Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-21
ROMANCE OF A RACE.
How a Nervy Philadelphia Woman
Won $1,000 at the Suburban.
PLACED HER CASH ON SENTIMENT.
She Was an Admirer of bennington and
Had Faith in His Progeny.
HOW SHE tanned THE BLACK BEAUTY

PHILADELPHIA, June 2G-It has just leaked
out that a Philadelphia woman won LOCO on
Loantaka at the Suburban She had
backed him 500 worth as matter of senti-
ment, never expecting to win, at odds
OF oto and consequently pulled out" 81, coo.
This lady was Mrs. Ellie Meredith Norris,
tnan whom there was no finer hOrsewOmau,
nor one more devoted to hOrseflesh and dogs
In Philadelphia, until in runaway she met
with 1n1ur1e that cost her her left arm.
Every day, fair or foul, saw her in the
saddle almost from daylight to luncheon,
and afterward, till dark, her horse and her
aos, her only companions. Her only son
MefeQltn, was killed in railroad accident
on his way back to New York from
the Coney Island races in 1855 While
he lived she was fond Of racing as
well as horses. When Meredith was lit
tie boy she drove up to Aristides Welch's
place at Chestnut Hill, to see the magnif-
cent black animal, bennington, out of curl
Oslty and out of her love of horsef1esh. Mr..
Welch's groom insisted that the horse was
in too ugly a temper to be seen by anyone.
bennington was subject to fits of frenzy,
when 1T was unsafe for anyone to go near
him.
Tanned the Spirited Animal.
On this day, though he was blind-folded
with an oats bag, the big horse was terror
to his groom. 81 insist upon seeing him.
persisted young Mrs. Norris, and Mr.. Welch
ordered the halfscared groom to trot out the
the lion which the lady had driven so
Mrs. Norris stood on the paddock and the
fiery beast was driven in. He approached
her and wonderful to relate, fawned upon
her as whipped spaniel does upon his
master.
After that it was a question which ad-
mlred Mrs. Norris the more, bennington or
his rOugh-spoken but gentle-hearted master.
picture of bennington always hung i'll
Mrs. Norris house after that, and she kept
track of his progeny ever after with great
pride and affection.
In 1880 Girofe, full sister to Irouuois
2year-old hlIy, by bennington, was entered
at Saratoga. Mrs Norris and her son, Mere
dith, were at the track and Mrs. Norris, who
stre's sake, told her son to buy her two S.
"mutuals" on the filly. "But, mother, she
can't win, demonstrated Meredith Norris.
In fact, Girof1e was what would be called
now rank outsider.
She Won Once Before.
Mrs. Norris was firm in her whim, however
and her "mutuals'' won. Girofle came in
first, and Mr4 Norris Judgment, until her
sons tragic death, was thereafter regarded
rs infallible. The horse she backed-and,
like her son, she was not only fond of horses
but of racing events-seemed always sure to
win.
When the Suburban began to be talked of
Mrs Norris saw LOantaka among the '1Ong
shots" She knew he was Sensations colt,
and that Sensation was by her old equine
idol, bennington. A little sentiment,
as she told friend of hers, in
duced her to ask someone who was
bound for the suburban to back Leaning
toms neglected great colt, $1C0 straight at
the odds given, 40 to l. bennington blood
won, and Mrs. Norris bit of sentiment netted
her handsome sum.