The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-24
GREAT ROAD HORSE Alec McDonald's Courier Gov CTS Distance to Cheshire
 in 56 Minutes. PLENTY OF TIME TO SPARE Performance That is Causing Consid- crablc Talk Among Local
 Horsemen.

The feat of Alec McDonalds horse Courier" yesterday in travelling from the city hall in this city to Walter scotts In Cheshire, a distance of four teen miles. in 56 minutes flat. Is the talk of local horsemen and will also attract considerable attention through out the state. Some si00 changed hands on the result. the heaviest winner be- ing MT. Mcdonald himself, who bet s2OO against s2OO of John Lyons that he could cover the distance in 70 min utes.
 The wager was made two weeks ago in tho presence of the sporting editor of The Journal-Courler. The only con ditions attached were that the bet would be off if any serious obstruction was found in the road and that MT. Mcdonald should choose his own time any time before May l--for the race. That gentleman more than showed his shrewdness when he selected o'clock in the morning of yesterday. He sur prlsed everyone at the time, but when he explained his reasons they realized at once he was right His horse being somewhat nervous at passing automo- piles and trolley cars would In all prob ability not meet any of either and this calculation proved correct. It was a beautiful morning Hardly breeze was stirring and Farmer Tarr, whom Me Donald had consulted as to tho wealth CT, had Init off" the conditions to IT"
 About 200 people assembled to see tho start Mir. Mcdonald hltched at 4:3O to the very lightest of road wagons and drove out of McDonald's stables on Court street for an easy llmbering up before the start
 There was a little delay and 1t was just 5:09 when the sporting editor of The Journal Courier. who had been chosen as the official timer sent the horse off. Fred Candee followed Mir. Mcdonald with his little road mare, which has been known as one of the fastest in the city for quite a number of years. Candee found no trouble in keeping up with Mcdonald Both arr rived at the Roberts house in Center vile in just 22 minutes. Here Candee drew out as he had agreed not to go any further. In the first stages of the travelling McDonalds horse acted lit- tic badly He was nervous and broke two or three times but after the sixth mile he settled down to a, steady gait which he left but once and that when he came to barn at George Dudley place, which was being moved and which completely blocked the highway proper. Mcdonald got around this by driving onto the trolley tracks. He knew of the obstruction and had figur- cd just how to surmount 1t. A little incident here, however, might have proved disastrous. The horse coming upon tho barn rather suddenly pranced a little and threw one of his forward shoes. The barn passed and despite the lost shoe Courier" settled down again to q distance killing pace. He needed no urging, whatever. Ills ears stood out as stiff as pickets on fence. Never once did they fall or wobble or in any way show any sign of an "all-in" con dition. True to his owners word the horse finished strong In 56 minutes flat, IA minutes better than the allotted time.
 About 100 greeted the party al Scott's, among them John Daily an agent for the State Humane society who had been instructed to looK over the horse on its arrival and see if it had been overdriven. MT Daly greeted @ horse which after 14-mile clip stood before him without puff and breath ing almost AS quietly as if the whole distance had been covered In a walk He congratulated Mir McDonald apt said there wasn't thing he could And fault with.
 Hart Doolittle in his Pope Hartford carried the timers. In the auto wer, the sporting editor of the Journal-Cou- Tier, John Toole of Tooe x Magnnis Assistant City Clerk Moran, John Iy. ons and Bernie McQuceney the genla proprietor of the Old Homestead or BfoadWay
 Alec bought Courier" for s225 Ht says now he cannot be bought for $500 How about this, Doc S----.?
 
 And, by the way, who says Ale doesn't know a thing or two? H. caused great laugh when he said nc had consulted Farmer Tarr as to the weather,
 After the finish all the party enjoyed splendid breakfast on Alec, There was lots of joking. John Lyons caused a ripple when he nonchalantly remark. ed, I'm not saying a word.
 There was nothing more picturesque than John Toole standing on tho sward with luminous countenanct turned delightfully."- toward the hill, buthed in the crimson flood of ascend ing Old Sol
 stoioal Mike" Moran was voted o. K Mike does not say much. but he's al ways there with the Have another"
 Everyone is wondering what Berni, McQueenic did with all the ginger ale.
 Can Herb Doolltth handle an auto Can q horse eat hay?
 a---------
 Billy Moran fell asleep, That's all.
 MIDDIES LOSE AT LACROSSE.
 Annapolis, Md, April 23-Althoupl