The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-09
Didn't Look Like Race Horse

oebghtS IN JnTHEnS tales or the sea
/ How RaceIand. the only horse. it is said.
for which Michael Dwyer entertained a
real affection, was sold for a couple OF
hundred dollars as a yeariing and lived
10 be worth thousands; how the great
| two-year-old Morelio was despissd and
rejected only twelve months before mis-
greatest tFiump5s are traditions of the
paddock To these yarns Uncle Josh
Fuller. formerly of Pike county, Mis-
souri,, while in a reminiscent mood be-
tween flag and falls AT Brighton Beach
race track, added another story OF great
ness nearly overlooked
If Chauncey I Fflley, who was the
personal friend and western political rep
resentative of the late James G Blaine,
hadn't secured the nomination OF John
Pohlman for sheriff OF ST. Louis, No,
! on one of the occasions when the GER
man vote placed the Mound City in the
Republican column, the famous blind
mare Irene might be pulling milk
wagon or a hanson cab now instead of
beng fondled and petted as the prize
brood mare OF one Of the most prosper
Gus Kentucky stock FARMS said Uncle
Josh
/ You see, John Pohiman was horse
dealer in business and by inclination, and
a cracking good judge of a thorough
bred by inheritance, his mother having
his daddy before him having been the
owner of a bunch OF county fair racers.
So, one one occasion John forgot he was
high sheriff of St. Louis just long enough
after the bell tap TO give Irene a chance
TO show the speed that was in her heels.
Had Fflley picked any one else for sher-
if the chances are that Irene would
have gone under the red flag and been
! Knocked down to the highest bidder tor
Z off
ward high-ciass race horse: but as
that chap kipling says, that's altogether
| another yarn.
"A couple of sporty farmers from the
| neighborhood of Sedalia, Mo-. struck the
ST. Louis fair grounds race course with
a big, honey, blind, chestnut mare. The
animal was coughing a little and run
/ ming at the nose some, and looked any
| thing but tit to race, even If she hap
pened TO be a racer from way back
, 1t was 90 weeks before the meeting
/ opened, and when tWitted about the
| mare and her speed qualities, the farm
ers allowed she had plenty of time to
come around all right for selling
purse or TWO before the fifteen days
racing was over.
Ever raced her before?" some one
asked.
Yes, indeed, sub! We aIls had her
up to tn meetin' at Laf-i-ate county,
sub, an We alls got tn money!"
Wed, the mare failed to improve af-
ter three weeks had gone by, and her
| owners were $14.50 In debt for feed and
other horse necessities to a store man
named Jonas, who had place around
the corner on Grand avenue. There was
but one week more of racing, and Jonas
thought it time to make a play for his
money. He brought suit got judgment
! In, fka
Sheriff POhlman for service. The sheriff,
his son and several friends were going 10
! the track that day 10 see the races, so
/ John took along the execution, intending
to serve it himself and let his son and
| deputy take charge of the race horse
Irene and such other belongings Of the
judgment debtors as might be seized.
e" So the mare is all you've got, eh?'
said the sheriff after making an inven-
! tory of the Sedalia stables. We'll. trot
! her out till we have a look a her.
One Of the men, with face on him
as long as a field nigger's hand led out
| the mare Both owners felt mighty bad
about the business. They looked on the
sheriff in fear and stole sly but Affection
ate glances at the horse, as though they
| had already lost her and were forbidden
! by law 10 even gaze in her direction.
/ But they thought d heap of that ragged.
with half an eye.
| Why, she's blind, John" said one of
| the politicians in the sherin's party.
Hasn't had square meal in a
month"; remarked another disdainfuIy.
poking her in the ribs
Had mo- tc eat than we had, sub"
replied the elder Sedalian, smoothing
down the hair where the mare had been
| punched. She races thin. an if YOU
I s,Ire r,,Tx- L.
/ race today she'll win, sub, an Wen pay
/ tn bill.
d" Why didn't you start her before?'
asked the sheriff.
- She was coughing, sub, an we
feared to try her out. Please. Mr..
Sheriff, let her go jist this once, an we'll
/ sholy get out Of trouble. She's a grand
race mare. sun
The crowd laughed-all but the sheriff.
/ While the man had been talking Pohl-
man had walked around the mare, view
/ ed her from all sides and noted her
points.
" By George, boys, believe the old
/ fellows right. She's not pretty to lock
/ at, leastwise not what a lady looking
/ for carriage horse would call pretty
but she's built to go. Look at that long
| sloping barrel the powerful quarters,
and what a wind reservoir she's got be
( Find those shoulders. Well, I'm not say
/ ing l wouldn't Ike 10 see her run. HIN,
/ Two o'clock. I'll be busy until o'clock,
and then I'll drop around here again
Come along. boys
/ Going to have any one in charge Of
the marco
NO; guess old sedaIia here knows
/ what to do with ner.
" Cad, That's what I do, sub Thank
you, sab. thank you.
Irene was a starter in the first race on
the programme. The bookmakers laid
/ odds Of 20 10 I against her winning. The
sheriff bet enough to clear snug sum
should Irene come in first J n.bbled AZ
! her a bit myself but the others would
not put up a cent. The two old farmers
1 who owned her had no money 10 wager
/ and were satisfied 70 get The $50 purss
Did she win? Way. man. she ran The
horse, coming il ten lengths to the good
with her mouth Eide open. II was only
81 exercise gailop for Irene
Between the sheriff, Jonas and the Sc
dalians the judgment was settled an
hour after the race Three days later
Irene ran IN a race Of sevsn-eighths q
q mile against soue q The BEST aaudl-
cap horses in he South and West. m
ME Mclaughlin. who had come 20 s.
Louis u ride Miss WoOdford ~ the
ECLIPSE stakes had the mount. and IN
der his skiIfui riding irene noi only
won again. bgt brose the track record
for the distance Tae scogsan Brothers
/ bought hsT paying q sool round price.
and AZ tie end - the season eae 1za
retired TO Tire breeding farm and bred
10 Buchanan.
AEr@-Hx TAINTED