The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-26
A TALE OF THE TURF.
Horse Lovers Joyous Memory of
Equine Superiority.

w. y. Fraser, in Metropolitan Magazine.
Generally each year is unearthed the best
horse of the century; also, generally, like
great novels, one season shows the falla-
ciOuSnesS of the assumption.
The best horse | ever saw was Ormond.
And. perhaps, equally great was his son
Orme; but he was unfortunate and never
came to the FITNESS of his possible achieve
ment
Last year. ST Morris Park. / noticed
popularity inf the procedure of this strain
OF blood that has trickled down through
Doncaster, Ben dor, the great Stockweli
strain, symbolical of perseverance, Of SIAM
ina.
Ormond was a big bay, so was his best
son, Orme-high set-up horses both of
them. OF Ormes year was another Ormond
colt of high class. Goldfinch. Goldfnch
was a sturdily-built chestnut. The latter
horse was brought to the Haggin establish
ment, and begot Old England. who per-
formed last summer. So far this is Gold
fnch's best offspring, and he is a tall bay,
resembling greatly Orme and Ormond. But
he is a gelding; so this popularity will end
with Old England.
If 1T were not for the manifest value of
performances, i should be inclined To think
Surefoot the greatest horse had ever seen
on any race track; that is, when he was
possessed of the inclination.
One performance of his fingers in my
mind, joyous memory Of equine superior
ity. dozen years ago il was; and the
race, ten-thousand-pound stake at Kemp
ton.
Inc year before SureIOOt naQ fdlled mis-
erably in the Derby, though made a hot
favorite, very poor horse, Sanfoin, win
ming. All the best horses of the year, Com
mon. winner OF the Derby. and others were
in this kempton Park stake.
Surefoot had developed such an evil tenn
per that nobody could ride him except one
particular stable boy, whom he looked upon
In the light of privileged friend.
The owner had long since grown tired OF
backing the erratic beast, and there was ID
TO against him that day.
In the paddock before going out the horse
behaved most disgracefully, biting at the
clouds, kicking the wind. and generally
playing the silly goat. His magnificent ap-
pearance had constrained me to back him
for tritie. but his evident dissemination
for the whole business suggested that | was
unwise.
BY the aid of many men he was deported
from the paddock. Down at the starting
post We could see him quarreling with him.
self ten yards away from the others
When they started he was quite this dis
lance behind. AT the mile he was even fur
Their removed from his eager-striving COM
patriots The stable boy on his back was
thinking. sleeping, anything but driving
him. which was wisdom of the first water.
AT the bottom turn, swinging to the
straight, | could see closing-lip bunch of
horses. and little later on Surefoot
As they came pounding up the turf ave-
nue., partisan voices vibrated the summer
air: Common wins" even the two horses
of NJ. Blanc had hackers I'm that audience
that shouted gleefully the triumph OF the
Frenchman's steeds.
j was not possessed of much exhilaration
Suddenly there was in my eyes the swift
weaving in and out OF white fetlocks: the
presentation of a sun-tinted chestnut on my
the others, in all disdain of a short
came the wicked Surefoot sweetened of
temper To one gallant struggle And the boy
was still asleep, or dead. anything that
was motionless
Under the very stand Surefoot romped by
the whip-iasned, hand-ridden throng of