The Baltimore County union., 1886-07-03
WHAT AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD FARM
HORSE DID.
a Few Months After Drawing Plow he
TrOtS in 2:2O.

In an interesting sketch of Horace W. Brown,
the successful trainer and track driver, the New
York Sportsman gives the following history ofthe
achievements of an ordinary farm horse that sud-
denly developed extraordinary speed under his
handling:
SIN 1882 he brought out the most remarkable
trotter that scored for the word, Captain
Lewis We might perhaps say, without fear of
reasonable contradiction, that he was, all things
considered, the greatest horse that has ever ap-
peared on the turf. Up to the time when he was
eight years old he was used as common farm
and hack horse and as late as May, 1882, was
doing the work necessary to put the seed in the
ground for the coming harvest. He was then
purchased by A. II. Tower of Lyons, N. Y, at
$500. The horse showing nice road gait, and
the new owner being proprietor of livery stable,
he designed the horse for general use either for
his own driving or to let to his customers.
"In being driven to a light wagon the chestnut
gelding showed so much speed that he was enter
ed under the name of Capt. Lewis at Lyons spring
meeting in the 300 and 2:5O classes, the former
being trotted June Z, less than thirty days after
he was drawing plow. The Captain captured
three heats in 2:35-2:33-2:353.
"a horseman who present said to the
writer, II was never more surprised or puzzled
than in watching the horse Capt. Lewis in this
race We had all heard of the horse and knew
the farmer that had owned him and supposed he
was good country road horse that could posi-
bly, trot mile in 800. I could see that he was
as green as steer for he could not trot the turns
at all but once in the stretches he would square
away, and, at 2:25 gait, close up on the leaders
as if it were only exercise"
"Three days later he won the race for the 2:5O
class in straight heats the fastest heat being 2:34
"The gedng was then sent to Rochester, N. .,
and placed in Horace Browns hands. and on
June 81 started at Olean, N. Y, winning in
straight heats; time 2:33f, 2:331, 2:343. He
was then purchased by Col. E. B. Parsons and B.
L. Sheldon of Rochester, N. Y, at $3.50, and re-
mained at Rochester training in Browns hands
during July. A good story, for the truth of which
we will vouch, is told in connection with the pur-
chase:
"In the winter of 1882 Col. E. 3. Parsons was
engaged in buying barley at Geneva, N. Y, and
among the teams drawing the grain for delivery
to him was one pair the driver of which assured
him the nigh horse "coud go some." After the
grain was unloaded the Colonel was induced to
ride behind the country trotter, the price being
Sl75 but Mr.. Parsons was not particularly i'm
pressed with the horse, and did not desire to buy
him at any price. Less than six months aftei
this he saw the horse trot the Rochester track
| close to 2:20, and became his owner, as stated
| above. The career of the horse read like a ro
nance. Aug. he was started in the Grand Cir
cult at Buffalo, N. Y, winning in straight heats
time, Z:zz4, z:254, 2:224
in straight heats time, 2:2O4, 2:2O4 2:224. Wher
it is borne in mind that this track has beer
trotted in race faster than 2:15, the time o
| Capt. Lewis is shown to be great feat. 1t wa:
believed at that time that he could trot fas
track, if especially prepared, in 2:15, and this
was less than four months from the time he was
drawing pillow on the farm. During this time
l.. Ionk al,
| the first one at Lyons. While at work on the
farm Lewis had caught his foot in a moving ma
chine, injuring he ankle which had become en-
larged and calloused. An operation was perform
ed to remove this, and result the leg ha;
never been thought strong enough to stand the
preparation for another campaign, although the
horse is going strong and sound as ever