The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-20
VARIED CAREER
Of TON CANNON
Has Been Jockey, Driver Of
Champions, Ring
master.
MADE A PECULIAR RECORD
Rode Standing up, Roman Style, Two
Horses a Half Mile in 50 "a
Seconds.

Ed Geers. Myron McHenry. and the
rest OF the knights OF the sulky who
operate on the Grand Circuit; and little
Miller. Radtke. and the others who
make up the pigskin contingent that
manipulate things on the running
tracks. and whose names are constantly
before the public in connection with
racing matters. are, OF course, able rep
resentatiyes of their profession. but
when Il comes TO al-ar5Ind stunts with
hOTses-TaCe horses. cart horses. show
horses or any other kind Of horses. gen
uine versauIity-Tom Cannon, the vet
eran trainer and driver OF tr0tters who
lives in Washington. can give any one
OF the bunch points on the horse game.
Cannon was born on a farm. and got
his first experience with horses as farm
boys usually do-driving a team hooked
10 a harrow or wood wagon, and when
he concluded 10 desert the parental roof
went 10 driving an OK team in a lumber
camp This work, however. was too
slow for him, and he quit the job 20 ele-
vate himself 10 the position Of driver
OF a grocer's wagon. This. also. WAS
not 10 his taste. SO he made plunge
forward, according 10 his way Of think
ing became a racehOrse ''sWipe," and
later graduated into the Jockeys ranks
This occupation suited him. and ne rode
runners in various parts Of the country
for several years, but finally was forced
10 give 1t up because he grew too heavy.
and then he made a tour Of the West
giving Roman riding exhibitions, stand
ing on the back OF horse going at full
speed-at county fairs. AT this he was
an expert and earned good wages
Peculiar Worlds Record.
Cannon, at this line, perhaps, holds a
worlds record. AT fair al OtJumwa,
Iowa, in 1855, he rode two hOrses-Maryis
b. and Jesse James-sJrapped together,
Roman style, standing with one foot on
each horse. a half mile In 55l4 seconds,
wonderfully fast time for such per
Torrance. This he did before a big
crowd Of farmers and city people. who
ewere intensely enthused over The feat
Roman riding growing stale, Cannon
engaged - good salary TO take charge
OF AID Keep in condition the six mag
niiCeHI black stations that made ". ".
Coles New York and New Orleans cir
Gus so popular years ago. and when the
regular Tingmaster was out Of sorts
Tom would put the stations through
their ring stunt, and he made extra
change by driving four horses abreast
in q Roman chariot race at each eXhi-
bition. Then he drifted back into the
harness horse game and has remained
there ever since.
Stars Step Away from Him
Cannon, during his career with the
horses, has trained and driven some eX-
ceptionaIly good ones. but he has been
unlucky in having the fastest Of them
slip away from him just about the time
he got them ready 10 make creditable
showing for himself with them. He has
given about forty horses records Of 2.80
OF better. Kinstrees that he drove 10 a
mark Of z;l6A over a half-miIe track
four Years ago. and that took a record
Of 2:0394 on the grand ciicuit last fan
was the speediest OF the lot
SpOnOrd. tTotter that some years ago
was famous the world over, was trained
by Cannon, and Tom, usually mild even
IN adversely. shows inclination 10 kick
whenever this horses name is mention
ed in his presence. SpOnOrd was a rich
ly bred black selding, owned by the late
General Beale. OF this city, who turned
him over 10 Cannon for education. Tom
TOOK great care with him, believing
that he saw in him the making Of a great
race horse. and after he got 10 going
like a piece Of fine machinery, invited
the owner out 20 BTightWOOd 10 see him
work
Made Good-Then Lost.
This was in the neighborhood Of TWEEN
ty years ago, when a green horse that
could show 2.50 was considered very va
liable. and Cannon thought he had fame
and fortune within his grasp he sent
Spofford a mile in Pa 10 a high-wheeI
sulky. and the general was delighted
Hell do. Tom. Get HIM ready and
we'H ship him tomorrow said the old
warrior.
Ship him where?" asked Cannon.
To Brooklyn. I'm going 10 make a
friend OF mine over there a present OF
him. replied the general. and he kept
his word.
Training Miss Clean Now.
That fall. spofford. driven by the then
noted reinsman, John Turner. won a
SO GO stake race at Hartford. taking a
mark Of 2;l7h, and later captured sew
eral rich purses at other places. and
then was sold for So The next year
sporford was taken 10 Australia He
beat every trotter OF consequence over
there. smashed all the Australian trOt-
ting records. and won a bushel OF money
for mis- owner
Miss CLEAN. owned by Horace
Schwartz. formerly treasurer Of the
Washington, Alexandria and Mt Yer
noii Railroad Company Is the fastest
OF the horses Cannon now has in charge.
She has record Of 2l54 which he
gave her. and he is confident that the
game little daughter of Americas VIII
considerably reduce This wear