The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-09-10
The Coming PAGER.

LII OS-A-S = esOO4t
Editor Spirit of the Farm.
Tennessee horses are not figuring
quite so prominently upon the trot-
ting turf as of yore, but that fact is
mainly due to there being but few
starters that hail from the "Spoon
State" You are, however, credita
bly, represented by that truly good
gelding, Joe Braden, the property of
Ed. F. Geers, of Columbia, among
the PAGERS. Last week, at Hartford,
Conn, he won a great race, defeat
ing such fast ones as Marlowe, Tc-
ledo Girl, Tommy Lynn, and others,
and making a record of 2:16& in the
third heat.
AS 1 am quite we'll posted as to
the history of this very remarkable
horse, 1 presume that a slight re-
view of the same would not be IN
interesting reading for those who
take an interest in turf matters.
Joe Braden was bred by a Mr..
Boyd, near Bethel, Giles county,
and was sired by a little chunk of a
horse called Bull Gopher. Gopher s
breeding is practically unknown,
but he is a descendant of an old
time saddle strain known as the
"GOpher stock"
The dam of Braden was said to be
daughter of imp. Glencoe, but
this can scarcel y be true, as she is
not old enough. Her dam, however,
was bred within few miles of the
home of Glencoe, when he stood at
Col. Jackson's place in North Ala
bama, and she may have been a
Glencoe.
l am reliably informed that the
dam of Braden was by Traveller"
horse owned by Tom Tharp, noted
horse character, who lived and died
at Lynnville, in the same county.
Tharp's Traveller was by the orig
inal Traveller; and in his veins
cOursed the blood of the very best
ante 6eIlun saddle strains. In 1881
or 1882, the attention of Mr.. j. w.
Braden, of Pulaski, was drawn to
the gelding by the remarkable speed
he would exhibit under the saddle,
and he resolved to become his owner,
which idea was carried out by his
purchase of the horse in the early
part of 1888. Prior to his purchase
by Mr.. Braden, the gelding was
owned by Mr.. James Johnson,
well-to-do farmer residing near Pu-
laski, and he had never been bro
ken to harness.
Mr.. Braden at once placed the
horse in the hands of Geers for de-
velopment, and the latter being so
well pleased with his new charge he
made Mr.. Braden an offer which
was accepted, and he became Geers'
property. Geers at once christened
the gelding Joe Braden, in honor of
his former owner; and right gallant
ly has he enrolled the name among
those OF the famous flyers of the
present day.
Under the careful tuition of his
master, the horse developed very
and was so promising that
he was entered IN various places
north, and was in due time started
with the remainder of the stable to
fulfill engagements; but severe at
tack Of pink-eye caused him to be
dropped off at Louisville, and his
entries were forfeited.
He continued in training, however,
and in the fall he was entered
the late circuit in Texas.
Starting in the 700 and 2:3O classes,
he ended the circuit winner in all
but one race in which he started,
and with a record of 2:204. In
these races he met and defeated
some very superior horses, among
them the gray gelding Fritz, who
afterward made a record of 2:1S,
and was a good campaigner.
The severe character of his races
in Texas, coupled with the hard and
uneven condition of the tracks
which were then new-he did not
come out in good shape for fast
work during the season of 1884.
Though starting several times, he
failed to secure any of the important
events, but made a record of
2:18 by taking one heat in a race at
Pittsburg. This season he did not
seem to be keyed up for a fast effort
at Rochester or Albany, though
getting third money in the tree-for-
all at the former place. At the lat
ter, he, with two others, was dis
tanced in the first heat of the 2:18
class, which was taken by Gossip,
Jr., in 2:174.
At Hartford he was in fine fettle,
and downed his field in great shape |
1t is said he has shown a trial in |
2:15, and as he is a very powerful !
horse with a fine, smooth action, he |
nay yet crowd the 2:114 of Tennes-
sees fastest performer, the immor-
al Little Brown jug.