever saw.
bought him in 1857 from Mr.. Turpin IN,
died in 1868, and was, at the time o
his death, as near as | could get at hi
age, % years old. The first time Mr.
Turpin came to our fair, in 1859 or go
after got Old Tom, the first man h,
wanted to see was Old Tom, and h,
Rugged the old horse when he saw hin
and then stepped back and said: "Gen
tlemen, the remark Pm going to make
you may all think is foolish; but | tel
you if could bring Old Tom back t,
five or six years old once more, ant
know what | know now, you nigh
fence in your town and wouldn't Civ
him for it," l don't think that OLE
Tom was ever trained ON any track
but in his daV cOuld heat anvhOdv'