The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-10

In the Year Book. volume %. page 49,.
OF its racing summaries for 1906 is a re-
port OF meeting held at Blackwell. Ok
lahoma last September. The closing race
OF this meeting was free-for-all trot.
There were three starters In this event.
which was won In straight heats The
first heat was trotted I'm 1926 and In 1t
one OF the three horses that started was
distanced. The name OF this distanced
horse was Billy Buch (2.O7lD.
The year 1903 will remain ever memoir
able as an 'annus mirablis" In trottlng
history. 1t was signalized by. an amazing
series of record-breakng performances.
Most wonderful of these were those of
Lou Dillon, who then placed herself upon
record as the first two-minute trotter.
Second only to her achievements I'm point
of interest TO the general public We're
those of the bay gelding, Billy Buch. who
approved himself the most remarkable
campaigning race-horse trotter ever seen
upon the Grand circuit. His winnings
aggregated $4,000; the largest amount
ever won in single season In regular
class events by a light harness performer
OF any age. gait or sex. In l3 races Billy
Buch was II times first and twice sec
ond. His stake victories included the
5000 Mt. Vernon race at New York; the
$4,000 Massachusetts, race at Readville; /;
the $4,000 Roger Williams race In this
city. the $4,000 Charter Oak race at Hart
ford. and the Walnut Hall cup race at
Lexington.
His last appearance was in the Dia-
mond handicap at Memphis. He was very
lame when he started therein and was
defeated by DR.. Strong (2:05a4) whom
however, he forced to set a worlds record
for H. miles. His exertions In this race
resulted in his complete breakdown, and
the next season he was unable TO get TO
the post. In November. 1904, he was sold
at auction in New York. A year before
he had cost his owner SIS. 5.0O0-which he
had more than won back-but the ham,
mer fell on him in "the Garden at
slO75 He was thence taken TO Pittsburg
to become matinee performer. but after
three appearances at Brunots Island In
the summer of 1906 again went lame. In
January. 1906. he was once more offered
at auction in New York, and this time
the closing bid was $425 The purchaser
was a man in Waterbury Conn When
and how he drifted the 1900 miles that
separate that town and Blackwell Okla
homa, where he appeared I'm that semi
farcical race, to be distanced in 1884, the
September following, we may only con-
lecture. But even that was only tenn
porary halt In his wanderings; since then
he has drifted on hundreds of miles far
Their and when last heard of. not long
ago was owned somewhere I'm Texas"
What will be the ultimate fate of Billy
Buch? We do not care to guess, but
whatever 1t may be. that II is destined TO
be remote, unfriended melancholy =
something that the horseman who truly
loves horses will not he able to think OF
without a pang, seems certain. Mans
tnhumanity TO man., says the poet.
s'makes countless thousands mourn. But
how much greater Is his inhumanty to
the dumb beasts that serve him so well
and are so absolutely In his power! OF
this Billy Buch is a typical example
Four short years ago this trotters name
was upon million admiring tongues
Every newspaper In the land rung with
It. Upon every one connected with him
ne shed riches and honor. His breeder.
his owner. his drivers-every one in any