Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-04
HUNDREDS IN TRAINING.
SCENE IN THE HORSE CITY
AT AGRICULTURAL PARK.
A Trainers Idea and Explanation of the
Way to Condition Racing
Steeds-Ete.

L
mated scene to a representative of the
REcoRD-U UNION, who happened TO be there
one morning recently.
Blanketed flyers, mounted by skilled
trainers, loped easily and gracefully round
and round the inner track, looking veritable
pictures of beauty and speed while in the
| outer track whisked about numerous PAGERS
and trotters, carrying with them the usual
skeleton sulky and scientific driver. All
were in active preparation for the coming
District and State races.
pretty sight, isn't it?n remarked Gard
ner, keeper OF the Park.
"Yes, indeed" answered the newspaper
man, "You took the words from my
mouth. But, say. Mr. Gardner, you are
well up in horse culture-can't you ex-
plain to novice what all this exercising
and training amounts to, and what it con-
sists OFF"
WELL" responded the genial turfman," 81
guess could give you fair idea!of it. But
come with me, and we'll take walk,
around among the stables first. | think
you can see enough there to initiate YOU"
The two started off down to the east end
OF the Park and into what proved to be
veritable horse CITY,"
"Ah, now, here's flyer just coming in
off the track" said Mr.. Gardner, stopping
just at the entrance to the stables, and
pointing to big black stallion steaming
and covered with froth, who was being
walked down through the Enclosure by his
trainer. "We will follow him and you can
see the operation"
They joined in the procession behind the |
big trotter and accompanied him to his |
stable. The trainer first tetbered the ami |
NAL to a ring fastened in the wall of the |
stable. Then, quickly removing the blan-
ket, he proceeded to wipe the racer thor |
oughly dry with piece of cloth. This &C.
complished, the currying process was gone |
through lightly for few moments, and |
then the cloth was resorted to again. After |
the animal had cooled off sufficiently, a |
damp sponge was applied and then the |
genuine rubbing down" process was in |
dulged in. a stable boy was called in to |
assist in this operation, which consisted of |
liberal and vigorous application of the |
bare hands. The polish" was put on by |
means of light brush, and then the ami |
NAL was taken into his own private box |
stall.
"Whew" exclaimed.the trainer, wiping |
the perspiration flom his brow; that's |
more work than person thinks it is"
This is a newspaper man, Tom, said Mr.. |
Gardner, addressing the dripping trainer:
Can't you give him some idea OF why you |
go through all that labor on your horses?" |
Certainly. In the first place let me |
start in, by way of facilitating the explana-
ton, that training horses is like training !
prize fighters, or any other athletes, for |
their contests. They must be fitted for en- |
durance. You have to watch them con-
stantly and attend to their every want. A |
cold is the greatest enemy to training ath- |
lete or horse. Now, when / take horse |
out on the track, never allow him to cease
moving until he reaches the stable. As |
long as he is in motion he never gets cold. |
1t is not necessary TO speed horses when |
training them. 1t is sufficient 10 Jog them |
around the track at a good pace for half |
or three.qusrters of an hour That fixes |
their wind, as well as removes their SUPER
fluous flesh and hardens them. That is all |
that is necessary. Then the care begins. |
In drying and rubbing the animal it must |
be done that quickly and in such manner |
that he does not cool off too quickly Now,
before concluding / might add that no two |
horses are trained alike. That's where the |
trainers efficiency is tested. Some horses |
are naturally 1.-the and not given to taking |
on flesh or losing their speed in inactivity
These kind only need jogging once a /
week-in fact. l have one which l only |
take out three times month when train
ing him. On the other hand some horses |
have to be taken out on the track every |
other day or they will Immediately begin
to take on fat and lose their speed"
We'll, which make the best racers?" ven
tu-ed the reporter.
"ThRtsla question upon which trainers
differ. Most of them think easy trained |
ones are the speediest as a rule. Others in
cline Enr NV har
been unable to establish a rule either way |
/ have had horses under my care who re-
quired the hardest kind of training, but !
when once got in condition they could out |
foot almost anything. Well, | guess | |
have told you about all l know, and, as / |
have two more trotters to take out before it |
gets too warm, | must beg to be excused. |
Good day"
The visitors thanked him for his inform
alton, and wended then way into the heart |
of the horse city"
Stables to the right of them stables to |
the left of them stables in front of them.
This is bewilderingn said the scribe, |
and he certainly felt as he spoke.
Mr.. Gardner laughed, but promised to |
untaDgle matters.
I'VE will start Systematically" said he, |
land visit all of them in their order. Here |
is the first. These are Frank de Poyster's |
otdulcS, ne LdS d uuulOST Oh uUtTIeQ COILS 1
here which be is training for the Oakland |
meeting. Some of them are quite promis- |
ing"
The gentlemanly proprietor of these sta /
bles hove into view at this juncture ano |
promptly showed the visitor his charges, |
As Mr.. Gardner had intimated the green |
colts did indeed look promising. After |
these had been inspected some of the more |
sturdy and tried animals were looked at |
First of them was that great runner AL. |
Farrow sired by Conner, dam Della Walker. |
Farrow looks the picture of speed in his |
present elegant condition, and Frank says |
be Is going to astonish somebody this year. |
This is the same horse over whose racing |
there was such an uproar at the last Bay |
District races in San Francisco. Farrow |
was backed heavily 10 win, and it was |
claimed that he was pulled by his rider |
The stable boys, as a rdle, concede that |
Fatrow is the fastest horse now being trained |
on the Sacramento track. He makes his |
FIRST appearance this fall in Oakland and |
will also make the usual circuit, including |
the State races.
General, a 3-year-old. by Joe Hooker
Duke Spencer, By the Duke of Norfolk, |
and Longshot, by the Duke of Norfolk |
were also in these stables, looking fit as
fiddles"
, Worth 0ber's stables were the next
visited. Here were seen a string of beau
ties, that represented many thousands OF |
dollars in value. There were Ross s., by
Nutwood; Ajax, by the son of General
Knox; Prize, by Lynwood; Jessie c., by
Bishop: Stoneman, pedigree unknown;
Floren, by Wild Idle; Colema, by Cologne;
General Hamilton, by Langtry; and the
two yearlings, Psy-car and Hardnut, by
Ross S. Most of this string departs this
week for the lone races.
Matt Storms stable contained nine run
ners and one trotter, all in the finest of
condition. ST. Holloway, the trainer,
showed the visitors about. The runners
were Lurline. by Longfield; Glen Ellen, by
kyrle DAILY ; Kofter, by Longfeld; Norgold,
by Milner; Kildare, by Kyrle DAILY For
roster, by Joe Hooker; Fannie F By Wild
Idle, and Laragetta, by johnson. The
trotter is Belyidere, by La Grande All
were in shape and ready for The circuits.
The other stables were visited, and their
contents were as follows:
John Williams stable-Stallion Homer
F., by De- Prince Fidelity, by Nephew;
Johnny SHELTON (pacer). pedigree unknown;
Artist, pedigree unknown.
Sunny Slope stables, McCord, manager
Tommy Benton. by General Benton; Mary
Lon. by Tom Benton Ned Winslow, by
Ton, Rapfo,