The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-01-01
NO OCEAN SITE.
Prominent Horsemen Say the Sea Breezes
VIII Not Do for TrottinS Horses.

Prominent Horsemen Say the Sea Broezes
VIII Not Do for Trotting Horses.
The energy of the Old Orchard people
in agitating the building of mile track
at their place, speaks better for their
enterprise than for their discretion. For
campmeeting, a political rally or a
summer resort, Old Orchard is an adj
mirable place. But the location of q
trotting track is matter entirely differ
ent. For the bringing out of the great
est speed of fast horse, the best climat-
ic conditions are absolutely necessary.
The California horses are winning their
splendid regulations largely through the
admirable climatic condition of that
state. At least one Kentucky horse, al
ready surprisingly fast in it's own state,
has this year materially lowered its re-
cord when trotted in the mild air of Cal
ifolnia. Moreover, the ocean breezes are
constant menace to the health of
horses.
This has an all-round bearing upon
the selection of q site like that at Old
Orchard. 1t is because the breezes blow
cool and fresh from the sea at that place,
that it has become a popular summer
resort. But this very condition, espec-
tally in state so far north as Maine,
makes Old Orchard very undesirable
site for fast track. 1t is substantiated
by the words of some of the
most prominent horse men in the coun-
try, men of acknowledged reputation for
acquaintance with turf matters. Over
80 of these men have condemned the Sc
lection of such site in letters which
Mr.. j. 4. Barrett has in his possession
and would be glad to show to any who
may doubt.
1t will be necessary here to call atten-
to only few of these testimonials.
Dr. E. e. Frost of Worcester, a we'll
known Massachusetts horseman, owner
of the great horse Protection, 2.19, de-
clares that in his opinion sit would not
be safe to start horses any day. over a
track by the sea; that 'if the horses
came from inland, it would get them out
of condition for the whole season. and
that track protected from sea breeze"
would be much faster.
Mr.. Levi S. Gould of Melrose, Mass,
the noted pedigree tabulator, who
traced the breeding of Gretchen, SAYS:
Every horseman knows the danger of
chilling trotter in such location, and
many horses have been ruined irrevoca-
bly, ruined in and about Boston from the
effects of an east wind"
Miller & Sibley of Franklin, Pa, have
one of the largest stables in the country,
standing next to Palo Alto, probably.
They are paying Charles Marvin, Stan
ford's famous trainer who gave Stan
ford's horses their fast records, SIC, 900 a
year. They say they would not send
their horses to such a track. if they could
help it. There would be risk even with
the best care, and loss of speed.
Henry G. Jewett, proprietor of the
famous Jewett stock farm at Buffalo,
N. Y, where jerome Eddy, (2,164),
Sherman, (2.23D, Patchen Wilkes,
(2.293) and many others are owned, and
who owns full mile-covered track for
exercising his horses in winter, writes
he would not send valuable horses to
track located on the ocean front. 1t
would not be safe. A location four
miles inland would be far preferable.
Fl. G. Wood of Natick, Mass, the
owner of Pure Wilkes, (2.29, has the
same opinion. The inland track would
be much faster.
DR.. f. L. Gerald of Laconia, N. H.,
owner of Glencoe Wilkes, says that by
all means the track ought to be in
land.
John F. Mills of Somerville, Mass,
says: II would not send horses to such
track; they would surely be sick half
the time''
Hon. Warren F. Daniel of franklin,
NH, member of Congress, and promi-
nent horseman, says he would not send
valuable horses to an ocean front track.
D. 0. King, secretary of the Charter
Ook Trotting Park of Connecticut, says
that the season for trotting in Maine is
short enough at best, and should not be
shortened by choosing attrack where
horses could not be trottcd after Septem-
Der 1st.
These are only few Of the statements
of prominent horsemen. They put Old
Orchard completely out of the ques-
ton.