Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-03
HARNESS HORSE GOSSIP.

HARNESS HORSE GOSSIP.
By L. D. Sale.
1t is not always safe to wager on what
Washington trainers and owners of horses
will or will not do. Last Sunday it was
announced in these columns that the Nc
Dermott string would be trained at this
place. This was said on the authority of
the trainer Of those. horses, but it appears
that Tuesday last horses and trainers folded
their tents like the Arabs and as silently
stole away to Wilmington, Del. 1t is now
stated that Mr.. McDermott's horses will be
trained at DR.. McCoy's track near that city.
1t is to be regretted that Washington has
not a single track within its limits At to
train valuable horses over. Brightwood
track could be made to do for that pur-
pose If it were put and kept in proper con-
dition. But such is not the case. and more
good horses have been crippled for life in
working over it than would be easy to
| enumerate in a brief statement.
Weather conditions have again put a
crimp in the Jogging of horses at this point
intended for racing purposes, and trainers
are much put out at the way their horses
are taking on flesh that will take many
weeks to harden again. Thomas Cannon
expects. during the coming week, to move
a portion of his stable to the Brightwood
track. His stable, to begin with, will con-
sist of Riley A., Happy Hooigan. a Gov
ernor Stanford gelding, owned by William
Morris, and one or two other youngsters
ready at the track. in fact he has wintered
at Brightwood. He expects to train and
race Belle Hazel, 219h, again this year;
three new ones, which will arrive soon from
Tennessee and a young stallion by AK
worthy. Doubtless other horses will be
added to his string as the season advances.
Jacob L. Butt owner of Buttonwood Stock
Farm, Gettysburg, Pa, writes The Star that
he hopes to race this year a number of
youngsters Of his own breeding by Precurs-
or (2.2Oh), by Prodigal, 2.16; st. julius by
Wilkes Boy, and Electric Bell, by Elec-
tioneer This will be the first season that
Mr.. Butt has had material old enough and
of his own breeding to take to the races.
Two that he owns by Electric Bell, he
writes. showed quarters last fall in thirty
two seconds, and he thinks them capable,
If they train on, to beat 215 the coming
season. A three-year-old by Prodigal has
shown an equally fast gait at the pace. Last
fall this youngster paced an eighth in six
yearlings by Precursor showed last fall
Fights in better than twenty seconds A
yearlng filly by Bingen stepped an eighth
over the farm track in nineteen seconds
quite handily, he says.
A yearling filly by st. julius also stepped
an eighth in the same time. A two-year- old
by st. Julius, dam the noted race mare
Veta, 2.O9A, was able to step a quarter in
thirty-eight seconds, while a two-year -old
by Precursor, dam Vetis, full sister Of Veta,
was able to negotiate an eighth in eighteen
seconds with only ten days actual work.
1t would seem by this letter that Button
wood is rapidly coming to the front as the
home of extreme speed. Even Palo Alto,
In Its palmy days, could not beat these
trials of youngsters. David L. Kelly Is
head trainer at Buttonwood.
-
II everything goes well, Mr.. Peter Tay-
lor, jr., of this city will have out the COM
ing season the largest stable of horses
owned in Washington, barring that of
Charles McDermott. In Montana Guard
(2.2OA) Mr.. Taylor already has a horse of
high class. He has always raced consist
entity. Last season he started out with
record of 2.21, but 1t is we'll known among
those who witnessed his performances that
he was capable of miles around 215, and
perhaps could shade that mark q fraction
or so. He is a magnificent individual,
beautiful seal brown, powerfully quartered
and muscled, and possesses the best Of
feet and legs. His sire. Ponce de Leon
longed to the family founded by Wood
ford Mambrino. 221a at nineteen years Of
age, and one of the gamest race horses
that ever looked through bride. He took
his record when he was literally dying of
f1stula, and which carried him off the sea-
son he took his record to high wheels.
Prodigal GIG. Patron (2.14aO and Pan
coast all are members Of this same Won
~f,tt foV ~ xr,ht 10
be truly said, on the other hand, that
Woodford Mambrino was the greatest son
sired by Mambrino Chief II, bearing in
mind in this connection that the same horse
was also the sire Of Mambrino Patchen, one
of the greatest of brood mare sires, rank
Ing In this respect next to Nutwood. Mr..
Taylor Is already on the lookout for new
material for racing purposes. In Jubilanta,
PAGER, and Carstairs, trotter, Mr.. Tay-
Tor has two very fair prospects even now.
u
Speaking of Nutwood, it Is remarkable
how the blood of the famous daughter Of
Pilot, jr., and Sally Russell. by Boston.
breeds on. No other trotting-bred brood
mare has the high honor Of being repre-
scented in the 2.1O list by descendants in
the first. second. third. fourth and fifth
generations. Her descendants in 2.10 num-
Der So, while her descendants in go num-
Der the vast sum OF 2,oS6. Her vitality
was quite as remarkable as her fecundity.
Foaled in 1865, she produced Nutwood
(2.16aD in 1870. Up to the time of his
death he was the greatest Of living sires.
In 1871 came Lady Nutwood, who died
young. In 1872 came Cora Belmont. which
trotted to a record of 2.241a, when she
Joined the ranks of great brood mares. In
1874 was foaled Maud s, 20sZ to high
wheels. a feat never since equaled under
the same conditions. In 1875 came a flly
that died young, but in 1877 came Nut
bourne, that trotted TO a record of 2261a,
and became q sire of speed while owned
by the late Robert Bonner.
Then came Mambrino Russell, pro-
ducing sire, in 1878. and in 1879 Nutula,
epeed-producing matron. In 1880 Russella,
also in the great brood mare ranks. In
1881 was foaled Lord Russell, the famous
speed-producing brother Of Maud g. and
sire OF Kremlin (2.07s4), he in turn sire of
Kushan. Lady Russell came in 1882, and
before being killed by lightning was q pro-
Queer of speed. In 1888 came Russia, also
q brood mare of distinction. In 1885 was
foaled Pilot Russell, sire Of speed.
In 1889 came Pistachio (2.21). and a pro-
ducing sire; in 1887 Rusina, dam of Ku.
shan, and In 1888 Rustique, which trotted
| to q record of 2.163s and was a producer In
1890 was foaled Slavonio (2.OeAD. During
| the time named-twenty years-Miss Rus
sell produced eighteen foals. and all lived