Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-12-04
HORSE NOTES.
News of General and Local Interest to
Horsemen.


noted in this department. which will be main.
tanned with view to making 1t of interest
both local and widespread.
AT the risk of having some modern
Polonius, who may have read this de-
partment, remark, "stil harping on my
daughter" recur to the theme of Lou
Dillon. Everybody interested in such
matters greediy devours every scrap re-
garding this phenomenal trotter, and to
illustrate her rank in popular favor l
shall quote bit from the pen of that
brilliant turf writer, Sam. c.. Freeman,
describing an ovation to the new Queen
of the Turf, Saturday, Nov. 81. After
speaking of the large crowd present,
and the presentation of huge floral
horseshoe composed of pink roses and
white chrysanthemums, to the incom-
parable Lou, by Col. Cockrill, president
of the Road Drivers Association, of New
York city, Mr.. Freeman coptinues:
"With uncovered head Mr.. Billings
acknowledged the expression of esteem
for his mare; the horseshoe was placed
in another wagon and conveyed to the
stall of the beautiful mare. 1t had been
the intention to brush the mare through
the stretch if favorable conditions pre-
vailed, but the footing was so heavy
that no one expected to see her step.
Mr.. Billings, however, concluded to take
the chances and breeze her for a short
distance He appreciated the fact that
the crowd had assembled to see the mare,
and, thorough sportsman that he is,
| rnt Il them a
announced that he would step her from
High Bridge to the grand stand, and let
her go some at the finish. Very few
men would have risked speeding such a
valuable piece Of horseflesh on such a
road. Two mounted policemen started
with the mare from the bridge and until
they were half way to the stand they
appeared to be going along at an easy
lope, while the mare was simply Jogging,
but as they neared the stand it could
be seen that the policemen were urging
| their horses to do their utmost and they
were on dead run, and the mare, skim
ming along without the slightest effort,
kept her head in front. Within couple
of hundred yards from the finishing
posts the policemen were taking the last
ounce of speed out of their horses with
whip and spur, but the mare, without
the least urging, was drawing away
from them at every stride, absolutely
on her own courage and as if conscious
of the fact that she could go away from
them at any time she pleased. 1t was
the most impressive sight ever seen on
the great drive. 1t would be difficult to
imagine more perfect gait, combined
with such terrific speed. When she
walked back to the grand stand, Mr..
Billings stopped her for moment, and a
great crowd surged over and surrounded
her. She stood quietly with the reins
hanging loose in Mr.. Billings hand and
did not show even by so much as a long
breath that she had just trotted nearly
half mile at close to two minute gait
at least, and the last quarter of it much
faster. Mr.. Billings dropped the lines
on the dash of the wagon and dis
mounted with no one standing at her
head, and Willard Sanders, her trainer,
got up and logged her back to the stable.
1t was horse show to be remembered
as long as one lives"
That was a charming incident and
very graphically related. 1t shows not
only how great popular favorite the
mare is, but as well how worthy she and
her owner are of their present distinc-
ton. | am not in sympathy, however,
with the laudations which have been
showered on Mr.. Billings because of his
willingness to show Lou Dillon in public,
for the reason; that it seems the natural
thing for him to do. He would be more
than human if he did not take the keen
est pleasure in exhibiting his incOmpar-
lab 10 thttor CT IL xpd
and no man merits applause for catering
to his own enjoyment. What strikes
me most forcibly in Mr. Freemans &C.
count is the fact that this phenomenon
of speed will stand as quietly as an Add
son county farm plug.
The horse that bids fair soon to excel
all others as sire of standard speed, and
already leads as sire of extreme speed,
Gambetta Wilkes, hasl plenty of Morgan
blood, his dam being Jewel, by Gill's
Vermont, son of Downing's Vermont
by Black Hawk. This horse has IL in
2lO list, five being newcomers this year
to the select circle, and he has 139 in the
standard speed list, IS having been added
in 1908. Only five stations had a
greater number in the list at the close of
1902, VIZ: Alcantara, Electioneer, Nut
wood, Onward and Red Wilkes. Three
of these are dead, only Alcantara, foaled
1876, and Red Wilkes, foaled 1874, sur
viving, and, respectively, 5 and years
older than Gambetta Wilkes. whose
chances for reaching top-notch seem
excellent.
In regard to that disputed 1889 record
of Cresceus, C. NJ. Irwin, president of
the Wichita fair association, says:
Il hardly think the record given