The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-06-06
MALCOLM WILKES.
THE INTERURBAN STOCK FARM PREMIER
SOME GOOD RED WILKES TRoTTING
BLOOD IN CANTON.

THE INTERURBAN STOCK FARM PREMIER
SOME GOOD RED WILKES TRoTTING
BLOOD IN CANTON.
Every equine connisseur knows about the
victorious conquering tour of Ralph Wilkes
last season on the Grand Circuit
The youngster always did attract
attention, from the time Mr.. Thayer, of
Boston paid $4,000 for him as a green 2
year old. But he got q mark that year of
21s, and the people who thought Mr.. Thayer
as wild on the question of horse valuation as
Coxey was when he bought Acolyte at $40, ,OOO.,
changed their mind, for the colt seemed able
to go just about as fast as he pleased. Then
he wasn't heard much of for couple of years.
But, last summer at Rochester, N. Y. there
was surprise party of large dimensions.
Ralph Wilkes, in his soft and green year
old form was there. He bucked against hard
and well trained campaigners. Nobody
thought Thayer had very sound mind when
he entered the colt in such field. But, there
never were many flies on those Boston yankees
Thayer's colt had the speed, and he hadn't
been trained to death to develop il neither; it
was ON tap. The horse had the breeding to
stay and the speed to win the first heat in
2:124. But they all said he couldn't come
back and some went down and to the bookies
and the pool boxes and placed their money on
the field Alack the day, for Ralph Wilkes
withers weren't the least bit unwrung, and he
landed the heat in 2:13 More money changed
hands. Nobody wanted the "other end" In
the third heat, and the glib five years old
marched to the front with the heat and race
in 2:131.
| The wiseacres said he was cooked" now
sure, and would..not be heard Of any more But
the wiseacres wern't wise that time, for a fort
night later Ralph Wilkes pranced into the
grounds at Hartford Conn, and pulled off the
big $4,000. Charter Oak Stake, in 2J11,
2:12l and 2;l0:2. That third heat in 10:S
established Ralph Wilkes Wilkes kept Ithe
thing up until the snow fell in Nashville,
where he obtained record of 208i and gained
the soubriquet, ''the fastest trotter among all
the Wilkes -. 1t was, undoubtedly, the
thoroughbred blood that gave Ralph Wilkes
his wonderful fight of speed and remarkable
staying powers. This he obtained from his
dam. All his dams (save one) were thouIough-
breds. Mr.. Thayer refused s75,OOO for Ralph
Wilkes last fall. On the 25th of March last, q
few days after Malcolm Wilkes arrived here
Kentuckey, his distinguished New England
brother died. 1t was the gpertest loss Of the
year among horseman. Mr.. Thayer received
the sympathy of every breeder. But what Is
one mans loss is, often anothor's gain.
Mr.. u M. Cames, OF this city, after visiting
every stock farm, from Maine to California In
the two years he was absent from Canton. had,
at last, found in Malcolm Wilkes the beau
ideal Of his reflective years. But he couldn't
buy him-nota bit of IL, then Grover Cleve-
land did the thing that made Mr.. Carnes the
owner Of the legitimate successor Of Ralph
Wilkes in the stud and on the turf he
appointed his owner Postmaster of city of
the second class That settled 1t: Malcolm
Wilkes was then, for the first time, in num-
ber of years, for sale. Two letters, telegram,
and atrip to Kentucky and Malcolm Wilkes
was heaied for the Inter-U Urban Stock Farm
at Canton.
IT bought him; said Mr.. Carnes, upon his
arrival here because believe him TO be the
fastest trotter without mark in this country,
the best individual, as to size and conforna.
ton, and the best bred horse know of any
where. l have seen his colts; they are
magnificent size and smoothness and all Of
them act like trotters. He can get size out OF
anything and If he don't get trotting speed
, out of any bind of mare, shall miss my
guess. All Of his colts are chestnut sorrels OF
bays Yes, he looks like Ralph Wilkes,
his brother; has the same white coronei
in front and the same kind Of hard oordy legs
the legitimate inheritance Of the thoroughbred
dams Of both. What, TO me Is more, be troti
about the same way. When he settles down
for merry clip those cares go right back and
, he performs with the vim and determination
Of a Junom0nt. Yes, j am confident he viii
I get very fast record some day when see I'll
to cut him loose. His other brother, Ashland
-, Wilkes, is the sire Of John X. Gentry (p,
2;0Sg the fastest stallion IN the world. oh
yes; feel that Malcolm Wilkes will do"