Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-12
AUGUSTUS HORSES.
Some of the Fast Ones Of the
| Capital City.
"reminiscences Of Races in the Good
Old Summer Time.
Pretty Soon There May Be Track for
Them on the Ice.

Augusta trotting horses are taking
life easy, this winter. They had a
long and hard campaign, last season,
over the tracks of various qualities
which are to be found in the Maine
|circuit. and they well deserve the days
|of rest and quiet which they are now
enjoying in their warm quarters
OF course. they are taken out every
day, for exercise, as well as to keep
them down upon the earth, but as Au-
|gusta has no speedway the fast ones
do not get the warnings up that they
would were there some place set apart
where the lovers of good horsefiesh-of
the kind that can go some-could in
dulge their fancy. And then, there
does not seem to be any immediate
prospect of a race track on the ice
above the dam, though there may be
one before the winter is over. So it
comes to pass that the beginning of
the new year finds but very little do
ing along the snowy roads in the way
of speed.
But if there is nothing doing with the
horses. there is activity enough among
w
quiet that reigns among the stalls,
and in the office of every stable which
holds a horse that can beat three min
utes. one seldom fails to find coterie
of three or more lovers of the sport, up
to their eyes in the discussion Of the
latest bit of horse gossip.
1t is generally conceded that the
headquarters of all local horsemen,
and visitors as well, is Cummings
stable. on the east side of the river
Here are wont to gather daily the
representative horsemen of the city,
and on almost any of these winter
afternoons you will find some of them
punched around the little alright stove
in the Office talking 'hoss' to beat the
band. and telling of 1.-The past, the
present and the future" just as do the
clairvOyantS.
Mr.. Cummings is a horse owner, him
self. and in addition to his large busI-
ness in heavy horses, has several fast
ones in his stable which have given
good accounts of themselves over a
half mile track, as well as others which
are at present unknown quantities, but
full of promise.
And then there is Walter Webb, who
handles Mr.. Cummings horses for him.
Mr.. Webb is probably as thoroughly
posted on matters pertaining to the
horse as any man in the city, and has
the pedigree of every trotter or PAGER
at his tongues end. And he is con-
sidered. also, one of the best drivers
in the State. He is careful, quick to
see an advantage in a race, and above
all, never forgets that he is a gentle
man.
Speaking of Augusta steppers, their
owners have every reason to be salts
fled with theft work of last season, for
they certainly brought home their
share of the purses offered at the
different race meets.
Without doubt the greater work done
by any horse in Augusta was that of
the bay gelding, Fred Morgan, owned
by Peter Corron. The horse is PAGER
with mark of 221. and in the nine
races in which he was started, won
first money every time.
Gwen P, the brown mare owned by
Warren Malcolm, and handled by
Walter Webb, won four 1st moneys,
and six Ids.
Lady st. CroiX, formerly owned by
Malcolm & Wadleigh, and handled by
Mr. Webb. had, up to the time of the
Bangor fair won first money in four
races. At Bangor she won first money
in the 2.27 class, and after the race
was sold to Boston parties.
The bay gelding, Lon Wilkes, owned
by Henry Cummings, started six times
last season. He won first in three
races, second in two. and was behind
the money once-at Topsham.
Jack the Ripper a bay gelding, also
owned by Mr.. Cummings, won first
money once, and second and third
twice in three weeks. On one occa-
sion he was started in two races in one
afternoon.
Villa Weeks and Maud NJ, both
owned by Harry Lishness, also did
good work, the former winning first
money once and second several times,
while Maud M. went to the stable with
three first moneys and several Sec
onds and thirds to her credit
Taken all in all, there is no kick COM
ing at the showing made by Augusta
horses for the season of 1902. They are
all in good condition, this winter, and
there is but little doubt that when their
drivers mount the sulkies behind them,
when the good old summer time comes
again, there will be a number of rec
ords shaved by several seconds
Really, there are quite goodly num-
Der of speed horses in Augusta, this
winter. To be sure, some of them are
well known favorites, but there are also
some new ones, as well as several
dove IL Il. ~
front. and which, some day, will furn-
ish sport for the crowd in the grand
stand. Here they are
In Mr.. Cummings list may be men,
toned the 5-year-old bay geldng Robt
Nelson. He is by Nelson 600, and
his dam was the dam of Grover Cleve-
land els. He stands 1873 high, and
weighs 1850. He is PAGER, with good
action. and should be fast.
One of Mr.. Cummings recent pur-
chases is the brown gelding Will Sid
ney, foaled in 1897, and bred at the
West wind stock farm, at Pontiac,
;.1, II Hx,Cs