The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-27


Racer that made the First Stage in the
Great Race between Portland at Boston
to Montreal.
About fifty years have passed since a
horse made quite sensation in this vi
cinity and his reputation as remarkable
runner extended to Massachusetts and
New York.
1t was in the palmy business days
of the town of Westbrook--that
portion which is now Deering-that
about all sporting events occurred. Our
neighbors just over the line then had a
park-the park of Westbrook, located at
Woodfords Corner, and in it's immediate
vicinity were extensive cattle yards for
drovers who SEQ ured the State buying
cattle and sheep chiefly in the Boston
market; large brittania and tin ware
mandatory; an extensive comb factory,
slaughter and packing houses and other
industries.
ner where Levi Morrill, had large tan
merry with sales room and Office in this
city, about where the DR.. Mason drug
store now stands on Middle street.
Mr.. Morrill, bought a good sized Canada
horse one day, presumably from one of
the Vermont winter caravans that used to-
come through the White Mountain Notch
to Portland The animal was used to
grind the bark mill and general hack
about the tannery. Little was known
of trotters in those days, for it was only
in 1918 that 'Boston Bl .e,'' a Maine
horse, astonished all New England by
trotting a mile in three minutes. Run
ners, fter the English idea was about all
that came into consideration as to speed.
There was great runner for these
parts in the vicinity of MorrilPs known
as the Pride mare. The boys that
watered the animals frequently met at
the watering trough and a scrub race
would result. Pride's son finally told his
father that Charley Prime with the Nor
rill bark grinder could beat him. Of
course Mr.. Pride laughed at the idea but
Mr.. Morrill, had confidence in his boy
and the result was a purse of $25 to run
for over measured mile on Stevens
Plain. 1t was a famous race and hun
dreds of cattle men and sports from
Portland gathered to see it. The old
time veterinary surgeon and farrier, Stev-
ems, of Congress street figured as the
starter. Hon. Levi Morrill,, watch in
hand, sitting on fence as the timer.
Greatly to the surprise of everybody the
Pride horse was easily beaten several
lengths by his lowly bark grinding an
tagonist rejoicing in the name of the
Hn an1:l iaolIo 4,,4 az -
ms sot 1s1, as .ney Inousn1 ~ W pe
LII, n;a,,a ps ,,o+ad ho,.sa ~ p,,,, oo
VII D l,a::a noooJ nolno - u u LIZ.
's oiain i;ra MY loyai peoigee ~ VIZ
iu.in .ln1. y e1s 80 - ~ M Me,n;,I
dae 81 ~ Pc hi fil 49, VIC + raad
no d @r;ea n astoI poio naU .ne 49,
s..o, o;.ad io1r r ~, 81 N $50
". 40 1a-mth srho ~ h UnJ ~ n sn
~ ro that +hn ~ 10 haa, o1d art d
oa@. my nau for oo n7so oiu 1u' a th
s q no i zoo +ha Pr,nSm;cL horsa VOC
l soo ne auo ,orso than +ba nst Woo
p1 Mlsu nuen MoisS sian elio -.
a+tracfed the affant;on If iRoston h.,
men and one of them wrote to Mr., Nor
rill asking for match. That stanch old
WestpfooK roman q repiled JhaI ms morse OF
Woulo meet all corners until peaten' Inc
Boston man came down ana lor STAKE
Sloo ana was peaten. he Wen1 PACK ana
got announcer morse ana was again peaten.
he was piucky ana tooK MS dlscom1oft-
ure IKE Irue sportsman puU femem,
pereo tna1 MI. Morflli haa SAID ne Would
meet corners untll MS morse was beat
en-. 90 ne SEM 70 New ork ana pro,
c e,rey g. famous one m m runner named
Dix otocRlngs: Inc race was Ior
Jockeys OF inc Gay Came on 70 rae DIX
stocking. MI. Morrlll nad maze :. no
special preparatlon. IL would aIlofd
us much pleasure TO see thls WONDERFUL
horse r.e, that am TO meet, sald the owner
OF Dix stocking as ne was introduced 60