The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-22


Bert had raced hard that day and could
not stand the late hours. He rolled the
ped clothes back so the boy could jump in
to bed without waking him up and then
laid his head on the edge of the. pillow SO
the lad would have room.
Three years ago | shipped him TO Wav-
erly, where he won four heats and at
Reading he won the money but not the
race. The man l was racing with thought
ne couldn't beat Bert, but he wasn't sure.
So he told me he would let me have the
prize If l would let his horse beat mine.
l agreed, and Bert was beaten the first
heat. Then the man said he could beat
Bert anyway. So l let Bert take the next
two heats. That scared the man, and he
gave me the prize then and there.
From Reading ! shipped him to Temo-
MEN, just out of Baltimore, where he won
$500 purse, From there he went TO Rich
mond, winning a 81 600 purse. That race
and his previous record gained him such
a reputation that when l arrived at Staun-
ton. Va, no one would start in the free
for all race. So they gave me $50 TO break
the track record and the same amount to
beat 2:20, which was easy for Bert, though
the track was In Wretched condition.
I'm 1896 there was a free-fortall trot at
Middletown, N. Y. It was, perhaps, the
greatest race Bert Sheldon-or any other
horse, for that matter-was ever in. 1t
horses had TO be taken out of their stall
at night to give them air.
The day of the race came-hot enough
to melt the varnish off the spokes.
Against Bert were Amboy, Fascination,
Lightning, and one or two other horses.
The first heat was won by Amboy, the
second by Fascination the third by Light
ming, the remaining three by Bert.
Race! 1t was about as much of race
as II there had been a lot of drunken
horses on the track. They reeled and
staggered, and Bert had to slow down to
keep within distance" of the horses, I
never saw such a used up set Of horses.
Neither Amboy nor Lightning, nor Fasci-
nation, as far l know, ever entered an
other race; yet Bert has won many heats
since then.
"He rarely leaves his feet. He is a
great horse in this respect. He is fair
about every thing except Squeezing toward
the pole. 1 can't get it into his head that
IL he is three feet or so ahead Of the pole
horse he can't jockey him out of it.
Gan through New York, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Virginia, the Carolinas, and
| Tennessee Bert Is known even by the wo-
men and children, and for such an ugly
horse he is the greatest favorite ever
| saw 'HoWs Bert?' is a question that
greets me everywhere. In many places
they call me Mr.. Sheldon. It's funny they
like him so when to half OF them he will
| show his teeth.
Last year at Frederick, Md, the boy,
who had a banjo, hung it up at the side
| of the stall. Bert used to amuse himself
| making a noise by rubbing the strings
| with his nose. He tried 1t with his lips
but the moisture broke the strings, as he
| used his nose next time, and has ever
since.
Two years ago the boy was Jogging
him on the track near the house, and
| was driving another horse. Bert L said
| as / passed him, you stay behind. l
waited until got down the stretch where
| some friends were standing. They had
| bet Bert wouldn't understand me. Then 1
rose in my seat and beckoned. Bert had
| his eye on me- and when L motioued to
him he came like the wind. Now wait
Bert, I said don't you dare pass me,
| and the boy couldn't get him by me until
l told him to go.
"As for the track, Bert is as good a
horseman as there is on the turf His
| class is 2:17. His official time is 2:16A
That places him in the 2:17 class, and he
| Is entitled to race anything in that class
| or under. His strong point is putting up
| such a race that he will force horses with
| q record of PIT out of their class, and
| make them lower their record. He has
| put up a strong second TO 0;10A, and can
push his nose close 10 many 01lA or O;13
| horses.
II always tell him how many heats
| there are to be. He watches the horses
behind him just as a man would, only
Bert has four feet and he don't wabble
| when he Is looking back. When they be-
gin 10 get within talking distance he takes
! the bit for the homestretch The minute
| the wire is passed you can't hire him to
| trot an extra foot.
Bert is as sound as ever, and, though
he Is getting old, 1 think 1 could start
out next season and repeat the perform
ances which he has been giving the last
| eleven years"