The Detroit times., 1908-11-28

News .!of the death. In oregon, H. OF
the great sire oftrotting horses. Sidney
1910 "a. recalls TO Detroiters the fact
that the horse, which was owned for
n good many years in Michigan, seem
ked to have been a nemesis 10 all con-
Injected with his ownership while In
Michigan.
Sidney was purchased OF the Count
lvalsnsin estate by George IL. Ham
Imond. or Detroit, in 1898. He paid
1877 800 for the stallion. and placed him
ION his Simmocolon Stock farm near
Ypsilanti. Those were the boom days
TOT the harness horse industry. and
lSidney stood at fee OF $1,000 fig
lure now simply unheard OF and not
keven approached. Sidney's patronage
lamounted to little, however. aside from
the mares at the farm. and Mr.. Ham
IInond was forced into bankruptcy. In
spite Of the fact that he had entered
the breeding industry. backed by a
hortune estimated at 100000.
Mr.. Hammond until recently con-
Quoted q diminutive meat shop in the
northern part OF the city. He Is no
longer a resident Of Detroit.
Stmmocolon farm Ia now being used
iby q thrifty Chicago man who Ia breed
Ing mules there. A prize Jack now oc-
cupies Sidney's old stall.
Il Wan then announced that the
horse was really the property OF VIM.
]. Hammond, a younger brother. who
had virtually owned him all the time.
IN spite Of the fact that the horse
had been standing at the farm OF Geo.
III. Hammond. When the Simmocolon
Stock farm was broken up, William J.
Hammond took Sidney to his West
Wind farm, near Pontiac, where he
stood until the sale OF that sent him
to Illinois fve years ago.
During Sidney's presence at West
Wind farm he was given an excep-
tional stud opportunity. Mr.. Hammond
was wealthy and the opportunities fol-
lowing the collapse Of the breeding
boom gave him fine opportunities for
securing supposedly high-class mares.
At one time there were 100 matrons
with records showing their race abil-
1ty. In the harem that surrounded the
famous sire. Most OF this stock was
shipped to the big sales. and many OF
the horses bred by Mr.. Hammond have
been race winners In other hands. Az
. general rule, however, horsemen
were inclined to believe Mr. Hammond
1ll-advfsed In his policy of securing
mares who had been raced hard. Sid
mey's colts lacked vitality and bone
and most Of them sired in Michigan
wore small.
Mr.. Hammond finally decided to give
mp his breeding venture and sold most
pOf the stock away. Something over q
lyear ago he was taken suddenly Ill
and died. While his fortune had beer
kgreatly impaired by his venture In
breeding. he was still a comparatively
wealthy man at his death.
When the estate OF William J. Ham
mond was settled up recently II wa
found that there were several of Sid
'ney's descendants at the Pontiac farm
These were sold to w. II. Freer and
DR.. John l.. Burkart. contract surgeon
Ut Fort Wayne, at an average price
OF not far from 800 apiece. Or
jBuarkart gave nominal bills of sale
fer the horses to oficers at the fort
and tho horses were fed on govern
lment fations. A court martial was
!held recently and DR.. Burkart was for
Imally dismissed from his post as con
tract surgeon.
i During 6idney's residence near Pom
ltias. Henry A. Thomas was the farm
IoupeSiutsndtnt and trainer. When the
farm was abandoned for breeding pur
lpOooe. Mr.. Thomas cast about. and
latter several ventures, purchased the
Hotel Hodges at Pontiac. The place
Sbecame the headquarters Of the horsey
loet IN Pontiac and vicinity. The bar
proved almost q gold mine. At the
Hast election Oakland county, in which
Ro0tiac In situated, went "dry." Now
lthe former saloonkeepers are being
m0o0n C1Yfad hY n man whn is n,,f "a on