The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-25
MONDAY,


Sudden Death of Very valuable Horse
Brief Accounts of His Victories--A Loss
to the Breeding Industry.
Ralph Wilkes, whose trotting record
was 2;O62l, one of the most valuable
horses in New England, died at Maple
hurst farm, South Lancaster, Mass,
on Wednesday of this week, after
twelve hours sickness with infamma-
ton of the bowels.
Ralph Wilkes was handsome chest
nut colored stallion owned by Colonel
John e. Thayer, president of the New
England Breeders association, who in
1891 commissioned George w. Leavitt,
Of Boston, to go to Kentucky and pur-
chase the most promising young stall
lion to be procured. During Mr.. Lea
Wits visit to the blue grass section of
the state he became so infatuated with
Ralph Wilkes, then two years old, that
he inquired the price Of him, which was
thirty thousand dollars. The colts eX-
cellent breeding and his remarkably
fast miles had occasoned the exorbi-
tant price. AT that time the young
trotter had shown several miles better
than 2:3OA in thirty-one seconds. Mr..
Leavitt purchased the youngster at a.
price not stated. During that year he
trotted to a record Of 2:1S, and during
the following season trotted mile in
2131s, which was not accepted as
record for the reason that it was not
strictly according to rule During last
spring he was placed in the hands of
that expert trainer James Golden, who
started him in the 2:17 class (two thou
sand dollars at Rochester, where he
won the race in three straight heats
against a field of ten other starters.
Time, 2:121a, 2:13. 2:1S1s.
For several years one of the GREATEST
races OF the entire grand circuit has
been the ten thousand dollar Charter
Oak stake at Hartford, which was cut
down to five thousand dollars after the
pool law went into effect In this state.
Ten horses started in this race at Hart
ford last August, when Ralph Wilkes
won in the shortest possible number of
heats. Time 2:111a, 2:12A, 210%. Fol-
lowing the circuit races to Fleetwood, |
N. r., he won in three heats the two
thousand dollar purse race for the ZIG
class. Time, 2161s, 2:1515, 2161a. At
Philadelphia last September he won the
one thousand dollar purse race in three
heats in 2:14, 2:151a, 2:16 all OF the fore
going being in creditable time for race
heats. He was next taken to Mystic
Park, Boston, where he was driven an
exhibition mile in 2:O915, which was the
fastest record for that track at that
time, with the single exception of the
mile made by Nancy Hanks in 20S1a. i
The Pennsylvania stake race at Lex
ington, KY, was conceded to him, as
was evident by the pools sold before
the start The unbeaten stallion was
not in his usual form in this race,
which was started after tedious scor-
ing with Ralph having the worst of the
send-off He made a bad break and
was behind the flag at the distance
stand
His greatest mark was at Nashville |
Tenn, where on October 10 last he
made mile in the low time of 2:08%
which did not satisfy Mr.. Golden, who
soon after sent him another mile,
which established his record, the quar-
ters being made in 32A, 103M, 1:34A,
mile 2o64. This was faster mark
than ever Secured by the champions,
Arion 2O7%, Kremln 2:o7S, STEAMBOAT
2:07t2, and crowned the winner as
champion trotting stallion Of the year,
the fastest Of the Wilkes breed, and the
fastest stallion owned in New England,
all of which honors he won in his five-
year-old form.
According to reports it was the in
tention Of hfs owner to start him for a
faster record this year. His value has
been variously estimated since his
death, two New Haven horsemen hav-
ing estimated his worth at fifty thou
sand dollars, which amount would
probably have been refused for him.
His pedigree is excellent. He was
sired by Red Wnkes, the greatest
speed-producing son of George Wilkes,
1922 his dam being the celebrated Mary
Mays, by Mambrino Patchen
This death adds another name to the
long list of stations that have died
during the last twelve months.