Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-07
Again on the Track.

The sstricks- Of horsemen in making a
trade are often the subjectif much fidi-
cule and unfavorable comment, but it is
to be questioned if there are not as many
sstricks- to the sale Of other classes Of
goods as to the saleSof horse. In selling
anything the general rule is to put the
best side out and cover up defects. and
the sale of horse is probably no ex-
ception. But Col. Battersby. in his very
treatise on craftsmanship to
which we have once or twice referred of
late, mentions an interesting fact which
almost amounts to ''triek, in the sale of
a horse. 1t is that horse approaching
his stable when returning from few
hours or an entire days work on the road.
has quicker step, shows more spirit and
power in his motion, and is generally
more alert than when first harnessed out.
Many horsemen so well understand this
that they plan to exhibit horses which
they are TO sell, just as they are brought
back to the stable after short drive out.
Horses continue to go from Maine and
to be brought to Maine. Out go the fancy
gentlemen's readers. back come the heavy
draft, work and team horses required on
farms, and at road, street and fire service
in our towns and cities. Mr.. Trask
the well known horseman of Gardiner
brought twelve fine, large Western bred
horses to that city last week, one pair of
which, weighing 5000 lbs. was purchased
especially for the Hallingsworth Paper
Co.
The Boston Spirit says that the young
pacing mare Nellie o., now owned by
john II. May, formerly of this city, is in
training in the hands of j. j. Bowen of
Boston. This mare trotted mile last
fall in IA IA. and is said to be better than
ever this spring.
Milton. the fine black gelding formerly
owned by w. ii. Whale of Boston. has
just been purchased by Bangor gentle
man whose name we hope the papers of
that city will give us, as we want to know
the owner of so valuable a roader. His
work is 2.4 II.
"a black gelding, six years old, stands
1873, weighs 1850 lbs, very even and
smooth gated, can trot in 2.40 and I'M
doubtedly faster, well bred, raised in
Maine, sound, kind and fearless"-that is
the description of horse shown at the
stable of Andrew J. Childs, in Boston, as
given by the esprit of the Hub" 1t is
one often seen in the turf papers,--the
name not being omitted-and is typical of
that class of horses for which our State 10
now winning so high reputation.
The esprit of the Times stallion cup
was won by Mr.. John II. Mays Maine
bred stallion Pilot Knox, at Mystic Park,
Sept. 30, 1885, 2.l9 II.
The celebrated trotting mare Nav
Gould, (2.2S), by Jay Gould, (2.2l l-2), is
to be trotted in the Eastern circuit this
season.
Remarkable stories have often been re-
lated of the sagacity of the horse as to the
"homing instinct" but we do not remem-
Der more strange one than is mentioned
by the National StOckman of May 81. 1t
relates that Mr.. Ernest Butler of Millers-
burg, Ky, had friend in the Indian Ter
ritory who sent him some six months ago,
an Indian pony. 1t was kept confined in
Mr.. Buffers stable until four weeks ago
when it got out and wandered off. The
StOckman says: SIT went through the
several States swan the several rivers and
arrived in the Indian territory last Mon
day. 1t travelled in four weeks l,200
miles" The incident seems almost in
credible, but if true is certainly marvellous.
The Breeders Gazette says there seems
to be luck in the name of Gretchen for n
brood mare, and three famous mares bear
ing this name figure prominently in the
lists. These are: Gretchen the dam of
ClingstOne, 2.2i; Gretchen by Gideon the
dam of Nelson, 2.2l IA, and Susie Owen,
2.26, and Gretchen, by Mamhrino Pilot,
others in the $50 list. In Mr. Nelson's
case his beautiful old mare Gretchen, now
twenty-one years old. not only has pro-
duced the above fast ones, but with Young
Rolfe really laid the foundation of Mr..
Nelson's fame and fortune as successful
breeder. There must be 'sluck" in
the name as the Gazette says.
One day last week Mr.. Robert Bonner
drove Maud S., over to the old Fleetwood
Park track, and turning her the wrong way
of the track sent the Queen a mile to a
top wagon in 2.29 IL, the first half being
covered in Ill.
A desire has been expressed among
hOrsemen to have a match made this seas
on between Harry Wilkes, (2.l3 la and
Bell Hamlin. (2.13 81, and it is not i'm
probable that the same may be made.
An Aroostook county mare, Hattie B.,
black as coal, l6 hands, and weighing
about 100 lbs, is said to be in training
for the Eastern Maine and Maine State
fairs this fall and is going to surprise
horsemen. She is five years old, by the
Kentucky Stallion, Trident, and in the
hands of Mr.. George GOsline.
One of the green Maine bred mares now
owned in Boston is Buzz, owned by Mr..
W. C. Parker of that city. She has plenty
of pluck and nerve force to trot low down
in the twenties and, bids fair to get a
mark there this season.
Mr.. +. II. Phair of Presque Isle has
just sold his four-year-old Stallion Eye
mont, by Bloodmont, dam by Almont
Lightning, to John Willard of that town.
This colt is the first of Bloodmont's get,
stands Is hands. and weighs 100 lbs.
Bloodmont will without doubt be given
low record this fall. Last year, after a
short stud service, he was handled some
and showed himself a trotter by beating the
horse Cruishank at Presque Isle. in 2.34;
and paying Cruikshank AMI Nellie NJ, at
Houlton in 2.36. PA and 234 l-2 Nellie
NJ, is by Daniel Boone, by Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. and one of the best of his