The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-20
FAST HORSES OF INDIANA,
Some Famous Flyers that We're Taken
from the PlOw and Dray.
An Old Horseman Tells Why No More Racers
Are Produced in This State-Red
Cloud and Yankee Sam.

II see that two Of our Indiana racers are quite
successful this season." said an old horseman.
yesterday. There is Zoe Bee, who has Just
rot ed three winning heats at Pittsburg in PIG,
2:17l and 2:17. She was raised in Montgomery
county, and promises to be great goer Then
there is Lena Swallow, fresh from her victory at
Kalamazoo Mich where she trotted three heats
ty and is very speedy. If we
would only treat horses right, no State in the
Union could excel US on the track. The same
belt of blue grass runs through Indiana that has
made Kentucky famous, but we must take more
pride in racing pay more attention to blood,
and be more cautious in training. What is the
use Of trying to develop speed out of an ordinary
plug9 If you care to look into the matter you
will observe that the majority of horses in this
State called speedy have no worthy pedigree.
Again, our half-mile tracks are enough to ruin
good horses The strain endured in constant
turning, while at high rate of speed is some
thing which no horse can long stand. They
don't do things that way in Kentucky. A horse
ought to be trained and raced on mile track,
which is soft and springy. The number of fine
animals that are broken down by hard tracks is
simply incredible. When horse is goina fast
he puts his foot down pretty hard, and if the
track is not yielding and spongv the incessant
Joltlng will be the cause of any racers break
down.
What are the best horses that Indiana ever
produced?'
''Well, taken all around, Red Cloud. He was a
plug though No more intelligent animal ever
trod the turf than Red Cloud. He was always
wit driv hon hn
driver pulled him for money, as everybody
knows was the case. That horse was the best
starter on the track, and if at any time the bell
should signal that the start WAS unfair, he would
quietly turn back look significantly at the judges
in the stand and begin the race over, restarting
like flash, never letting an opponent get the
advantage of him, but always keeping nose
ahead of others. Red Cloud was docle, very
fast and apparently tireless But it is safe to say
no other racer had such bad treatment At
Buffalo, his owner pulled him two heats for
money, and when it was discovered, Charley
Green took the reins, winning thereafter three
straight heats. in 2:18, which was in his day.
marvellous time. Red Cloud was an everyday
horse, if | may so speak, and could trot one
time as well as another. He never had to be
booted or equipped in the horse machinery that
nowadays you see on the track. Pity that he
was never seen at his best Good treatment
would have done wonders for him. He was
taken off the track in a crippled condition. and
put to blowing on a farm near Edinburgh, and
died there In the furroW, just as he was taken
from it to astonish his owners.
Rowdy Boy was another great horse from this
State-Greencastle, think He was the most
misunderstanding animal in motion that track
men had ever SEEN l believe he was coal
black, having a white spot on the forehead
When he paced his best it seemed that it was
without effort. Sometimes he would try to as
tonish the people, then he would stretch out
almost straight, his belly touching the ground,
and then he would fly! Even then his move
ant wac ilya fhap oil
Rowdy Boys time was PA, but ne, too, was
abused and became untimely wreck, dying on
his way to England, where his owner was taking
him to show the Britishers something about
pacing. 1 think he was plug like Red Cloud,
but a finer looking horse
A horse with strange story was Yankee Sam,
raised in Warrlck county and owned by Peter
Gardner. This trotter was apprenticed to a
dray for about TWO years, and the strain OF the
load during that time great that he be-
came decidedly sway backed Some one saw
that the horse had speed, and bought him at the
low price of $35. He was put to the track and
appearance was that of the most ordinary work
ing horse, having yellow color, short tail and
name, and apparently misshapen all around
After winning numerous victories he was taken
to st. Louis to trot against Little Fred, where
he stepped in a hole and ruined his ankle. His
record was marvellous for an ugly dray
horse; 2:20, think.
'.More recently the State has been represented
by gOOd racers. SOrrei Dan, raised near Evans
ville paced in I'll, and was sold East for $12 900
"a fortunate investment, for he didn't last long
Westm ont, from this city, owned by John
Steiner, was of the fastest PAGERS the country
ever saw. At Chicago, he paced mile with
running mate in 2131, and his official record is,
l think, 2:14l."
How has the State been represented in run
ming .horses?"
"Oh Indiana never saw but one good runner,
and that may be seen any day at Lewark's stable
in this city; | mean Roderick Random. He won
a cup at Lexington when two years old, and
there strained his ankle, since which time he has
beaten all the plugs in this section of the
country, but his condition will not permit his
turn to the track. Last spring he was tested,
and ran half mile in fifty one seconds after
being warmed up, but it was seen that his ankle
would not bear the strain; so he was broken to
work to the buggy. His record is 1:41"
what has the future in store for the glory Of
the track in this State?"
Nothing, nothing: we shall continue to raise
plug horses, and occasionally breed good one.
The people here think that because Red Cloud
came from the plough, and Yankee Sam from
the dray, there's more to follow. But | tell you
they're like SHOWS in August, and their reap
pearance will be something like the blooming of
the century plant. We are great fools about
horses. Fact"
Arrested for Assaultins Women.
Yesterday Roland Canady was brouoht To the