The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-28
ABOUT ROAD DRIVING AND AMERT-
CAN HORSES is OF LOCAL
INTEREST.
ONE OF THE GLOBES VETS
WRITES AN ENTERTAINING ARTI-
Gle FOR THE BUFFALO
COURIER.
And the Figure They Cut in the
History of American
Racing.

The Buffalo Courier Of recent date
contains an interesting review of Road
Driving-Past and Present. from the
pen of Capt. Barton Atkins, who was
a frequent contributor to the horse
columns Of the G o b in this papers
earliest days. Many will remember his
rare combination Of thorough knowl-
edge of horses and horsemanship with
attractive social qualities, good nature,
great fund of anecdote and sterling
integrity; and an army of friends in
Minnesota, particularly in ST. Paul and
Minneapolis, will be glad to know that,
although he has almost reached three
score and ten," his mental vigor is un-
impaired, and that he is as happy,
entertaining and instructive with his
pen as in the good old days when he
was here.
Road driving, in its sense of promot-
ing healthful recreation and indul,ring
in the pleasures Of driving a rapid.
smooth-gaited trotting horse at reed,
is Pastime Of American origin, irau
gurated on Manhattan island a full
century ago.
During the closing years of the last
century the improvement of the breed
OF horses then available for road driv-
ing became a much desired consumma-
tion resulting in the importation from
England in 1898 of the thoroughbred
horse Messenger for that purpose. AL
though bred for the running turf.
Whereon he was in a measure success
ful, Messenger had acquired reputation
for speed at the trotting gait, shown
when running loose in the paddock ard
pastures. Such qualification was then
Of no consideration across the ocean.
but was Of much Importance in New
York, hence his purchase and importa-
ton.
Early in the present century the rro-
duce of the sons Of Messenger bred in
this country began to exhibit much
inclination to the trotting gait, especial
ly the stations Ogden and Bush Mes
senger, and the early noted harness
trotters in New York, WhaleoDne. Io-
connective and Commodore But it was
left to grandson of MESSENGER to be-
come the acknowledged proganitor Of
the distinctive breed of horsas known
as the American trotter, now e1norted
IN large numbers to England and con-
t1nental Europe, and for which their
purchasers, in most instances. nav q
larger price per head than was raid
for Messenger, 200 pounds sterling
MOSTLY with the descendants of AbdaI-
ian, the noted grandson Of imported
Messenger, were the suburban road
ways, which intersected rural Manhat-
tan, hlled fifty years ago. These horses
had not the extreme speed of the Dres.
ent turf performers, yet they we're
rapid trotterS and possessed sranaina
ana gameness equal to any ever bred
Mr. Atkins recalls a number of old
tlrne resorts, among them Pheian's he
yond Elghty-fOurth street. Here ;, ha
writes, was driven up a rakish hut
muscular gray mare, the then world
champion, Lady Suffolk, with a rec
OF Z:2612. When slipping a glass op
wine, the owner, David BRYAN ex
pressed the belief that his mare had
reached the limit of speed at the trot-
tlng gait, and that her time would nor
be beaten. Oh, We mistaken souI Rnr
this was nearly fifty years before Sweat
AK, 2:O31a, was born, and we forgive
MIN. He had grand mare, and would
nave received more credit had he ar
corded to her better treatment than
she received at his hands,
Nearly all the famous trotters with
world records are direct descendants OF
Abdallah, the exceptions being insie-
n
royalty bred horses, most all of which
are direct descendants of this famous
morse. Belle Hamlin, Justina and
GLOBE, in their wonderful performances
TO double and triple harness, honored
tnelr common ancestor, AbdaIlah.
Nearly all the bright lights among
the PAGERS, including Robert J.. los
Patchen, Gentry and Direct, and ali
the Hambletonians, Electioneers, and
the numerous Wilkes family Of horses
are alike his descendants
Unfortunately for Abdallah his fame
came after his death. Living to a
worthless age, he was given to a Long
island farmer to perform drudgery for
a living, and the poor old horse. with
ms veins filled with the blood of royal
Messenger for refusing to draw a. fish
wagon was turned out on a bleak and
barren ocean beach to die of neglect
and starVa tion,. and then and there on
a stormy November day Of 1854, he died.
A dozen years ago the writer wrote
in substance as follows: Ten years
subsequent to the act of the miscreanr.
as above related, the great Dexter and
ST Julian, grandsons Of Abdallah, com
menced their series Of grand perform
ances on the turf, and were sold for
$4,000. Goldsmith Maid. doubly his
granddaughter, scored 1872 winning
heats, earning for her owners the mag
nificent sum of 1854, 900, subsequently,
sold for $4,000. Included in the list Of
horses who have won $4,000 and up
wards on the turf appear the names
of some sixty who in the aggregate
have won $1,S64,00O, and carrying with
them to the winning post the blood Of
Abdallah. Beneath the shifting sands
of that lonely beach, his very bones
cry out. Wake me up at the great
jubilee!'
Road driving is an exhilarating and
healthful recreation, the acme Of
pleasure to most Americans, and the
pleasures derived are not confined TO
the drivers. At such exhibitions many
spectators congregate to witness the
horses speed and with evident salts
faction and delight. Aside from it's
pleasurable features, road driving pro-
notes many industries-the breeder of
horses, the farmer who produces hay
and grain; carria ge-maker. harness.