Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-09
NELSON.
From American Cultivator. /


tic last week is feat which horsemen do
not tire of recounting. The event is one
of great interest and Importance to all
breeders of trotting stock, particularly
to those of New England. 1t shows
plainly that the North can compete sue
cessfully with any section in producing
speed. 1t also teaches what can be ac-
complished by breeding for several gen
erations from individuals of rare indi-
vidual merit which are naturally speedy.
and which have had their powers quite
fully developed. During recent inter-
view with the well-known horseman, Mr..
Wesley p. Balch of this city. we learned
the following interesting facts concerning
the ancestors of Young Rolfe (2:2lH,
Nelson's sire:
In 1856 Mr.. Balch went to West Ded-
ham, Mass, and bought of Joseph Fisher
& Son, relatives of Mr.. Balch, bay
mare. which was brought from Canada
by man named Bridges. She was rep
resented as a three-quarter bred mare,
that is, she was from thoroughbred stock
on both sides. She was handsome.
bood-like animal. and in general appear
ance was almost an exact counterpart of
the stallion Nelson. She could trOt in
about , 40. which was fast for those
days. Mr.. Balch had tried to buy her
several times, but her owners valued her
] a ha X-it
/ dent, which left her with big leg that
spoiled her for driving purposes. Yet in
this crippled condition she cost Mr.. Balch
/ 500. Nh. Balch sent her to Waterville,
Me-, and mated her with Rising sun,
which he then owned and stood at Water
Vile. The result was black filly which
got hurt in the pasture as a three-year-
old, and was never harnessed. She was
chrstened Lady Balch.
In the course of time Mr.. Balch bought
the stallion Draco 2:2s4), by Young
Morrill, = I'D, and stood him at Water
vile, Me, in charge of Ira II. Doolittle.
To digress little, it may be interesting
to our readers to know that Mr. Balch
afterwards sold Draco to Col. III. >. Rus
sell for 5000. After keeping him awhile
Col. Russell sold Draco to Mr.. Balch
again, who sent him to Col. Il. ). Stra-
der, Bulletsville, Ky, where he stood
two or three seasons, and was then sold
to Mr.. Charles l.. Sharpless of Phil
adelphia, Pa, whose property he died a
few years since. Mr.. Balch bred Lady
Balch to Draco, and the produce was a
filly which he named Judith. She was
again mated with Draco, and produced
another filly, which is now known as Co
lumbia, and is distinguished as the dam
of May Gould @ :26D and Rienzi Maid.
Columbia was trained some, and could
show wonderful burst of speed, but
could not carry the clip. y full mile in
about , :26 was her limit.
Judith was not broken until she was
five years old. She was mixed gated,
but was naturally very fast. shortly af-
ter she was broken they put toe weights
upon her, and she could show :35 gait
at once. She was remarkably stylish
mare and a prompt, cheerful driver.
There seemed to be no limit to her speed
for short distance. She could outfoot
Smuggler in n brush down the stretch,
and take the pole from him when in his
prime. The best she ever did for Il full
mile, however, was , :30i, driven by the
late Mike Carol.
In course of time Mr.. Balch bought the
stallion Tom Rolfe, of b. 5. Wright, then
of this city, who had him of j. w. Pritz,
Dayton, Ohio. Tom Rolfe was then some
what advanced in years and was lame in
one ankle. The price paid by Mr.. Balch
was 500. Tom Rolfe could then speed
a quarter in thirty-six or thirty-seven
seconds. He was fine-coated, yellowish
bay horse, and as beautifully gated
one as ever appeared upon track. Be-
fore being injured he showed a trial in
2:23.
Mr.. Balch bred Judith to Tom Rolfe