The Washington critic., 1886-04-01
WASHINGTON CRITIC
WASHINGTON, APRIL /, 1885.
4 LOCAL f'fVORITE,
Sketch of the Career of the veteran
Colonel Spraguc.

Colonel Spraguc.
There Is horse at the Ivy City
track that has always held warm
place In the hearts of Washingtonians
and for good reasons, as he has been n
winner at almost every meeting of the
National Jockey Club, so that his many
hackers are always ahead. This horse
is the bay gelding, Colonel Sprague, g..
years. old, by Calvin, dam Pauline
Spraguc, by Joe Johnston. He mide
his debut In the Momus Stakes at New
Orleans, when he ran second to his
stable companion. Kirk one half mile in
Sc. The next effort he made was in the
same position with others behind him.
three-quartcr mile, in 23. He continued
to run second and third until fall when
he won at thrce.q quarter mile in 1:2)f,
with four others In the rear His next
two races were Mt mile heats; the first
he won in 1 54 and :52I; the next day
following in 1854 and 1.47. This for
a 2.year.old was wonderful. He then
wound up his 2ycarold career at
Columbia, S. c., by winning at a mile
in :45f.
His first try the next year was at
mile heats, which he won in $50 and
1:4S@ The next win was at Baltimore
where he beat Victim, Rapid and seven
others at mile in 1:4jI. AT Saratoga
he ran second to Greenland. II mile;
in 1.54i, beating Ripple, Girone and
seven others. This was grand race
and lost only by nose. AT the same
place he won at mile and five hun
dred yards in 2:20; four finished be
hind him. The next win was al
Sheepshead, when he beat six, It mile.
in 211I; same place he beat Bounce
miles in 1904, probably his best race
| At Baltimore he was second to Wild
moor. II miles in 2:l0l, with Blue Lodge
Sir Hugh Greenland and Strathspey IL
the rear In the Novelty Handicap here
he was second to Valparaiso, IL mile,
in 2:001, track fetlock deep in mud anJ
water. He failed to score victory
here that fall, although hc tried thre,
times.
Colonel Sprague opened the season o.
1889 here in the memorable race IL
which he defeated Glenmore, Compen
sation. Blue Lodge and four others u
| II miles in 2:11i, the French mutual
| paying S160. His next win was q
Sheepshead in June, where he beat 81,
at II miles in 2:f2, and next day bet
tered the performance by winning u
same distance in 2:11. He tried clever
times, without success, at Saratoga ant
Baltimore, but when he started here il
the fall he beat good field of nine, 1
miles, in 1854 On the next day ne wa
second to old Checkmate, II miles II
2:37, only being beaten by nose. A
Charleston he won twice and once q
Columbia, which finished the season.
| AT six years he won his first try a
IT miles in 2:23l, and distanced Bell
of Charleston in mile heats, only on
heat being necessary; won l. miles Q
Baltimore in 2:124; at Sheepshead wo
II miles in / $50 from field of ten; q
Saratoga beat six same distance in l :j3t
same place beat great field one mil
800 yards in 2:14; at Jerome Park h
beat a good field IL miles in 2:2Sl, au
wound up the season here by winnin
one mile in / :45.
In 1884 he was so lame that Mr.
Burch did not think he would stan
training and wanted to sell him for
saddle horse. Finding no purchase
he was sent South for years res
The benefit he received was wonderfr
for he was certainly great horse la
year. He started out by winning liN
straight races and every one of thel
good. The first was the Nations
Handicap here, II miles, in 1 1;572; ne,
the Willard Hotel stakes. mile, |
1:45. Then he took up III pounds an
beat Tecumseh at 80 pounds and Ol
vette, II miles, in 1911. At Bait
more he won the Peyton Handicap,
miles, in 2:12i, with Pink Cottag,
Referee, Rica and two others benin
him. At Sheepshcad, with III pounc
up, he beat General Monroe, with II
pounds; Unrest, with 80 pounds; Fo
teral, with 107 and others, X mile
. in 2:25l. At the same place, with eve
weights, he beat Louisette, It, in 2:13
pulling double. At Monmouth he ra
third to Pontiac and Monogram
Then he walked over for a purse, al
next beat Pontiac, Long Knight al
Kioba, IL, in :5Si, weights about equl
At Saratoga he ran second to Pea
Jennings, 1 mile and 20 yards, in Ia
giving her Z pounds. He also won
purse at II miles, beating five. Wi
III pounds he ran second to that ia
horse Valet, with 100 pounds, II mile
in 2:40, Favor, Euclid, and four othe
in the rear. He won at II miles
1850, beating six. His next win was
Baltimore, where he beat Pontiac al
Tolu, II miles in deep mud, in 90
and closed the season at Washingt,
by winning at mile from Colon
Clark, Rica, and two Others in IA
The old fellow looks as well, If n
better, than he did last spring; so VIII
you invest your money in the sprin
If he should happen to be in the rae
don't forget him.