Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-13
LOCAL HORSEFLESH
The Brilliant Careers of Charley G.
and Sadie N.
BOTH ONCE OWNED IN THIS CITY
The Winner of the Six-Heat Race
at Belmont Park.
THEY ARE MONEY GETTERS

The history Of the American trot:ing turf
has nev9r known a more consistent race
horse than the gray son of Sam Purdy and
Bessie OMalley-Cha-ley c. AS the great
gelding was bred a short distance from the
national capital: was. at one time owned
here. was trained here and trottcd his first
| races in and about this city. and as his sire
stood for service during the greater portion
Of his career within sixty miles of Wash
ington. added to the fact that his dam has,
for years past. done service in q delivery
wagon on the streets of this city, makes a
detailed history of this horse Of special in
terest. His remarkable performance of
Thursday last at Belmont Park, in which
he wor. a six-heat race, trotting the fourth,
fifth and sixth heats in 2.13 1-2, 2.15 and
2.17 "a, excited the admiration of all lovers
Of fast horse flesh.
Sam Purdy GEO 1-2), his SIRE was a race
horse The son of George M. Patchen, jr.,
also a race horse Of considerable reputation,
and he the son OF the renowned George M.
Patchen 2:S 1-2). end the fastest stallion
Of his time. Charley c. has a right to be
game and fast. His DAM Bessie O'Malley.
by Davis OMalley (thoroughbred). has not
a drop Of known trotting blood in her veins,
nor has she ever shown more than ordinary
OF George Gheen of this city, and although
bred repeatedly, has never thrown anything
else that has risen above mediocrity. While
Charley c. derived his speed through his
sire. as well as his observation-disclosures with
out which no snimal can become a race
morse OF the first rank. no matter how
speedy he may be, he undoubtedly got much
OF his gameness to do or die in split leafs
through MS dam. although no one has ever
accused the Patchens Of being faint heart
ed. 1t has been said Of old Sam Pu-dy that
he was so sluggish that his driver could go
up and down his back with a whip from
wire TO wire In race and he would trot
every step OF the route and same may be
said or his greatest son. The same has
been said of George Wilkes, founder of the
mighty Wilkes family. and a number of his
small chain as lash, owing to their phleg-
matte dispositions.
Purchased for $3.50.
Charley C.'s history in the trotting world
commences in 1884, when Mr. David Sond-
heimer of this city and a weIl-known horse
dealer visited Harrisonburg Va in search OF
horses for the LEGAL market. 1t was court
day. and. as is usual on such occasions,
those who had horses for sale made It
known to the dealers gathered there.
Among other Washingtonians present on
the day mentioned We're Manuel Lacey,
since deceased. and William Yates, who
five years ago drew $4,000 in the Louisiana
lottery and retired to live a life of ease on
a stock farm near Fairfax Court House
The gray geding was then four years old
and was the property of Lawyer Strayer
and was for sale. He had shown a little
speed. was likely-looking horse and Lacey
was inclined to buy him, but on close ex-
aminst1n thought he discovered that he
was b. nd. or nearly so, and passed him BY
RAJ ba cir an
yesterday, said: Il watched the proceed
fngs of Lacey at a respectful distance and
when saw that he did not want the horse
/ stepped forward, examined him closely
and inquired the price. During my inspec-
ton l discovered that the horse had a de-
rect In his right eye, which was cross
eyed made a deal for him then and
there, The price being $50.
Shortly after Lacey came I'D an said:
You think you are smart, don't you: YOU
have bought blind horse / replied that
guessed not. when Lacey offered to bet
me $50 that he couldn't lead him over a
bridge that was nearby without his falling
on. Lacey wc5 a very strong man, and
thinking there might be a catch to his
proposition l Sid. Lacey. to win that $50
you would pull him OF the bridge IL it was
necessary. will now demonstrate that
his eyesight is perfect
Il then placed pole on two chairs
Now 1 said. If in leading him to the pole
he knocks II down l will concede that he
is blind. but IL he leaps over it you must
admit that he Is sound Lacey consented
and led the colt to the pole, jumped IL and
the horse leaped it so quickly after him
that he nearly knocked Lacey down. sYou
scared him. cried Lacey. 1 denied it and
explained to him that even IL had done SO
the horse would have knocked down the
pole Well exclaimed Lacey. somewhat
exasperated, he is blind in his left eve
anyway.
In the Hands of n Trainer.
ITO demonstrate that he wasn't, I sud-
denly picked up a board on that side of him
as IL to hit him. and the horse SHE'D SO
friskily that he nearly knocked Lacey down
again. That last trick settled the contro-
versy, and received no more guying from
him. l brought the horse home, drove him
around a little, and found he had a good
way of going. He finally came TO show
close to three-minute clip Ch:lds & Son.
the well-known brickmakers, wanted a
driving horse, and / parted with him to
them. the consideration being s225. In the
course of their driving on the road, in
which they met number of crack road
horses, which he easily vanQuisled, / ad-
vised them to put him In the hands of a
trainer, which they did ODE Sanderson,
the veteran trainer. got him, worked him
while, won several small purses with him.
and finally gave him a record of 2.25
About seven years ago Hentschel & Hops
of Baltimore purchased him for the round
sum of So, 800"
During the Intervening years Charley c.
has been raced every season, and In a man.
ner that has tested to the fullest his mar
Vicious vitality. AS a matter of fact, few
horses have been raced as he has and stood
up under 1t. and had not his fiber been of
the very best quality his carcass would
years ago have been found in the bone
yard. Every year for nine years past he
has come forth to do battle with the giants
in his classes, each year he has clipped
second or more from his record, and now
at the advanced age of fourteen years. he
has reduced his record of last season. 2.15,
to 213 1-2, and has won during his turf
career over $5O,O0O for his owners. This is
a marvellous showing. Had the great geld
ing fallen early in life into the hands of
experts his winnings would doubtless have
reached three times the above figures
Nor is it estimated that this wonderful
horse has reached the extreme limit of his
speed. He has recently shown trials in
212 or better, and those who claim to know
say that 210 will not stop him. In equine
history his name is worthy to be placed
alongside of Goldsmith Maid and Flora
Temple. who. indeed. outrank him In
years when retired from the turf, and in
the number of heats trotted but whose
records he has beaten. Who is astute
enough to prophesy that even in these last
particulars Charley c. may not, with his
wonderful vitality, gameness and speed,
outrank even these queens of bygone days?
Another Washington TrOtter.