Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-04
DAN PATCH HAS
GREAT RECORD
WORLDS RECORD PAGER AS A
TWO-YEAR-0LD
HARRISON TELLS OF VISIT TO
OXFORD FARM
Dan Messner Is Hero in Village Where
1855 Performer Was Foaled.
Every One Raising
Horses

"A born speed marvel" is Walter Moore s
characterization of Dan Patch, the worlds
champion harness horse. now in Los Angeles
and booked to give his final speed exhibition
at Agricultural park next Saturday after
noon
This statement Is borne out by fact" de-
clared M Il. Harrison. representative Of
owner NJ. w Savage. II have heard many
stories about Dams youth and we all know
wonderful things about his maturity. Being
Of an investigating turn Of mind and having
the opportunity this summer, / paid a visit
to Oxford Ind. the champions birthplace
and put in a very pleasant day discovering
much hitherto unwritten history.
Riding up from the depot my attention
was first attracted by a giant sign. painted
across a large barn, which read, The home
Of Dan Patch 1855 This / found to be the
show place OF the burg, and before break
fast 1 found that all the native sons We're
ready and able to tell many interesting in
cidents of the carly days of the famous
PAGER.
There are not more than a thousand resi-
dents in Oxford but a stroll around the
square convinced me that Dan Patch has not
lived in vain Never in any town, large or
small have ! seen so many well Eroomod,
good moving and apparently well bred driv-
ing horses. Many Of them were htched TO
carts and sulkies and others to buggies and
wagons. l commented on this fact and was
at once informed that this was a direct re-
suit of Dams having been foalcd ana raised
there. As one old time resident expressed IT,
Every one In this section has been trying for
the past ten years TO raise Dan Patch
The statement is literally true. Every
that can afford IL has been breeding 10 the
best -sres and hoping for the lightning 60
strike Needless to say, most are dlsappolnt-
ed. but they keep hoping and keep trying,
and the results bpuolpial
Messner Is Big Gun
Dan Messner. Dan .Patehs FIRST owner.
Is the big man Of the town. I think It safe
to say that Dan made him that. He was
advised 10 buy race horse for his health.
He bought Zolica, a we'll bred mare with
world OF speed. She went lame and was bred
10 Joe Patcheu. Her first foal was the great
est PAGER Of history, but no one guessed II.
Tho colt was born In a livery stable and
soon after turned out 20 pasture. Little was
bay until one day when he was coming ?
years old. on that day Mcssner drove out
to the farm pasture whore the youngster was
running wild. He took down the bars and
colt he was surprised 20 find that the
hryo champion did not object to the inspec-
tion. In telling me Of the incident Mr.. Mess
ner said: His Calmuess surprised me so
much that l decided TO try and hitch him
up. l uufastenod my driving horse from the
cart, took on his harness. and there in the
colt. Taking up the lines. the ungainv
started. on a pace. through the
grove. From that moment knew that there
was nothing Of the ordinary about Dan
Patch and. although people laughed at mo.
insisted that I had the most wonderful
horse in the world It wasn't many years
intl they all admitted it.
Sold for $4,000
Luckily, Messner didn't believe in colt
raining. He logged the youngster on the
ountry roads near oxford during the fall
md winter and let him shape up and grow
trong. The next spring Uncle John Wattles.
hen a veteran trainer OF 20 years, became
Interested IN the horse and took him in hand
or Messner. Another summer and fall and
pring Of easy work the roads and the
nakeshift track, two miles from the village,
vas Dams education Then he started in
ace and the world knows the rest How
le was never beaten and was always in
lass by himself. How he made about $780,
90 for his original owner and then when
dessner thought one was trying 10
oison him he was sold for $50, 900 one Jan
arY, and the next December was turned
Yer to NJ W, Savage for t6O,00O and has
armed many times that amount for his pres
mt owner is history.
Il visited all of the scenes OF the cham
ions early days l put in the afternoon at
he track where he received his first speed
assons and was entertained by a matinee I'm
'hich four Of Dams full brothers and sisters
anticipated. Messner has five of them, ana
ONE of them look promising lie hopes
here is another Dan among them"