Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-11-06
JOSEPH BATTELL,
NitltllpburV, VI
JOHNSTON. 2:O6lI
IRON Dunton's spirit OF The Turf.

JOHNS TON, 2:O6H.
From Dunton's spirit OF the Turf
Let us see how far the detractors of
Johnston are justified IN their disparag-
ing remark, against this great PAGER.
The horse had created great stir by
his marvellous flights of speed in 1852,
when only thrce-year-old in the hands
of the Wisconsin countryman, Joe Bas-
sett. In consequence of which, Eb.
Smith of Milwaukee. Wis, purchased
controlling interest in him. In the
hands of Peter V. Johnston CATER whom
the horse was named) this great PAGER
first appeared at Detroit, Mich. June
IS. 1883, defeating great field of nine
horses, with perfect ease, and establish
ed a reputation not only for speed, but
game as well; time-2 :2j4, 2:2S4, 2:22t.
1t was then dollars to doughnuts that
Johnston could give all PAGERS odds, and
a beating. From Detroit Peter V. took
his great PAGER to East Saginaw, Mich.
July 1, winning over the famous PAGERS.
Gurgle , 30, Daisy D., 2:22t. Jack
Hart , :234, Chestnut Star 2:23. and
three Others with ridiculous ease in
, 81. , :2l4 and , %. From East Sag-
paw he went to Kalamazoo. Mich. July
10, and won again over five of the same
competitors; time-2;lS, 2:2l4, pisa.
From there to Chicago, and on July 1G
met Gurgle , 30, Billy 5 214i. and
Eddie d.. 2:l1, winning in 2:l3, 2:15I,
and distanced them all in the second
heat. This settled the question of Johns
tons race-horse qualities. For from
that time on no man was to be found
who had the hardIhood or cheek to pit
any horse against Johnston in Il race or
out of it. Peter V. brought the horse
back to Chicago at our October meeting
as show horse, being barred in all the
classes, and paced to beat 2:l0t. and
made 2:lO, October Q. And with that
record he went into winter quarters.
being sold to Com. kittson for S20. 900.
His campaign in 1881 opened at the
summer meeting, at the old West Side
track, this city, where under John
Splans tutorship, Com. Kittson's stable
greatly distinguished itself; IN which
was, Johnston, Clemmie G. and Minnie
Il. Here Johnston paced three exhibi-
ton miles July II; time-2 :23i, PAIN,
2:l2t On the Sth of August, Splan
had Johnston at Buffalo, y. Y, where
1t was three cOrnered race. the fastest
heat to take first money 300. Johns
tons time was 2:l2t. On August Is,
he paced three exhibition heats at
Rochester, y. y, in , 20, 2:114. 2:l2t
And on August % Johnston was back
to Chicago again, in match race of
$4,000 with the little slayer, Rich Ball,
whom Johnston beat in straight heats (:
tlme-2;l3, 2:llf, 2:l34. In this race
Johnston proved beyond dispute that
he was game. 1t was thought by some
"sore-heads" that whenever Johnston
met a horse that was nearly equal to
him in speed, that he would not act in
his usual serenity of spirits. We saw
that race, and thought then as we think
now. that if any horse living can 90
the first quarter in :32. the second in
81, the third III 80, and come home in
80. that horse was Johnston. At Min
neapolis, Mimi, September 1, this PAGER
went against Rich Ball again, and beat
him easily in , :l3, 2:20f and 2:lSi. At
saltwater, MIMI, September ID. he
paced in 2:l2; at Milwaukee, Wis.
September Is, in 2:l5 and 2:ll4.
But before he went to his beautiful
home in st. Paul, in 1881, he made
his memorable 2:0Gt, seven years ago
this month. 1t was the grandest mile
we have ever seen. Rich Ball was start
ed at Johnston when the latter reached
the half-mile post, but he was no help,
for the clip was so much faster than the
little white faced gelding could go that
he broke and fell to pieces. Johnston
was at the quarter in :32, at the half in
034, three quarters | 30, the second
and third quarters hayng been paced in
3l4, and the last quarter in 81 |. In fact,
when Splan called on Johnston fifty
yards from the wire for the first and
only time in the mile. he shot away like
bullet from gun. And besides all
Johnston has come again this year and
made the great Hal Pointer pace his
best to beat him, and has Out-lasted even
Hal Pointer, and finally defeated him in
1891. Indeed, Hal Pointer, Direct, nor
any other horse has ever made this en-
vIable record, in single year: 2:0s
June ! 1904 July %; 2;O6! August 2;