The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-23
THE VETERAN RACER.

1t was in paddock, Oh great Californian
horse-ranch. The grass at this season Is
green and luscious; q mighty oak throws
its grateful shade across a trough where a
stream OF clear water perpeiually flows, and
in its shadow fingered as two venerable
equine danes approached to drink. One of
these twain was old Dame Winnie, dam of
California's dead stallion king. The other,
a venerable daughter of that grand old cam
paigner, Pilot Jr., whose owner. John
Rockefeller, has sent her out here to end
her days under the peaceful Californian sky.
Both old cronies. their iifework ended. are
retired TO the paddock TO enjoy the we'll
earned reward of honorable old age and
useful service. What times they must have,
comparing notes and talking over old CAM
palgns. l listened as the two obnobbed
together over the watering trough. The
Eastern mare was speaking:
Wonderful! she exclaimed. ITO be out
here In the open field in November. l ate
dry hay ana grain last Thanksgiving day,
shiyering, In spite of blankets. This year l
shall feast on green grass. with the bright
sunshine warming my old bones. Upon my
name and tail. now. l never would have
believed it!'
81 hear" said Dame Winnie. "that Maud
S is TO be campalgned again."
Eyes. indeed Shameful. isn't it. at her
age and after her hard work. She must be
as old as you, Dame"
1.-TWO years younger; but here in Califor-
MIA they believe in rewarding honorable
service and L haven't worked in years."
Eyes. yes; you Californians have much
TO be thankful for. Just think OF Jay Eye
See. growing old and lame at that, working
like young horse now. Why, even / am
only just retired, though I'm 20 years old
and my owner wants me to begin now and
raise family"
''Shockingl But have you heard OF old
Masterlode's fate? After earning thousands
OF dollars for his owners 10 be sold to a
teamster, and he was ending his days in
wretchedness when one of his former grooms
recognized him and bought him for SIS to
keep him until he dies. And there was old
Todd, too, sold 10 livery-stable after his
great career on the track. Why can't East
ern owners at least turn their old campaign
ers out to grass?"
"Grassi The ground Is covered with
snow or hard with frost more than half the
yearl We shiver and shake with cold
We travel through ice and slush that in the
city Is sailed TO make 1t melt, and the
salty mixture freezes our feet and makes
them tender and sore. We have no such
wonderful roads as you have, free from ruts,
and dust and mud. Our work horses are
heavier loaded they suffer from the intens Sc
heat in summer and the fierce cold in win
ter. The mania to be English, you know,
has attacked horse-owners there, and they
cut off our tails. roach our names aud make
fools OF us and OF themselves. / hope
California horse-owners will never be so
foolish.
You California horses ought to be
thankful you have better care. are better
understood, have more wise friends-and
then, such hay as you do get! L never saw
lis equal. / heard an fastener say on
first seeing it: Bearded hayl Why that
would kill horse But, bless my fetlocks,
he didn't know what he was talking about!
It's half what makes you all do such won
derful work, last SO long and raise such
magnificent colts
Eyes. CALIFORNIA; the place for horses
Pm very grateful that my few remaining
THANKSGIVING will be spent here"
The pair wandered to another corner of
the paddock. and l departed convinced that
the old gray mare was right California is
the place for horses.