The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-19
THE AMERICAN TROTTER,
Marvellous Achievements Of Crescsus
With Record Of 2 minutes ~ Seconds.

, just claim to the title of king Of the turf
There is no better example to be fOunG
, than the wonderful Cresceus, George Il
, Ketchum's famous 2min. 2Asec. trotter
who has, by his marvellous achievements
won worldwide fame.
!, 1t needs but n glance back Mt the IA
nous trotters Of the past, and then 8
rapid survey of Cresceus's record, to re
veal the entire story of the rise of the
trotting- horse in America-the wonderful
progress he has gained and the foothold he
has secured in so years.
Bob White, of 1885, and Maud S., OF
1870, both stars of their times, could moi
hold a candle to the beloved Cresceus, the
2min. 2Asec. king, and whose owner
claims that lie will be the sire of the two
minute horse.
1t is now the ambition of every trainer
to produce n twO-minute trotter, and
Ketchum claims that Cresceus is capable
of breaking his own record and winning
the glory; to this end he is being trained
tried and entered with all the star racers
of the country.
The training of a racer and the keeping
him in good condition are no simple tasks
for these thoroughbred cquincs are as ner-
vOuS, whimsical and susceptible to heat
and cold as is the most delcately nurtured
child
Their homes are luxuriously fitted-up
stables. where the sanitary arrangements
are all of the best, and where the floors
stalls. etc. are flooded with an antiseptic
solution each day.
They are beautiful specimens of Ameri-
can architecture many of them being
| regular stone palaces. and stranger
would be more apt to think these impOs-
ing stone structures. with their cupolas
and towers. wc;c the homes Of some multi
millionaire than able to realize that they
are stables where famous 'trOtting-horses
are bred and trained. e.
The interior of The buildings is as
magnificent as the exterior. The stalls.
walks, fooring-and. in fact. the entire
! od-work-:Ic Of hard wood. highly pol
ishcd. Heavy Brussels carpets line the
aislcs. beautifully oil paintings
from master brushes and choice steel en-
cravings hang upon the walls.
The windows are heavy plate-glass and
the entire furnishings of the stalls ard
feed rooms are of materials of the highest
grrdc.
The stalls are kent warm in winter
with steam heat. while electric fans Gre
ale cool DrceZcs in the hot Summer
| months.
| The horses are curricd. combed and
| rubbed down before they leave the stables
and again when they come back after be-
| ing exercised. Veterinary surgeons are con-
| Stanily III attendance. ard the instant Il
morse shows the slightest sign of illness
he is put on the sick-list and goes under
| the doc tors care.
! He is treated and coaxed back to per-
! feet health again before he is exercised
with TIE other animals Every precau-
ton is taken to prevent the spread of Il
discasc. and i!tiucIZa. so prevalent among
he equine race, is guarded against most
| vigorously. thn stables being so con-
strRftoi and regulated as to prevent
drauglts.
| Every stable connected with large
American stock farm is well supplied with
bardaFcs ard supports. and the horses
Ices are examined every day to ascertain
whotE or not any of the joints are weak
and, if so. they are Immediately bandaged
ana supported.
Great care is taken to prevent sores
| from Spreading. for nothing uses I'D the
strength of a horse SO quickly or spells
racer rs do running sores, which are
| frequently Carscd from Il chafcd portion
OF the body being neglected
After Il race. as soon as the horse leaves
the track the trainer stands ready with
bncket. water. and sponge. and after rub
bling him down covers him with blanket
ard leads him up and down until he cools
| off.
Before Il race great care mist be exer-
| clsed to keep the horse calm: nothing is
ever done to irritate or excite him. all his
whims are catered to. and he is humOred
as much rs any spoiled child. for the
| trainer realizes that if his horses temper
becomes ruffied before the race he will not
get the hest from him when he goes upon
the track
Crcsccus. an excellent example of the
American frOttpr is a II -,
many ways. Aside from his phenomenal
speed. his career is full OF interest and
| romance. Put the beast out of his suf-
ferins. Tim: bullet or Il blow. which
ever is surcst." I'D rather ride Cresceus
to the finish of n record-brcaker than 90
to Heaven. These two remarks, made
by George I>etchum. the owner of the
famors Cresceus. tell rs clearly and
tcrscly rs possible of the rise of the
worlds favorite from :; sick incident colt
to champion trOttcr of the Doth century.
with the recent achievements of this
star of the turf almost everyone who
cares anything about thu nOblest animal
III the brute creation is cOnversant. but
few are those who can claim an intimate
acquaintance with the game stallion, or
who can trace back his history to the
time when he was younester frisking
around his sire. the well-known. much
loved. and now deceased Robert Nc
Grcgor
1t is startling revelation. but true.
that ketchum was within an ace of never
owning Cresceus and when he became A
member Of the Ketchum farm his owner
ordered him to be shot
1t was just by chance that the trainer
secured Mabel. the mare of Cresceus: She
was owned by James Dority. a we'll
known Western trainer, who had won
much fame on the turf, and was of the
same stock as the famous tfotter Nightin-
gale. who as Il fOur-year-old made a mile
In min. 2Isec., which was then consid-
cred Il very wonderful performance. Be
cause of the relationship to this horse,
when James DOrity died Mr. Ketchum de-
cided to make n bid for Mabel This was
in 1892. and the sale took place at a pub
lie auction in Toledo. Ohio.
lie expected to pay about thousand
dollars for the mare, and would not have
considered her bad bargain even at that
Inquire. The competing bidder was DIR. ].
V. Newton, of Toledo, Ohio. who with n
partner, Mr.. Randall, was bidding Jointly
for the mare. Through some confusion ON
their part, each thinking the other was
doing the bidding and neither one seeing
ketchum's nod, the mare was Knocked
down to the latter for two hundred and
fifty dollars. Both Newton and Randall
thought the bid was to their account. and
great was their CONSERVATION when they
found that Ketchum had secured the
prize. and ut such figure! 1t was the
greatest bargain of the day.
Shortly after securing Mabel he pur-