Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-11
ROBERT J. THE WONDER
His Breeder, X. j. Walker, Speaks Enthusi-
asticaIiy of the Colt He Raised
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The phenomenal performance OF Robert
j., the horse which paced mile IN z:VZ IL
at Indianapolis last Wednesday, Is still
the talk OF horsemen everywhere; In this
city, where the little bay wonder IS Wen
known. especial interest Is manifested in
his remarkable record, az he was pred
and raised by X. j. c. Walker, OF the
firm of Powers & Weightman, manufac-
turing chemists. Mr.. Walker talked en-
tertainingly last evening about the record
breaker when he owned him as a colt.
Robert j." said he. twas foaled on
my stock farm, at Williamsport, June
1, 1883. / then owned both his sire. Hart
ford, and his dam, Geraldine. He was
a pure bay, without any marks whatever.
/ paid no particular attention to him as a
colt as l had several others about the
same age. They all ran together until
Robert j. was nearly years old. Then
he was broke TO harness and driven, first
in the road-wagon and afterwards in the
sulky. He was not a particularly promis-
ing horse. His performances as colt
were not remarkable in the least. OF
course he came OF good stock and was
valuable animal on that account. l did
not look for him to do anything phenome-
nal. however. and | must say that L am
greatly surprised at his performance on
the indianapolis track.
HE received his preliminary training at
the hands Of j. Camp Brown, then super
intendent of my stock farm, Old Oaks
Park, Willamsport. Mr. Brown is one Of
the best horsemen In the country, and he
was quicker to see the colts good points
than / was When / sold my stable just
before going 10 Europe. Mr. Brown
wanted to buy the colt but made him
present of IL I'm recognition Of his good
services to me. He then had no name,
but Brown named him Robert j., after
me.
The horse was then about years old.
Brown drove him shortly after mat at
Altoona and then at Fleetwood. His first
record was made at Albany, i think,
where he made a mile in 2:22 IA. The
horse first showed that great things were
in store for him in q race against the
stallion Glendennio, owned by G. j. Ham,
lin, the glucose king. Glendennio won the
two first heats. Everyone thought that
he was a sure winner on the third. Rob
ort j.. however slipped In and took the
heat. He won the two succeeding heats
and the race. making five straight heats
that he had gone. and he was just as
fresh at the end of the fifth heat as when
he first went on the track.
Il am not certain, but / think that the
stallion died the next day, the strain
proving more than he could stand. Rob-
ert j. was years old when he accom-
plished this wonderful feat. Shortly af-
forwards Mr.. Brown sold him TO Mr..
Hamlin, who IS still his owner This is
but one Illustration Of the great stamina
Of the horse. lie cones of Z hardy racing
stock.
Robert J. Is very much like his sire.
As n colt he showed great grit and de-
termination. in addition to this, he has
the necessary physical qualities Of a great
racer. lie is a small horse and at
glance one would not think that there
was very much in him. but he has
tremendous heart and great lungs. with
enormous chest development. Just
imagine a horse going a mile in 30. IL.
The strain must be tremendous. II he
hadn't great heart and lung-pOwer he
would drop dead on the track.
"The greatest credit OF of Robert Us
wonderful performance is due to his
driver. Mr. Geers. / consider him the
greatest relnsman in the country to-day.
Under the training of any other man. |
thing that he would have been n very
ordinary horse. As l said before. he gave
no promise Of doing anything phenomenal
when he was colt. Still, it Is hard to
tell what there IS in young horse some
tines.
Il am highly pleased at Robert Us per-
Torrance, and proud Of the fact that /
raised him. / feel a very great interest
in him. He Is practically worthless now,
though, except as a show horse. His
record shuts him out from all races, UNI
less special race can be arranged oc-
casionally. as this one was. The stallion
who went against him. Joe Patchen. Is
a valuable animal for breeding purposes.
ayes. Robert J. comes Of a fine stock.
There is no better. He certainly has blue
blood In his veins. His sire is Hartford
who trotted a mile in 2;22 l-2. Hartford
was sired by Harold. dam Judith, by
Mambrino Chief. lie was foaled at that
great nursery of trotters. Woodburn
Farm, Kentucky. on June 60 1850. Mr..
Alexander. his first owner. sold him 10
\. ~ Bonner of New York. from whom
/ bought him in the fall Of 1854. He was
then a horse OF great strength and sub
stance and indomitable Will.
"He was as gentle as lamb however.
and could be left standing anywhere. A
colorcd stable-bOy Of mine once said of
him: That boss sab. is a gentleman.
This description fits him exactly. He was
one of the best horses | ever saw. | sold
him to the Minneapolis Stock Farm AS
ISOLATION. by which he IS still owned. 1
believe. He is full brother OF Maud
).
Geraldine, the dam OF Robert j.. was
n bay mare foaled by J. Gould in 1873,
dam Nancy Clagett. She then had re-
cord OF 900 Ia. / had another horse out
Of her by Hartford. | named him Har-
court lie was foaled in 1886 Whoever
has him has a very good horse"