St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-12
Old Pacing Pilot.

Editors Turf, Field and Farm: Having
received several letters from persons living
long distances apart, asking questions about
old Pilot and one very lately from South
ern gentleman who owns several fine trot-
tiers, asking me to give history of old
Pilot in some paper, l conclude to tell what
| know about the little black RAM in the
only gentleman's newspaper.
In 1884, in Louisville, KY, I heard
George G. PriSbury say that there was
wonderful horse in the city, who could
pace over the toughest Of ground without
skip, and at wonderfully fast gait. l
went to the old round building, formerly
Pippins' circus, on the corner of Third and
Jefferson streets, then occupied as stable
by D. Heinsohn, the owner Of Pilot, as
livery stable.
On inquiring for the horse, was shown
to box stall in the yard, where I found
Pilot haltered by a neck rope and head
halter to ten-inch post planted well into
the ground. 1 was cautioned by Peter,
his colored groom, against entering his stall,
as he was very cross. On inquiry, I
learned that Pilot had been purchased by
Mr. Hensohn from Maj. c. Dubois. of
New Orleans. was told at the time that
Pilot was brought to New Orleans from
Canada by peddier, who told Maj. Du-
boiS that he was willing to match him
against any PAGER living.
The major went out to see Pilot work.
His owner rode him with a draw rein rig
ged to breeding. He went two miles in
1924, 2:26, 4:50-an unheard-of perform
ance at that day. A match was made, but
the ''cat got out of the bag" and the match
fell through. MI. Dubois bought the horse,
and sold him to Mr.. Heinsohp. who brought
him to Louisville in the spring Of 1888 or
1884. Pilot was Canuck, less than IA hands
high; black, with very heavy name and
tall. His head was small and finely shaped.
He was as strong a horse as / ever saw of
his inches: had good shoulders, wonderful
back and legs. One popularity about him
was that his hind legs were as straight as
post, l have ridden Pilot very often, and
believe L have seen him go faster in pace
than l ever saw any horse 20 either in a
pace or trot. feel sure that he has carried
me quarter Of a mile in thirty seconds.
Mr.. Heinsohn owned Pilot many years
and then traded him to Mr.. John Bell of
Louisville, on whose farm he died, being
very old at the time. L have often said 1
believed half the horses had more sense
than the people who handled them; to prove
the truth of which l give an incident in the
life of old Pilot, showing that he was not
naturally vicious horse.
AS already stated, Pilot was so cross that
it was considered dangerous for any one to
go into his stall, excepting his groom, who
always carried a stout hickory stick, which
he frequently used on the horse. At one
time Peter, Pilots groom, was taken sick,
when MIR. Heinsohn told Jesse, crooked
legged. little niger man, belonging, as well
as Peter, to Mr. Heinsohn, to feed and
water Pilot through the window, placed
near his trough for the purpose Imagine
MI Il. s establishment on going into the
back yard few days afterward to see
Jesse leading the little black devil to water
by the bride without the pole. for he had
never been led anywhere without it until
that time. On being taken to task for his
folly, Jessie simply replied: 1.-The boss
amt a-gwine to hurt me eff I don't hurt
him." This opened Mr.. Heinsohn's ewes.
He let Jesse take charge of the horse and
he soon got him so that he was as kind as
any other stallion. 1 have seen Jesse ride
him to the river to water many time with
out a saddle. -
Old Pilot was put in training but once
that | ever heard of. Bill Israel came to
Louisville to see Pilot. He liked him, and
obtained the use of him for few months
He took him to Cincinnati and matched him
against Buck Tail, then famous PAGER.
Hiram Woodruff, then quite young man,
came out from New York, rode Buck Tail,
and won. 1t was said at the time that Is
raef was too much afraid of Pilot, or he
would have won. After the race Hiram
asked to ride Pilot, which he did, and at
once offered to match him against Buck
Tail the same race over.
Pilot was hard horse to manage on
starting because he would not allow an
other horse to get alongside of him for a
start.