Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-08-08


naught. MedOnias has a record OF
2:3O and was from Niastcrlode mars.
Minerva has tingc of romance. lnv-
lug been purchased for road purposes
the spring Of 1895 by Mr.. Tucker for
Mr.. Billings, the price being but S162.5O.
She took kindly to our city sights. acted
splcnlidly to pole and has given her
owner more enjoyment than any he
ever owned. III the conditions are right
for fast miles and she on edge I think
Minerva can trot In 2:11 or 2:12 and
know many others will think I have an
overrUting capacity. Maybe 40. Let
us consider for moment the existing
circumstances at the time of this fast
mile Yesterday.
The track has had little done to II
since July 4. the closing day of the
BREEDERS meeting. We have had very
hot weather. AMI unless u track In
watered regularly and worked. II be.
comes what we term dead. II was soft
enough yester,lay--ln short. u bit heavy.
and yet not within two seconds Of its
fastest estate. The hot wind carried
with II considerable Of the track dust.
and when they dismOuntcd both driv.
crs were like workers in coal pit.
leave my readers to Judge as to how
much Overrate Minerva. and SOme day
she will bc rncrd. and then we will see
how low a record she gets. Che reflects
much credit. as does her stable cOmpan.
lon. on John Tucker. A practical horse.
man. yet with no claims toward train.
ing or driving ability. yet has a way Of
gaining speed results by his way Of lie.
vclOping them. II seems. Yesterday
they had u pair Of hooks on the groy
mares hind hOofs. a Ia Gus Macry's
plan. These IRE screwed on at the toe.
and when u horse hits them. scaiping.
they ward of the blow effcctua,ly and
are better guards In some eases than u
scalpcr. In any event they work to u
charm ON Minerva. AMI she now Is gait.
ei perfectly.
Mr. Billings was weighed at my 80
licitatton and tips the beam at IT'S
pounds. He has ever been interested
I'm fast horses and his father owned at
one time the famous mare Princess,
2:3O. by Andris' 1lnmbletOninn. 1'rln-
cess produced Happy Medium (sire Of
Nancy Hanks). A singular coincidence
almost ls that Happy Medium Is the
great. gran,lsiir Of this fast mare MI.
ncrva. Mr.. Billings Inns always had op.
portunitics afforded him to drive fast
road horses. AMI knows the iHcing part
Of II M well ~ the hest. With the PAGER
Tony H.. 2:tJ.. he has been a mile In
2:l3la. but II Il far easier to team fas,
PAGER that clips than drive II green tiUt.
ter such a mile as 2:iJh.
Now few comparisons among anna.
teur rcinsmcn ~ to fast miles:
Allie Bonner has driven his fathers
champion miles At Tarrytown faster.
He once drove Rarus u mile In ?:l5ia:
has also driven Lucy Cuylcr u mile IN
?:15h and Edwin Forrest a mile In
?:i4h. Minerva has never had the ex.
pcrIcncr or fitting which was given
these three. trained by John Murphy.
who was one Of our leading trainers.
Mr.. Vanderbilt drove Maud =. and
Aliine a mile In ?:15k ana Mr.. 4. J.
Hamlin has driven Belle HnmlIn ana
Justlnn In 2:l3.,. hut all Of these horses
have been developed almost to tx.
treme speed limit, NJ II was not espe-
cially to In wondered ut. ! think Mr..
Cooke. owner Of OnOIun. BOSE. has
driven sylvester X. 2:i6li. mile ut
Point Breeze In 2:l5. hut Ill not be
sure about that. The Boston horse.
man. John Shepard. lMs driven Relna
and Arab mile In 2:i7ls and Arab
alone miles In ana around PAT. Few
there nre indeed who have ever ant In.
hind their own tOtters AMI driven
miles below DO. II II all the more
crcditable. ~ what fitting she has had
has been done right ut home. no ship
ping to pnrlOr tracks to get the nj.
vantagcs they would naturally AFFORD.
Mated. Il IL among the prObn billties
that Minerva would trOt u wonderfully
fast mile. for she IN n good pole mare.
going right to go M fast M any OF the
cracks of the team brigade. Mr.. 1911.
lings II not given to campaigning his
horses, preferrlng to now ana then go
TO the track and seq them go or drive
| 'uVh u "bc Nuu iViVot W. 'VS' "Nh'
He tells me hc intends to drive Minerva
again In u week or ~ AMI some day
when the track IL right for hair.rais.
Ing mile he will send her from word to
wire ana with II prOmpter. 80 rs to keep
her ut her brush down the stretch.
Where will she gOy It's u hard qucs.
ton to solve. Don't understand me as
figuring reduction always approx
mating 1--WE seconds ut each workout.
I think she will beat 2:lI with her
owner up II she IL ut herself and the
track shaped NJ for trial. We shall
see. however. II the trial IL made this
season, but II she IL raced next year
and trains sound she will negotiate 2:ll
or 2:12 to II moral certainty. u. II. H.,
?MEH, Piletta, 2:1lH. ana gallant old