The Portland daily press., 1886-12-20
THE NOBLE ANIMAL.
"reminiscences OF Some Noted
Forest City Trotters.
Fine Horses at Present Owned in
Portland and Vicinity.
A List Of Home Flyers in the 2.3o
Class.
Local Notes Of Track, Road and
Stable.

| fNNNS the front in the past few
ET7EXSkNM years, and now the Dlrigo
| Nh~WM State stands scarcely second
| NM INN to any In theUnion as breed
&l6 /M er Of trotters, and fine gen
>>/ tlemen's driving horses. In
deed such an authority as General Withers
Of Kentucky, said when at the Maine State
| Fair few years ago, that Maine stood second
only to Kentucky in this respect The pas
lures, the water and the climate Of the Pine
| Tree State all combine TO make strong, fast,
| enduring horses. Maine breeders in early
days, Internationally in part, did great
work in founding class OF horses which
| Ter trotters and roadsteTs, have no superiors
| In the world. The Black Hawks, the Nor
gans. the Knoxs, and the Drews are types OF
horses which are truly noble animals. Dur
| ing the past few years such men as Gen. w.
S. Tilton, Major Richards, G. j. Shaw, A.
| w. Bracket. @. II. Nelson. and others, have
done great work for the horse breeding inter-
ssts of the State by introducing stations from
Kentucky and other States. Go into any city
or town in the State and you will fnd horses
which are worthy Of more than passing no.
tice. In Portland and vicinity there are
many splendid specimens Of the noble ami
NAL" For a few years past there has been
comparatively little trotting on Presump-
scot Park, but ii does not at all follow
| that the interest in trotting horses here has
| decreased. There is more interest and a
better class Of horses owned in Portland to-
j day than ever before. There is not so much
excitement and talk over horses as there
was in the days when Flora Temple and
Princess trotted over the old Island Park,
but there is full as much interest, and horses
are owned in this vicinity which would
make the above named flyers lower their
records or be headed in a race.
In Maine there Is no more ardent admirer
Of the horse, and withal one better informed
thereon, than Mr.. John S. Head Of this
city. He has sowned a number Of horses
which have trotted into the charmed
circle" Among others which Mr.. Heald
has owned are Cleora Belle, Belle of Port
land, Nonpareil. Father Slocum and
Detective. Cleora Belle has double team
record of 2.27t. She is by General Knox. is
now owned in New York, and it is said
there is not a faster pole horse owned in
that city than she. There are many who
will remember Mr.. Heald's Detective. He
was by old Hiram Drew, and was bay
gelding standing about fifteen hands and one
inch. For years he was the favorite Of all
Portland horsemen. He was natural trot-
ter and never wore boot or toe-weight. OF
the great number of races he trotted he won
all except two and took second money, l
think, in these. Detectives record is 2.30l.
He is now 27 years old and owned in Brook
lyn, N. Y.
In speaking Of the horses which today are
owned in this city and vicinity, one natur-
ally first speaks Of the gallant little brown
gelding Jack Spratt, owned by Mr w. II.
Smell of Deering. Spratt is by Tom Patchen.
he by George M. Patchen. Spratt's dam Is
said TO be a thoroughbred. and was known
as the DIR. Keene mare. He Is brown
gelding, stands fifteen hands and two inches
in height, weighs about $50 pounds, and is
now II years old. His record is 2.26f,
although there is no doubt but that he can
trot in less than 2.20 He has trotted a half
mile in public ON the Lewiston track In leo.
and trotted trial mile the past season In
2.25. He is game racehorse, and another
season should lower his record several sec
onds. Mr. Smell has refused an offer Of
$1,000 for him. Mr.. Ira p. Woodbury. drove
Spratt in a race at Lewiston the past season,
and he showed his ability to beat his record.
Mr.. Woodbury. has driven him in six races
and never lost one. Mr.. Smell owns two prom
ising colts by Startle.
Gray Eagle, a fine looking geldins. seen ON
our streets almost every day, Is owned 6y
Mr. G.. +. Whitney. Gray Eagle is said to be
by Winthrop Morrill,, dam Messenger. He
Is years old, stands Is hands and two inch
es, and weighs 975 pounds. In the season OF
| 1885 he obtained a record Of 2.413 In race
at Gray Mills. He has trotted quarter in
"a seconds, 2.24 clip, and Is candidate for
| the 2.3o list. Mr.. Whitney owns a black
roam, years old Hambletonian colt, which
| Is said to be very speedy. He can show a
2.5O gait with two men in wagon.
| Carrie t., little brown mare, owned by
Mr.. Fred Boucher, Is what horsemen call a
| good one. She i by Dom Pedro; dam, a
| Morgan. She stands 10 hands one and one
half inches, and weighs in fair flesh $50. She
| was bred at Mechanic Falls, and has been
| owned by Mr. Boucher two years. During
| the past season she has tr0tte6 twelve OF
| thirteen races, and has shown she has both
/ pluck and endurance. Her record Is 2.293.
| She has trotted trial in 2.2S, al | In race
/ at Mystic trotted a half mile In i.10. This
/ winter she will be driven on the ad, and II
/ will be speedy horse which can lass her.
dropped in to see the veteran Griyer, Mr..
| Ira p. Woodbury., at his place OF business on
| Green street few days ago. He was basy
| clipping a'hOrse, but when II was suggested
| that talk about horses would be agreeable,
he dropped his clipping shears, and very en-
/ tertainingly gave information about horses
| which he now handles, or have been under
his charge. There is Misehlevous Jack and
| Lady Bright Star, pair which Mr.. Frank G.
/ Cr0cker own and drives" said Mr.. Wood
bury, "yOu can make q note that they are
/ good ones, too. Jack Is black gelding.
| years old, stands 10 hands inches, and
/ weighs 1000 pounds. He got a record of
| 2.36f at the State Fair in 1885. His mate
| Lady Bright Star, Is by John Bright; dam
Woodbrook Messenger. She Is grey in col
| or, stands Is hands . inches, and weighs 1000
pounds. Her record Is 2.40. They are a
slashing moving team, and will be driven to
the road this winter by Mr.. Cr0eker, a gen.
tleman who admires fine horse"
Little Jim," continued Mr.. Woodbury., Is
| a horse of wonderful endurance and nerve.
| His breeding is good He is by Don Fulano,
he by Gen. Knox, dam Morgan. He Is a
bay in color. stands IA hands, inches,
| and weighs 775. He trotted several good
| races the past season, and at Gray got a
record Of 1854. There isn't a horse in Maine
with more game in him. He is owned by
| Mr.. j. Scott Jordan"
Mr.. Woodbury. always gets enthusiastic
when talking about Gilhreth Maid, owned by
| Mr.. II. A. Brick of Lewiston. "Gilbreth Maid, I"
said Mr.. Woodbury., is by Gilbreth Knox,
dam Witherell Messenger, stands 10 hands
inches, and weighs $50 pounds She has
won more money the past season than any
other horse in Maine. She has record Of
225t, made in the ffth heat. She has trotted
Is heats in 2.28, and better, and the third
quarter in the fifth heat Of a race in "a sec
onds, ZIG gait. There is no horse in Maine
which has trotted so many heats as the Maid
She has raised two colts, which are owned
by Mr.. Keegan of Augusta Mr. John s.
Head. who is good authority, says they are
| very fine and valuable colts. The Maid is a
grand mare" She has trotted "a heats be-
low 234, and has proved to be a great
campaigner with wonderful endurance
and staying powers. The Maid is now In
better condition than ever before. She will
be driven 10 the road this winter, ard next
summer will be trotted in the NewsEngland
circuit, and Is very likely to enter the 2.20
list. OF the races she has trotted thereshas
not been single instance where sheI has
ever quilted, even in single heat.
Mr. Woodbury. owns some flyers himself.
Black Nell is one which will attract the eye
of horseman. She Is by Phil Sheridan,
the New York Phil Sheridanl dam Can.
adian. She is IA years old, stands 10 hands.
and weighs $50 pounds. She obtained a
record of 229t over the Lewiston track In
1888. Nell will hereafter be used as brood
mare. She is in foal by McGinniss. an AL
mont, or said to be- BED Cross, also owned
by Mr.. Woodbury., Is 10 years old, stands Is
hands inches, and weighs 900 pounds. He
is by the Bradden horse, he by Messenger
Duroc, dam Knox. He has a record OF
2.35t, obtained at Presumpscot In 1885. He
has shown 2.25 this season. He will be
driven to the road this winter, and Ira saws
man who bitches on" to him will want 10
| be behind trOtter To down" him. Red