The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30
HISTORY OF LOU DILLON
HER OWNER PURCHASED HER AT
CLEVELAND AUCTION.
Some Timers Caught Her Mile in Less
Than Two Minutes-Of Same
Blood as Nancy Hanks.

minute mark, is to be driven for honors on
the New York speedway after she has COM
pleted few exhibition engagemtns. c. K.
q. Billings, her owner, says he thinks the
mare has done all that he will ask her to do
this year TO a sulky. He says there is
such thing as giving a good horse too
much, and he will not take any chances
with the mare. Next year. providing moth
ing happens In the meantime, Lou Dillon
VIII continue TO go after the record, says
Mr.. Billings. She is improving all the
time. and when she has developed TO
greater extent and has another years ex-
perience. the public can look for her to
improve upon her worlds record.
Willard Sanders. the trainer and driver
Of the champion, has stated that he
poets Lou Dillon to do the mile in 1859 this
season. and Il is believed that Mr.. Billings
will permit him to make the effort, not
withstanding the owner has said that he
II satisfied with the work the mare has
done already.
1t is a known fact that while the three
judges in the stand at Readville, last Mon
day. were unanimous in placing the mares
time at two minutes fiat, such old timers
- Monroe Salisbury and John Sheppard
caught Lou Dillon as under the two
mark. Mr. Salisbury timed the mare in
i:5s1z and Mr.. Sheppard says he caught
Lou Dillon is a dark chestnut mare, Isl
hands high. marked with a star and snip,
and her left hind leg white half way to the
mock. She Is rather dainty than rugged in
Conformation. but her lines are so grace
ful and specialize as to make her appear
more delicate than she really is. Her weight
Is 84 pounds. Her coat is like satin. Her
as those
or sazelle, and her countenance reveals
rare Intelligence and docility. She is
natural trotter, II ever there was one,
wearing four-ounce shoes and light quarter
boots forward, three-ounce shoes with felt
shin boots behind. and going without
check rein
Lou Dillon, the present champion. can
not be compared with Cresceus, as she is
in a class by herself when 1T comes to
speed She has already trotteG more fast
miles than CreSceus. She is a handsome
chestnut trotter and Is only five years old.
she Is perfectly sound and has the finest
ACTON or any trotter that ever pulled
sulky- So perfect is the champions action
that she does not require any extra rig
sins or boots TO protect her quarters.
LOU DILLoNS BREEDING.
Lou Dillon was foaled in 1898. She was
bred at the Santa Rosa farm by Ira Pierce
and his brother. the late Henry Pierce, of
San Francisco. When the latter died last
January. arrangements were made for the
auction of his stable of light harness
horses. Lou Dillon was included in the
sale, which took place at Cleveland early
In the spring.
There were many horsemen anxious to Sc
cure Lou Dillon having heard that the
mare possessed wonderful speed. 1t was
the general opinion. however. that the
mare was erratic and would not race, and
this was responsible for the fact that c.
II. u. Billings was able 10 purchase the
mare for SlsotO
(. E. Smathers was one of the many con-
tending bidders He sent his trainer, George
Spear. on TO the sale, with orders not to
bid more than $4,000. Had Mr.. Smathers
~been ON hand. however, there is no doubt
that he would have gone higher. as he has
since stated that he would have gone
$4,000 If necessary TO secure the mare
Had Dir. Billings taken the advice of his
trainer. Doc Tanner. he, too. would have
passed the mare Up Tanner did not think
the mare was worth more than $4,000 and
when she reached this price he refused to
bid any higher, advising Mr.. Billings to let
her go MIR. Billings was determined to
own the mare and he took a hand in the
bidding himself, finally getting her at S12,-
500.
OF SAME BLOOD AS NANCY HANKS
Lou Dillon is by Sidney Dillon, a COM
paratively young horse. that came into
prominence two years ago as the sire of
Dolly Dillon, 2:07. one OF the crack trotters
OF the Grand Circuit of 1902. Sidney Dillon
was a son of the trottins-bred PAGER Sid
ney, 2:l9&.. a wonderfully prolific sire of
extremely fast horses.
Sidney was by the old trotting stallion
Santa Claus. 2:l7A, and was out of Sweet
ness. 2:2llS, by Volunteer, tine sire of
Julien. 2:1lA. The dam of Sidney Dillon
was a mare of unknown blood called Venus,
that produced the PAGER Adonis PILE. and
the trotters Cupid. 2.1s and Lea, 2:lS12.
On her dams side Lou Dillon traces
straight TO the sire OF Nancy Hanks, 2:O4
Her dam was Lou Milton. by Milton
Medium, z:29lz, son of Happy Medium.
a sire or Nancy Hanks, and this mare
Lou Milton. was out of Fly, a fast road
mare OF unknown blood
The prodigious speed OF Lou Dillon has
been developed wholly in the past fifteen
months by Willard Sanders, the trainer who
drove her to her record Sanders drove
other fast performers, including Amelia,
2:0614; Dolly Dillon, 2:07. and Janice POSI-,
10 all OF which he gave their records
After having shown a mile at the farm
In 2;z2 as S-year-old. she was sent TO
Sanders, at Pleasonron. Cal. track in the
spring OF 1902. He drove her a mile in
2:24 late in April, and early In May she was
sent a mile IN ZlZ This show of speed
her engagements In the Grand Circuit and
reserve her for the big stake races of 1909
Sanders accordingly gave her easy work
until he reached Baltimore, in September
and there he drove her a mile in 2:0S1a A
month later at Memphis she trotted a mile
In company with The Abbott (2:03iD in
2:0sk. moving the last half in 1:0l1.. She
was then sent to winter quarters in Cali
fornia until she was shipped to Cleveland
TO be put up at auction.
WILL NOT RACE MARE FOR MONEY.
When MIR. Billings bought Lou Dillon she
had no public record and was eligible to
stake events worth in the aggregate more
than $500 That she would have won a
great part OF these events there can be no
doubt as none OF the class trotters have
shown any such form that would have kept
them within the distance with the new
champion. Mr.. Billings never races his
horses for. money and the trainers were
glad that the mare would not compete in
the rich events.
Lou billions mile on Monday was her
seventh public exhibition. Each mile that
she has gone this season has been better
exception OF her mile at Brighton Beach:
but even In this trial the mare established
new worlds records for one-quarter the
half and the three-quarters. Her first mile
was at Cleveland on June is, when her
owner, Mr.. Billings. drove her a mile 10
wagon In 2:O6A. This reduced the trotting
record for mares 10 wagon.
Her next trial was on June % when Mr.
Billings succeeded in reducing the record
10 2:04&. which is new worlds record
for both professional and amateur drivers
Satisfied with his amateur honors MIR
Billings turned the mare over to Sanders
10 drive for the worlds record Lou Dillon :
first attempt was TO reduce Alixs record
OF 2Oss<. She trotted in 2:O4i4. and although