Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-07-06
OLD PILOT AND HIS GET.
From Spirit of the Times, 1871
'Prrfo O1 tI1c II1ho5i 1o'''J
LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug, IL, 1857

Dear Spirit II believe that the memo
ry of good horse deserves to be perpet-
uated--at least the memory of the old |
fellow | am now writing of-and know |
of no better way to commemorate him
than to give you short history of Old
Pilot and some of his progeny. His colts
have shown, from New York to New Or
leans, though they are perhaps better
known at the latter place than anywhere
out of the bounds of Kentucky. Old Pr
lot was Jet black Canadian horse, about
14t hands high, of great length and fine
bone, with action which was unsur-
passed in his day. He generally paced,
though he trotted finely. Pilot was ia
ken to New Orleans by Yankee peddler
about the year 1882, then six or seven
years of age. He was sold to Maj o.
Dubois for $1,000. This must haye been
long price for little black ram, as he
was frequently called. But the major,
being one of the best horsemen in the
States, knew well what he was about.
He told me that the Yankee told him that
his horse could 60 alarming fast and that
his price was $1,000 cash. The price more
than anything else induced the major to
look at him. They took him out; the
peddler rode him in a breeching with
pulleys leading to his mouth and what
time do you think he made in the year
1881 or 1882, when, if | am correctly in
formed, three minutes was about the best
on record in trot and 2 40 in pace. Well
sir, he paced mile in 2 :26 with 165 lbs.
on his back. OF course the major bought
him and afterwards matched him, but the
cat was let out of the bag, and finding
he could do nothing with him in the way
of racing, he sold him to Mr.. ID. Heinsohn
of Louisville, KY, for the same he gave
for him. who kept him until he was rs
years old, when he sold him for $500 to a
gentleman of Louisville, who sent him to
his farm to breed to his own mares,
where he died few years since, about 80
years of age.
The produce of this horse are remark
able for stoutness, game and speed. For
number of years he got no good mares,
not, indeed, until he had turned out a
number of good racers and trotters.
shall name of his get only such as l
know, and only the most prom inent, for
all of them had speed at some gait.
About the first one trained was Bear
grass, who, as three-year-old, was very
promising both as a trotter and PAGER,
but Frank Chase, his trainer, determined
to keep him on a pace. This horse won
several good races and had great turn
of speed; indeed, am told by a reliable
witness that he went half a mile in min
ute when he was in training to go two
mile heats against Berry's Confidence
the trotter.
l fear shall occupy too much of you
, valuable paper, if go into list of al
the good ones know of. | will mention
only few.
The Infant, own brother to Baby, trot
ted at five years old in the forties.
The Baby, black colt, trotted in 2 %
2 the fall he was three years old. He bea
Gilmore the same fall, mile heats, a
, Louisville in 3:20, $40, 1912. Gilmor
I won the first heat. The track was ankl
deep in mud and the rain fell in such tor
+ rents that the overcoat which the sucke
+ who drove Baby wore during the frs
two heats weighed Is pounds. Thi
a house was taken to New York by Mr. X
I TenBroeck at the same time he tool
Prince.
Trifle-a small chestnut mare, now o.
, the road in New Orleans-is hired ever,
r day, goes dozen races "A year, and al
| ways goes creditably. | saw her trot il
30 in harness last winter.
e Pilot Jr., Ole Bull, Tom Crowder
9 Clifton, Pilot and Mazda, are all by Oh
= Pilot and all produced good ones.
t Tom CrOwder was the sire of Ton
q Wonder, now in your neighborhood. III
e was also the sire of the dam of Nativ
b. American, who is in your vicinity, bu
/ has not yet shown, but when he does
n look out for CREASED lightning.
Taylor lllOt, dHOlHeI sun VI lDe OH
n horse, was the sire of Native, maxim!
e him double Pilot. | am little particu
0 lar about him, for some day this may b.
Y referred to.
S l will now pass on to the hOrs
e we in this vicinity are most inter
e ested in, viz, Pilot Jr This hors
r stood in this county three and fou
e years since, making his colts here nov
i three years old. He has been recentl
e purchased of Mr.. ID. Heinsohn of Louis
S vile, by DR.. Herr of this place, a cleve
e gentleman and excellent horseman, an
a scientific veterinarian, in whom all tn
S horsemen of this county feel interested
| Pilot Jr. trotted number of races i
4 the hands of the same persons VIII
n owned Baby, and won all except one
= viz. four-mile race at Louisville, whc
| ~ ,;. Id l.