Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-04
NELSON AND Ills PERFORM.
ANCBS.
i73.4 Seconds Gained in Thlffy-THo
Years.
Al Analysis OF the Blood Lines Of
the great Maize Stallion.
rChieaso Horseman. Oct 3o.l

chicago dorseWAn, CSt- co'J
nissl long leap from Fps 10 2.l0 81,
and il has taken thifty-two years TO cover
the difference of seventeen and three-quar-
ter seconds. Special interest has slways
been taken in trotting-stsllion perform.
ances in harness, IS owing to the gait and
mora or les, interference with the action.
the trotter has a comparatively harder task
than his pristine brother, the entire thor
ouphbred. With the advent OF Ethan
Allen, the "fyins- gated" son OF Vermont
Black Hawk, the best of what breeders
then called the "eold -blooded" harness
horse escaped the knife, and stations were
numerous on the trotting turf. Two-thirty
was then a haven hard to reach, as the
craft Of the trainer had not attained the
dignity of profession, and tracks, vehicles
and the various aids to speed now in vogue
we're crude or unknown. In 1888 Ethan
Alien trotted in 2.2s and was the champion
of stations. Lady Sutton, Lady Suffolk
and several others had previously trotted IN
9 80 or better, but Ethan Allen was the
first stallion whose name was inscribed on
the roll of honor. His reign lasted
one year. when George NJ. Patchen
t,orted in 2.25 IL, and the following year
reduced his record to 2.25 l-2. The latter
figure headed the stallion list until July,
1868, when Fearnaught trotted in 1928 Ii.
In the meantime a mighty stallion. destined
to be one of the greatest of trotting sires,
was making reputation as performer. and
three months after Fearnsught had assumed
the championship George Wilkes compelled
him to abdicate by trotting in 222. George
Wilkes was at the head of the stallion list
until 1872, when Jay Gould trotted in
22l IA. Two years after, Smuggler, the
converted PAGER, trotted in 20 3 4, and in
1876 reduced his record to 2.l5 Ia. which
figures stood at the head for eight years,
when Phallas stepped off full mile in
2.l3 81. His reign was short, as two
months after Maxey Cobb set the mark q,
2.l3 IA. For five years Maxey's record
was unbeaten. Then the phenomenal three
year-c cid, Axtell, trOtted in PIP. Stamboul
and Palo Alto the same year trotted in
PIP IA, and the first named has since
reduced his record to 2.1l l-2.
A m2htier stallion than them all came
West this year from bis home in the pine
clad hills of Maine. Over one thousand
miles of territory was traversed before he
reached the scene of his later triumphs, and
this long journey must be considered when
the uncomfortable performances of Nelson
are analysed. His career on the turf presents
a strong argument in favor of the system
of early development. Ee started in 1884
as a two-yesr-o old, and got record of 2.50
in a contested race. In 1885 be starred
five times, winning four of the events, and
got record of 226 3-4. His first winning
race that year was against two competitors
two years his senior. In 1856 he was in
retirement, and the following year started
three times. The fret was iiye-year old
race, which he won in walk.over. The
other two were exhibitions, in the second Of
which he low cred his record to 2.2l IA
In 1888 he did not appear in
public. Alter short stud season
last year he was placed in training, and
trotted his first race at Lancaster, n. Ii.
where he won in straight heats. He was
next at Boston, winning again off the reel.
the best mile being trotted in ZIG IL. He
then joiued the Grand Circuit at Buffalo
and defeated strong field in straight heats,
reducing his record to ID. At Hartford
he got second money ia the Charter Oak
State, won by Alcryon, trotting the first
heat in 2.l4 ii. He next appeared at Bea-
con Park, Boston, in the memorable Bslch
Stallion race for q purse of $4,000, and
defeated four others, including Alcryon,
2.l5 l 4. At the same meeting he made two
attempts against time and failed. He was
then taken to Kentucky for the State
Breeders meeting and was defeated by
Jack.
c. II. Nelson frequently asserted that
his horse was destined to head the stallion
list, and after beating the half-mile track
record of Jay Eye-See, September last. he
brought the stallion West to make good
his claim. The first performance was at
Fort Wayne, where the track record was
lowered from 2 81 4 to 2:l7. The next
start was at Kankakee, where at the first
attempt the record of Axtell was equaled.
Two days after, over the same track, Nell
son trotted in 2:ll l-2. The performance
was belittled in certain quarters because it
was made over kite track. To convince
the carpers that the horse needed no help
to his speed outside of ordinary conditions,
his owner drove him over the regulation
track the following week at Rushville
in 2:11 "a. Rain fell at the time and
the track was somewhat Glow. Nelson was
rext at Terre Haute, the same track over
which Axtell made his record. Two days
before he was to start against time the
horse was ailing from a bowel complaint,
and in weakened condition trotted the mile
in ii IA. He was next taken to Rich
mond, Ind, where over slippery track he
trotted in PA Ia, his Stoves: time
this year over a mile track. The following
Tuesday he was at Cambridge City, where
he trotted in 2.l0 81, tieiDg the record OF
Guy, who stood fourth in the list Of tretsers.
In his miles at Richmond and Cambridge
City he trott I'd the first halves, in l.03, which
time for the distance has only been beaten
by Maud S. This season Nelson trotted six
heats better than 2.l5, four of which were
better than PIP. record for a single season
beaten only by Maud s., Jay-Eye-See and
Guy.
The following tabulation shows the blood
lines of the champion trotting stallion: