Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-07-21

/ track. / have often thought that with the
rig OF todey that colt would have made a
low mark. MIR. Twitchell sold him well
and have no doubt but he got paid fol
training.
The Reagan fat Is still the training
ground for the Barnard trotters in sum
| mer, though many think the distance too
short TO be of any benefit for a race horse !;
but 1t is beautiful road and affords de-
! lightful drive on hot day.
Mr.. Twitchell was at one time resident
Of North Barnard, owning the place where
B. F. Foster now lives. He was converted
to Methodism and, being good singer as
well as talker, became preacher and was
later promoted to the place of presiding
elder OF the Springfield district. He owned
many good horses but none filled the bill
for speed like the Walker colt. Mr.Twitch-
ell was active and jealous In the service OF
the church and through his efforts many
additions to memberstip were made, but
ne never forgot his love OF the trotting
horse.
j. j. Bowen OF Mystic Park, Boston, was
a native OF Royalton, but living close to
the Barnard line and being go often there
with his horses, he always seemed like a
townsman. He bought his first trotter In
Barnard-a four year-old, unbroken-and
With good handling it brought him q
handsome profit.
Ii was forty years ago that JOCK showed
this colt atWoodstock fair and drove him
in the then almost unprecedented time OF
three minutes, causing almost as much
sensation as two minutes would today.
How well we recollect the time There
was at the fair grey stallion that some
thought could beat Bowen In a race and an
effort was made to get up q match. The
grey horse's owner seemed to be anxious
for it. His stallion, being dull. would
take the whip and loud shouting without
break, while the black colt was more
nervous and required careful driving. This
state OF affairs caused Mr. Bowen 10 hest
tate but he finally concluded that II the
grey horse would equal his time-that Is,
trot full mile in three minutes-he would
go on with the match, outsiders to put up
the money. So the grey undertook the
task, driven by his owner, VINO was tall,
long legged man and wore high hat. He
was mounted on a high-wheel gig, as
IL was then called, with seat on double
elliptical springs which carried him high
In the air, plainly visible on every part OF
the ground. Armed with long whip and
pair OF lungs that could drown a steam
whistle, he came up for the word, which
was given the hrst time down. Around
the turn to the quarter he went well, and
even to the half he looked like a winner,
but the old stud didn't care to repeat the
circle and obliged his driver to apply the
iOnk WAaRs PAttAnk III lNiio tnat WoAAt
shame a North American Indian. He
landed at the score In $40. A more ludi-
crous performance was never seen on any
track and to this DAY the remembrance
will bring smile to any who witnessed
IL. OF course the match was of, but many
believed that with company the grey
would have won.
Soon after Mr.. Bowen sold his farm and
moved to Bethel village and after few
years went to Boston where he has re-
manned ever since.
David Clark, a wealthy farmer of Bar
nard, who prided himself on his keen OBJ
servation and the reading OF characteris-
tics, once told the writer that Jock Bowen
was the most promising specimen oil sue.
cessful farmer that he ever knew, and
among other qualifications said that he
exceiled in sowing grain. In those days
grain was all sowed by hand and an ex-
pert was expected to SOW equally well
with his left as we'll as his right hand, and
1t was no secret that Jock needed no
stakes or guides and in his marching
back and forth across the field the laps
were not shown. How often have thought
that the cunning OF those hands shown in
sowing grain has piloted many horse to
victory where thousands of dollars were
wavering in the balance The level head
that was always such good judge OF cat
tie was always cool in these trying times.
w men mr.. bowen SOLO MS fartn anu
moved to Bethel, Uncle David told me
that the Barnard black colt would kick
Jock. said, "The horse Is gentle" The
old man shook his head, remarking, "You
don't quite catch on" Certainly 1t was a
that Jock should quit the
farm. Well, II the colt kicked ]. j. Bowen
IL landed him well in front where be Is as
good today as forty years ago.
No man has more friends, which was |
shown in recent race at Hartford, Conn,
wherein the 200 PAGER, Retina, caught In a |
boot, turned a somersault, hurting Jock |
to the ground with such force that he was |
picked up insensible. CONSERVATION and |
anxiety were depicted on every face and |
all else was forgotten until assurance came |
that the veteran was not fatally injured. |
The noted driver, Ed Geers, was seriously |
hurt In the same accident, and while be- |
ing carried off with broken leg said "Let |
me alone. hut look after Jock"
New York turf paper says, at is pro-
posed to give J. j. Bowen a testimonial.
The matter was suggested to Mr.. II. E.
Willis. who approved of the idea and ex-
pressed himself as ready to offer the use OF |
Mystic park for the purpose" 1t seems a
good time now to do this when he is with |
us sound and healthy, save the shaking up
he received at Hartford. 1t is to be hoped
that his friends will rally and make a red
letter day for the "grand old man."