Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-14
NANCY HANKS.
TEE HISTORY OF Tas QUEEN REGSNT OF THS
TURF
She is Ens Big Bay Mare that Trots Easisr in
The Last Rsas Of Racs than In the
Erst-0ihsr Sporting Matters

LEXINGTON. KY, October 1a-Al-
though there is good crowd here ana
the racing has been 1rst-claSs, every
body Is looking forward TO the great
$40. 900 stake race 10 come OF Thursday
between Nancy hanks and Allerton-
ThoTe are some who believe that
record will be broken by one OF them
and big money Is being wagered.
Without doubt Nancy Hanks Is al the
present time the great feature OF the
trottiug world and before the week or
month is over may be deemed some
thing most wonderful as = trotter. She
is considered the "Queen Regent" and
her history will be interesting;
Nancy Hanks is a bright bay mare
about 1873 hands high, foaled 10 1856.
She was bred by Mr.. Henry Boswell,
farmer, near Lexington, Ky, and Is
by Happy Medium, out OF Nancy Lee,
by Dictator; second dam, Sophie, the
qranddam Of Mike Wilkes, 2:l5l, by
Edwin Forrest. Her breeding IS
OF the choicest, and is strongly Handle
tonian. Happy Medium is one OF the
greatest sons Of the great nero or
Chester" having sired more performers
IN the 9.39 list than any other except
George Wilkes and ElectiOneer. His
progeny have, however, been more dis
tinguished for speed than for staying
quality, and upon this alleged weakness
the friends OF AllertOn build their
hopes. The dam of Happy Medium was
Princess, by Andrus' Hambletonian,
mare with a strong infusion Of thorough
bred blood, and the competitor with
Flora Temple in many a hard-fought
race.
Hanks, is not especially known as
borseman, but, like thousands Of other
Kentucky farmers, be has Few mares
and breeds from them. Thus he sent
his mare Nancy Lee, By Dictator to
Happy Medium, and when he named
the filly which resulted Nancy Hanks
he did not send her TO one OF thetamous
trainers and drivers, but let her roam
over the pleasant pastures OF his
farm. A young man in Lexington
with a fancy for driving persuaded
him TO let the embryo trotter re-
ceive some training at his hands, and
when She was three years Old the shrewd
horsemen Of the Blue Grass country re-
garded her as a wonder. She made her
debut on the turf at Harrodsburg, KY,
in July, 1889, In a 3-yeBr-Old class, and
easily defeated a patty OF six, trotting
the heats he won In 2:21A, 2;2555,
9.251f. The first heat was won by Bon
ME Wilmore, IN 2:2S4, and concerning
that heat 1 have the authority OF Mr..
Eph Simmons for the statement that
she gave 10 10 Bonnie WilmOre to let
her make a record. Could 10 have been
known that It was to be up TO this date
the only heat Nancy Hanks was deS-
tined 20 lose, perhaps her owner would
have been less complainant.
A week later, at Danville, KY, she
lowered her mark to 2:2455, and that
year she won seven races.
In 1890 she again made her first start
ct Harrodsburg, defeating a very fast
party IN straight heats and lowering her
record TO 2:1955. At NichOlasville, KY,
she reduced her record to 2'1S in third
hest, and at Lexington, Ky, August 2S,
she won In 2193z, 2:1958, 2:14B, the
last being the fastest heat by a four
year-old outside Of California. La
ter, at Cincinnati, she trOtted a
third heat in 9:17]S; and at Lexington
in 2:155S. Her popularity Of finishing
the last heat Of each race In faster time
than any other had been so pronounced
that she was credited with vast reserve
of speed that indicated a coming world
beaten.
After much difficulty a match between
Nancy Hanks and Allerbon was arrang-
ed, and they are to meet this week here,
purse and wager Of $4,000 and glory
beyond computation 70 be the reward
OF the winner.