The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-23
Great Race Here Next Wednesday
I1ay Lower Worlds Record.
Observation-Disclosures
How the Speed Kings are Kept Every Dey-Andrews
and DCkerson TaIk-Track in Fine
Condition.

at is an impression quite generally
credited in certain sections that because
Gentry and Patchen ship in the same car
and the drivers stay at the same hotel,
they compromise their races. Nothing
could be farther from the truth. The race
at Wichita will be for blood Gentry and
Patchen are owned by multi-millionaires.
What they want, each man for his own
horse, is records, races won. Mr.. An
drews and I travel together and are
strong friends, but neither of US, for the
price of Gentry or Patchen, would lose
the race at Wichita If we can win it."
This statement was made to repre-
Sentative of the Eagle at the Carey
hotel last night by John Dickerson, driver
for Joe Patchen, and to hear him was
to know that he meant what he said.
ST never saw Gentry or Patchen in bet
Ter condition than they are now. You can't
tell when surprises, are to come and it is
possible, if Colonel Toler gives US a good
track, that we Will lower the worlds
record here next Wednesday"
Billy Andrews, the courteous and jolly
driver of John R. Gentry. assented to
what Mr. Dickerson said. He empha-
sized It.
Our instructions are" Mr.. Andrews
said, ito win the race. And this means
every race in which we start"
Mr.. Dickerson and Mr.. Andrews are
rived from Oklahoma City about II O'Clock
yesterday morning with the famous
pagers, Gentry and Patchen.
Ten years ago last spring both Gentry
and Patchen were foaled IN Sedgwick
county, Patchen on the Jewett stock farm
near Cheney, and Gentry on the Toler
stock farm, four miles northeast Of Wich-
tia In their early colthood they gave
very little promise, and at two or three
years old they were called 'nags" Of
little more than the average value. If
they could be hitched up together today,
they would bring enough to buy the Zirn-
merly block, and enough more to build
fine residence. It would take probably
$50, 900 to buy the two Patchen brought
only 500 at three years old and Colonel
Toler didn't get much more for Gentry
when he sold him.
But It is different now.
These horses are top savyers at the lat
eral gait, the worlds PAGER kings.
Gentry's beginning has been given often
In the Eagle, but an incident concerning
Joe Patchen may be of interest Seven
years ago Colonel Toler was walking up
the street in Peabody when a boy came
driving down the street with a young
black horse hitched TO a cart. Just oppo-
site Mr.. Toler the horse stumbled and
fell When he got on his feet the boy
struck him with whip and he paced off
down the street with a speed that startled
Colonel Toler.
There is a mighty fast colt here in
town," the colonel said to John Taylor
when they had walked up the street. 81
saw a boy driving him down the street.
There is a come-out to that horse" That
settled it. Taylor bought Patchen and
began to train him. The world knows
the rest
Both Gentry and Patchen were at the
stables on the fair grounds yesterday
resting up after their nights ride here
from Oklahoma City. Both of them stood
IN their stalls with blankets on. Hang
Ing around on the sides of the stalls were
their different suits. Not the SWEETEST
dresser in Kansas has as many or as fine
suits as Gentry and Patchen wear. Light
wooden blanqets for this time of year,
several shades of color and different
weights
Their legs to their knees were wrapped
with the finest. softest bandages, soaked
IN liniment. After races these liniment
bandages are put on hot and changed
often. The whole body is rubbed down
with hot rum and the feet bound in grease
pads. They are Ealked or drilled" as
the keepers say, Cor three hours after
hard race In this time they are rubbed
down with hot rum, the bandages
changed. the whole horse rubbed over with
cloths several times They are curried
down awhile and drilled" awhile for
three hours. Lniment and hot rum Is ap-
piled frequently TO the shoulders to pre-
Vent soreness or lameness.
Gentry and Patchen receive better
treatment probably than any boy or girl.
or man or woman in Wichita. The day
begins With a little walk and nibbles at
the grass. There is watering. cur~vjnC.
bsndaging, rubbing and such for an bour.
when they arc given their breakfast
which consists OF four quarts Of dry oats
with hay About o'clock the drivers