The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1901-08-20
The KING OF TROTTERS
Facts About Cresceus and His
Owner, George H. Ketcham.
ATTENDS TO HIS PET HIMSELF.

Great Horse Ia the First Stallion to
Hold the worlds ReeOrd-Is Son OF
Robert McGregor-- Owner Values
Him Above All Money-Once killed
a BOY.
Cresceus, 2:021l, the champion trot-
ter Of the world, belongs to Ohio, says
a Cleveland dispatch to the New York
Herald. BE is Ohio bred, and George
II. Ketcham, his breeder, owner and
driver, is an Ohio man through and
through. To Cleveland and Columbus
belongs the honor Of possessing the
tracks on which within,seven days this
wonderful stallion has established new
records, coming Within two and a quar-
ter seconds of touching the two minute
mark, at which all lovers OF the Ameri-
can horse have been looking as the
goal.
Cresceus himself belongs to Toledo.
in the suburbs Of which city he was
bred and trained. Cresceus is Z years
old. His sire was Robert McGregOr,
2:1715, the best stallion on the trotting
turf 20 years ago, and sotfast and game
and noble looking that horsemen loved
to call him the ''monarchl of the home
stretch"
During his career Cresceus has start
ed in 81 races, Of which he, has won 20,
and he has never failed to, get a part
Of the money. He has won t62 heats in
2:30 or better, SO In 2:20 or better, 81
In 2:15 or better and 81 in 2;10 or bet
ter. In the last u months he has
trotted Fl heats below 2:08 and has
covered 6 heats in 2:O5 or better. He
now holds the worlds trotting record,
the champion stallion record, the cham
pion race record (2:O5, the fastest two
heat race on record, the fastest three
heat race on record and innumerable
records of minor note.
Cresceus is the first stallion that ever
held the worlds trotting record. Lady
Suffolk. 2:291a; Pelham, 2:2S; Highland
Maid, 2:27; Flora Temple, 2:19A; Dex-
ter, 21TH; Goldsmith Maid, PA; Ra-
rus, 2:13H; st. julien, 2:1I1l; Jay Eye
See, 2:1O; Maud S. 2:OS34; Sunol, 2:081z;
Nancy Hanks, 2:04; Altx, 2;03A, and
The Abbot, 2:O314. all the, record hold
ers since 2:30 was first made by q
trotter, were either mares or geldings.
George II. Ketcham, the owner Of
Cresceus, is 40 years Of age. He is one
of the sons of the late Valentine
Ketcham of Toledo, who accumulated
large fortune In manufacturing and
in the owning and sailing of lake YES
sells. Several years before his death
Valentine Ketcham was asked why
he continued to accumulate money.
'Well," he said, ''if my boys get as
much fun out of spending my dollars
as get out of earning them, will be
well satisfied" When the estate was
divided George got his share, which in
cluded a large farm near Toledo.
He had been a delicate child and no
body would predict long life for him
when he had grown to young manhood.
He took to the soil, and that gave him
health and strength. Always a lover
of horses, 1t became his ambition, when
possessed of the means OF gratifying it,
to OVID a famous trOtter. That was
why he purchased Robert McGregor.
Then he conceived the idea of breeding
trotter of his own. The colt Cresceus,
by Robert McGregor, out ofiMabel, was
the result.
Although he hired a man to watch
| his stables, he would permit nobody
else to handle his pet He has driven
him in ali his races. and he now says
that he would rather drive Cresceus
to break a record than to go tO'heaven-
| Asked what the horse was worth, Mr.
Ketcham said his value to him was
entirely sentimental, which means that
there Is no price upon him.
Mr.. Ketcham is an impulsive man, OF
strong likes and dislikes. He Is quick
to anger, but ready to forgive, and no
body can laugh more heartily at joke
than he. From a weak and puny boy
he has grown into a robust man, with
broad shoulders and strong, well sci
head, with square jaws. His eyes are
bright and twinkling with good humol
and his nerves and muscles are like
steel. He never loses his head, and the
absolute control he exercises over his
horse when on the track, combined
with the feeling Of comradeship be
tween the two, insures absolute ODE
dience by Cresceus to every word, pres
sure of the bit or touch Of whip from
the master behind him.
Mr.. Ketcham believes that Cresceu'
will be a two minute horse before thu
season ends. 1t is not generally known
that Cresceus once killed one of hi
grooms. yet such is the fact. 1t was II
his 4-year-old form. He inherits tn
uncomfortable spirit of his sire, an'
when the boy who was leading him OF
the track at Springfield, o., gave
Jerk on the stud bridle,- hurting hi
mouth, Cresceus suddenly struck GU
with his head, biting the lad SQUARED,
between the shoulders and killing hin
almost instantly When well treated
he IS a kind horse, considering the fac
} that he is stallion. but woe to tn
J man who rouses the fire that is In hin
. by abuse.
, In appearance Cresceus is a plat
horse. with straight neck and some
what rough hips But his physique
full of power at every point. with pei
haps the broadest and most muscula
hind parts ever seen on a fast trottel
2 ! He is chestnut In color and is about !
hands high. In his races he wears
lot Of boots. Mr.. Ketcham prOtectin
his legs to the knees and hooks.