The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-07
news OF HORSES
AND H0RsE.M | n
Gray Horses, Once Plentiful
Among Tl,oroughbrcds, Are
Now Seldom Seen.
GOOD AND PLENTY AN ID l4YLAs
vt Historic Castle Hill, Home Of
Arnon, Son OF Charaxrs and T
4 Maynard, by Eolt,s.

Considering tho paucity of grey
horses In tho thoroughbred and the
higher 8class harness ranks of this
country, 1t Is interesting to note
class specially for gruys at the lntnr-
national Horse Show In London. There
was u time when 1t was Dro9crn
that. day or night. no one could cross
London bridge without meeting II gray
Horse / crossed 1t ut all hours for
three years and always met the gray
horse. One reason was the tremendous
number OF grays employed by tho
London Omnibus Company aud by the
owners Of tho. great lorrles for freight.
It was generally belicvcd---on statlstics
that gray horses were much mora
stout and healthy than any other color.
Tho greys came originally from Cappn-
docla aud Persia, which stock is still
found IN the ina gnifcent heavy cavalry.
OF the Russians. The grayS went for
weddings. us the magnificent black An
dalnslans went Cor funerals. Yorkshire
Is the strong gray section OF England;
II the "Tykes'' breed to color extern
sively. Gray Qrvillc--rcst his glorious
menory--was fopled in the famous
West Riding OF Yorkshire. He won
the great st. Logger. sired Emilius.
+ Ebor. Muiey and others. Look back
through the pedigree OF our famous
.tAmerican cracks. Hastings, etc, and
find these names. Brlwns come from
the East Riding. with white locks 1t
the tail. tho sign manual or Wood
peckcr IN the third, fourth and nth
generations Nothing In hercdity? Oh,
no! Doncaster gives the blacks from,
the famous Smolensko, and In South
Yorkshire reign the chestnuts, repre-
senting that magnificent horse, Comus,
4 side by side with the rich browns OF
tinker by Tramp. out of Madan-
there's nomenclature to9beat Come On
sam etc. Breeding to "original".
color was held In Persia, Russia. and
I later IN England, from the birth OF
the pyramids to the end OF the ak
tacnth century, when breeding OF type.
speed,setc came in and the old color
scheme faded. changed and developed
{ into the present bay, chestnut and
brown. leaving scarcely trace OF tic
primary black and white.-ESchang
Seeing that stcepleclasing is now
on the top wave of favor among Vir-
ginlans. It is pleasing among resi-
dents OF the Old Dominion to note that
Thomas Hitchcock. Jr.. will name his
good horses Good and Plenty and
Hylas in the Whitney Memorial
steeplechase for 1907 Both OF these
well Known chasers were wintered by
william Garth with other members OF
his big stable near Charlottesville, Va,
and then shipped to Washington,
where these unsexed sons OF Meddler
and Rossington were turned over to
Mr.. Hitchcock's trainer. Good ana
Plenty Is now seven years old, and
j during his steepiechase career the sbn
OF Rossington has lost only one, race,
and that was his first start at Brigh-
ton Beach. where he ran second to
Walter Clcary. Last season he won
the Grand National. the Whitney Me-
mortal and one other race. his win
nings being close to $4,000. For two
seasons past serious doubt was felt
each spring as to whether the bay
gelding would stand training. as he
would show up very lame after even
light exercise. but now he seems to
DO in better shape than at any time
since his yenrling form. Hy1ns looks
If these geldings keep right they are
likoly to make u great pair this sea-
+ son. 5J7a
Among the visitors here during the
past week was Samuel Walton, tho
well--known horse fancier and breeder,
and owner OF the big Walnut Stock
. Farms. of Falls Mills, Va. Mr.. Walton
had Just closed a railroad contract
amounting to s4,000,oo0, an evidence
of his business responsibilities, yet
this representative Virginia breeder
looks and acts the part OF a man at
peace with the world, and seemingly
upon his shoulders. Mr.. Walton was
IN the city looking after the interests
of tho newly formed Virginia Fair AS
Bociatlon, of which he is president, and
includes Galax. Radford. Tazewel
Roanoke, Lynchburg and Richmond
and his mission was fraught with very
pleasing results While hcre> Mr.. Wal.
ton consulted with the Hon. Henry C
Stuart, president OF the Virginia State
Fair Association, and was assured OF
tho cooperation and support OF the
latter organization. Incidentally
may be added too. that Mr.. Walton
Il took up a pleasant banter OF Mr.
Stunrt's and subscribed to a block Of
stock in the Virginia Fair Association
TO tho aires In use at the llistori
md beautiful Castle Hill Farm, nea
Gotham, in Albcmarle county, which
already included Arnon. thoroughbrc
son Of Chnraxus and Maynard, b;
Eolus; King Edgar, the German coach
err, and the big imported Percheror
/, Ggolo has been added by purchas
from Frank Jones, Nebraska, the mas
slve Percheron, imp. Tracala, q blacl
8 horse, SIX years old; with eXtrem
action, and weighing 2.400 pounds
stsi 1ElS ING, ol6 european prOuucCs inquire
US n champion Of champions an
sweepstakes winner over all breed
OF drafters at tho Illinois. Iowa an
. Nebraska State fairs or 1906 Th
show horses at Castle Hill are a
doing nicely, among them being
clover lot OF thrco-year-old jumpers b
Arnon and charming young saddle
horse In Prince Clearing, tho son {
N Mcntrose Squirrel, from q thorough
II bred mare, who Will be taken to IL,
Virginia show this season. G8
Irving J. Coffin. secretary ana treas
Srar of the NJ, Kelly Horse and Mul
Company, Of this city, has Leased rrol
Colonel w H. Chapman the largo an
handsome brown stallion Wealt
record. 2:1O, by Gambetta Wilkes, o,
& of Magnolia, by Norfolk, for uso |
tho stud at stoneridge Stock Farm
near Richmond, Wealth is very niue
Y foster than his record indicates. as i
S5 has shown two-minuto speed In Ii
work, while his get have nice sis