Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-24
WHY WE DIFFER.
Colt Campaign g Discussed The
Warning "HoI|er" but Little Value
As Compared With The Ready DolIar.-A
Few Facts and Figures.

| the testimonies of Monroe Salisbury an(
| Pa Hamlin, both of whom have lately
spoken out in meeting on this point
Now it Is possible that the gentleman in
question as well as Mcssrs. Salisbur,
| and Hamlin are not so far from our OWL
views as we have never advocated ths
campaigning Of youthful equines so much
| as the training with the view Of furthe,
| fitting them for track or usefulness, in
| the future, although so far as Maine colts
have been campaigned we fail to see wha,
| can be said unfavorable to such procedure
We are willing to own that we should
not care to trust valuable colt in the
hands of Mr.. Salisbury, as whether or not
his abuse OF horses In his charge is a
statement or fact we feel sure his
treatment or fitting is too vigorous for
any colt or mature horse to endure for
any length Of time We have only to
cite the condition in which Directum
ana Allx have been found when he was
done with them or even Azote, his main
stay OF 1895, to convince even the casual
reader. that his methods of necessity are
severe That these gentlemen have tried
the colts is evident and only adduces
additional evidence of the fact that their
methods are too severe as there have bee
no successes to speak of We believe in
the training of colts and working them
First, because it adds much to their
value from II monetary point of view
secondly, because ii places them on the
market at an early age and at an in
creased value; and thirdly, we do not be
llcvc that their value as future race
horses is at all impaired
Arion with q two,yea old record Of
}. los, sold for 1925, 900 and Axtell with
three year old record Of 212 brought
slo5, oO1. Arion trottcd to four year
old mark of 2.079, and is rated as a
promising candidate for champion stallion
donors and even for "A shy at ice trottng
records.
That Axtel has not been trained since
his three-year old form is no evidence
that he was all out so much as that he
could not endure So much of the thump-
ing process as he received.
Baron Wilkes trotted in 236la as a
two year-old, we believe, yet he subse-
quently acquired record Of Is, is reck-
oned as one of the gamest of race horses
and greatest sires.
Take the Wcdgewood mare Wistful,
and follow her from her campaigning as
4 yearing when she was Il $4,000 stake
until the close Of the year 1895, and say
if early work was an injury to her.
We might quote at much greater
length by living examples but will get
within the borders Of our own State and
see what has been done. Take Nelson,
trotting to IA record of ,. 30 as a two-year-
old in stakes inaugurated by the very
gentleman who Is now opposed to colt
trotting and .. 80 was the Maine record at
that time; as a three -year-old getting a
mark of 263t speed which no Maine colt
has equalled under like conditions. and
until the year 1925 there was scarcely
a season which did not see sensational
work done by this horse and he was
foaled in S.
In 1895 he showed to be as speedy as
ever and is sound and free from all the
evil effects of track work, coming sire
and sire of early speed.
Take Palmer which lowered colt
records in three successive years or
Grenadier which holds the ycarling record
Of Maine =. is i, Sick from distemper in
bis two year old form, rs three year old
he made most brilliant campaign.
Take Nichols for instance which
trotted on Maine half mile ring as
a yearling in 249 showed an increase of
speed every year and in 1895 made sue
cessful campaign against our gamest
ones. taking record of 2.2l
Look at St. Croix Jr. He got record
IF 2. y as IA two year old, showed mile
over Bangor track in 2.26l, as a three
) ear-old, got race record OF 2 30 and
showed them miles better than II over
mile track, yet he came around In 1895
as "A four -year-old fresh as a lark, trotted
good races and acquired a mark of 219.
We might if additional evidence Is
needed mention Halle, us game a mare as
there is In Maine and as good money
winner, considering the fact that she has
for small purses on our half
mile rings. Halle has been banged
about ever since she was two years old,
then taking mark of ?. 423, and reduc
ing that record right along and she even
cut down her mark in 1895, so that 1t is
now 2.l934. And we haven't 220 per
formers enough in Maine so we need wear
our noses heaven tilted" on account
such performances as those of Halle.
The same gentleman thought that 30
was too fast for two year old July 18th,
but We saw this same two-year old trot
in race on her next appearance on a
Maine half mile ring below 225, and he
got a mark of 2194 and
t rotted "A trial in 2.12l : which has never
been equalled by but one two-year old
trotter.
The owner got several thousand dollars
in advance of what the colt cost him
few months previously though by all the
advice Of authentlcs he ought to have
kept him in the paddock.
The owner happened to think differ
entity and Il goodly portion of the coin of
the realm still jinRles mcrrilyin his pockets
and he has another colt perhaps equally
good in his stables.
1t isn't development training or fast
records which spoil the colt but over
development. Three miles in 25 are not
so much for colt that can go in Is as
one of 2 80 for colt that Is ''out" at the
end of his mile. 1t takes man who
knows his business to campaign or even
train a colt while there are good many
who can don cap and jacket or steer
ready made well-ftted trotter to victory
The horsemen of the present day are
out for the stuff. If early speed and fast
records bring to their Golfers the most
money we shall continue to see fast
performers at colt ages in spite Of warn
lngs oft repeated and the words of wis