The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-03-21
Race-Horse Gossip.

at is questionable" says f. NJ. Dunton,
one of the editors of Dunton's Spirit Of the
Turf, in a recent issue of that journal, ''if
any city in the state can turn out as many
good horses in proportion to the population
as Ottawa 1t is also questionable If any
city can furnish as many well posted horse
men to the square acre as Ottawa; it is
therefore pleasant task to dilate upon
both men and horses of this locality. tits
in keeping with this subject then to say
that Louis Hess has aided very materially
in bringing about this excellent state of
things, for he has not only most decided
" comfortable horsemen's headquarters,
but he has collected an excellent library of
turf journals, such as Dunton's Spirit cfM
Turf, The Spirit Of Tie Times, and all the
stud books published, so that he who trots
may read, and not be ignorant regarding
anything pertaining to the turf If he will
open the books. The gentlemen who own
fine horses in Ottawa are, W. j. Nicely,
Mat White, DR.. VIM, Sheppard, j, b. But
Ter, Tom Reedy, j. NJ. French, c. M. Shaw,
G. A. Gregory, w. J. Dawell, II. McDer-
mott, Ii. j. Gillen, Edward Phillips, Henry
Holmes, C. II. Angevine, Ed. Temple, and
others There are good many others here,
of course, who take a hand when there
is anything good to be done in the way of
driving for business or for fun, but these
are the most important owners, all of whom
have as good horses as the next man, which
will be given in detail further on, and the
breeding of their stock pretty completely
1t may be said without any prospect of dis
pute that this has been one of the most Sc
we're winters ever known in this country
cold enough to make man long for the
Accomac, where the SHOWS are not quite so
frequent; or for the land of the bark eat
ing Adirondack, where one may wallow in
the sunshine on his ag-awam, or go to
sleep In the ag e.ostshook. There is, how
ever, kind of happiness in concert of
noises ameng the sleigh riders and snow
shovelers, in conjunction with the furious
evaporation between the chance for coal,
ale and sandwiches, and making music for
those who sit around the stove and talk |
horse. And yet the best of men may be
beguiled into thinking that he Is the owner
of the fastest horse that is trotted around
the stove in winter time. Nevertheless
when everybody is showed under, and
planted as firmly as the pines In ag-e-o-
tshook, they are free to confess that the
hope of getting home first is good deal
like small grass on the top of rocky noun
tans But the Ottawa horsemen are
a philosophical set of fellows, who are
willing to live, if only moment at time.
But when they talk horse, or drive them,
they live a good while and seldom get left.
Louis Hess, the boy Secretary" of the Of
tawa Driving Park, is generally the first at
the wire at whatever he undertakes His
place is headquarters also for all the lovers
Of good horses, and when any dispute comes
up for settlement it is always left to young
Hess. Reader, ten to one, If you knew
Louis as they do. you would leave these
disputes to him also. Mr.. Hess Is live
man wherever you place him, but when
his associates in the Ottawa Driving Park
are such men as l. W. Rogers, Pres Chas.
Irion, Vice Pres, w. H. Carey, I'd Vice
Pres, and Geo. Lindley, Treas, they make
A four in hand fit for any man. The pro
gramme of this association will be in print
very shortly, or as soon as the directors,
DR.. VIM Sheppard, w. w. Taylor, Thomas
Reedy and j. Frank Ford, decide upon
good one Many new and novel features
will be introduced; then success will perch
upon their banners"