The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-24
A FEW WORDS CONCERNING HORSES.
Jack spratt to be Trotted at Lewis
ton and Probably at Mystic.
Something About Robert sonner's
World Renowned Dexter.
Senator stanford's Experiments at
Plato Alto.

Mr. William Smell, the owner Of Jack
Spratt, was called upon at his residence at
Deering Centre, and when asked II he would
exhibit his famous horse he replied that 1t
would give him great pleasure to show him.
When the stable had been entered and the
door closed, Jack was taken from his stall
and the two blankets that covered him were
removed. He is even more plump than he
was last fall when he was trotted a trial
mile at Gray in 2.23 'You see he is in good
condition." said Mr.. Smell. "He weighs
now 975 pounds and that Is 70 pounds
heavier than his trotting weight. He has
gained 70 pounds since last fall and this ex-
ira weight will have to be worked off before
he is trotted this year."
In what races will Jack Spratt be entered
this fall? asked the writer.
"Well, l shall probably trot him In the
June races at Lewiston first. and then, IL
can get him down to suit me 1 shall enter
him In the races at Mystic soon after the
Lewiston races"
DO you think that Jack can trot mile in
better time than 2.23s
81 don't think anything about 1t, l know.
trotted him In % ON the track right here
and believe can trot him in 2.20 on mile
track under favorable circumstances. II
take him to Mystic he will be trotted to see
what he can do"
Do you contemplate selling Jack Spratt?
II would sell him If / could get my price"
How much do you charge for him?
''WelI. don't know as care to have any
thine al dato fhok Int 4 houa vat
been offered what consider he Is worth"
Is it true that you have been offered $1,000
for Jack?
~ will answer that question. In 1886 the
owners of Harry Wilkes OF New York, Of
fered me $1,000 for my horse, and year ago
this winter Mr.. Swasey Of Standlsh, offered
me $1,000 for fOur-ffths Of him. / after
wards learned that Mr.. Swasey was acting
as an agent for four Boston gentlemen who
were each going TO buy fifth II would sell
at their price. Jack Spratt has a record
Of 2.264, he Is fine animal, and In my opin-
ion he can trOt when urged, faster than his
best record, which was made on half mile
track"
/ suppose you are working him now, pre-
paratory for the Lewiston race?
mot much, only jogging him little. Il
haven't started him In a three-miuute clip
since he trotted at Cumberland last fall.
81 have a five year old mare," said Mr.
Cntll, bldb cIptCt 10 uidkt 5OulCkuAuB QAs
/ am going TO work her as soon as the roads
are in good condition, and II she can trot as
we'll as have reason TO expect she can,
shall enter her in the fall races"
The proud owner Of Jack Spratt brought
from her stall handsome black mare, re-
moved the blanket and took her out In the
yard in front Of the stable for exhibition.
The animal Is good stopper, very stylish.
and certainly very promising She was sired
by q son Of Volunteer and her dam Is the
Belle Of Fitchburg. record 2.3O.
Mr.. w. ID. Ramsdell, the owner of Win
throp Pilot, by Portland Pilot. by Mambrino
Pilot, by MambrinO Chief, was found caring
for his horses in his stable at Woodfords
Corner. Winthrop Pilots dam Is Fllrt, rec
ord 2334, grand dam Lady Hudson By Hen
dric Hudson by Old Abdallah. Flirt Is
owned by Mr.. Ramsdell and is now with
foal by G0ldwood.
Winthrop Pilot is five years old, stands Is
hands. q inches high and weighs l125
pounds. He Is kept for mares and has not vet
been given record, but he Is very speedy.
Flirt. his dam, trottcd trial mile Is 2.2S1.
Mr.. Ramsdell has another colt years old,
from Flirt, that has good gait. This colt
and Winthrop Pilot will be entered in the
fall races. An eight months old stallion by
Winthrop Pilot, dam, Flirt, is also owned by
Mr.. Ramsdell.
Mr.. George Cram of MoTilps Corner,
ownes a mare which has trotted in 2.50 but
as yet she has been given no record. She Is
called Lady Lightfoot, weighs $50 pounds
and stands 10 hands and / inch high. She
was sired by Gen. Lightfoot, and his dam Is
Fowler Brandy. The mare has good gait,
will be years old In June and will be
worked this summer, bat will probably not
be entered in the fall races.
Robert Bonner's world renowned brown
trotting gelding Dexter that died Of old age
in his stable at West Fifty-ffth street, New
1858, and was the son Of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian, the great progenitor OF trotters. and
the grandfather OF Maud S.. Mr.. Bonner
bought him in August, 1861, from Mr.. Faw-
cett, OF Chicago, for $3.50 and he entered
his stable in September Of that year. Dex-
ter had then made his reputation. and was
accounted the best trotting horse in the
world. His record was minutes, ut sec
onds. Turf, Field and Farm" thus com
mented on the purchase ;s'The gallant little h
lie career in blaze of glory, and retires into
private life the hero of the fastest race Of the
kind in the world, and the peerless star and
marvel Of the times
While In Mr., Bonner's possession Dexter
beat his own record, reducing II TO minutes
16 seconds. He was also driven the fastest
mile that any horse ever made with road
wagon. He did 1t in minutes ~ seconds.
In his time there was nothing In the woEld
at all to be compared with him. lie had q
greater reputation than Maud ).
Dexter stood about 10 hands 1-2 inches
high. He was horse OF great nerve and
energy, and when Mr.. Bonner bought him 1t
was supposed that he had so much grit that
he could not drive him on the road. His
trainer, Doble, said, ''I'll have him back
again in three weeks, because Mr.. Bonner
can't control him. Dexter was useful up
to his 2Sth year. For the last two years he
has had only walking exercise and the best
care has been taken Of him because Of the
good work that he has done. Maud 5. Is
now fourteen years Of age. Her record Is 2
minutes, 5 3-4 seconds. But trotting horses,
when they remain sound, make their best
time at the age Of 16 or II.
Senator Stanford has been making expert
ments at PalO Alto, his California stock
farm, In the way of raising horses, which
are much commented upon by stOckmen. In
talking about breeding, he said: I'VE had
over a hundred foals last year, and the
animals are all doing well. There Is steady
improvement in the quality Of horses pro-
duced in this country. The Southern
breeders are improving the strain all the
time. | thing the secret Of improvement
comes in the crossing of thoroughbreds with
trotters. The results of our experiment at
Palo Alto with Electioneer, the trotting
stallion, in crossing him with thoroughbred
mares, have been remarkably successful"