The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

| The light harness brigade OF the grand
circuit. encamped during the week on
the banks OF the Kalamazoo. have done
much toward making turf history.
Kalamazoo City has long been consId-
cred the most beautiful inland town in
the Middle West. and is located in South
western Michigan on a fertile prairie
near the Indiana line. Its streets are
broad and finely shaded with majestic
oaks and naples. and the town proper Is
noted far and wide for the broad cul-
ture Of its inhabitants. its churches, and
its educational institutions. AS Mr.. Web
ster, OF Richmond. Va. said in 1897. at
the opening OF his great speech deliv-
cred from the south portico OF the State
capitol. as he viewed the charming land
| seape and the sparkling waters OF the
James as they leaped over the rocks, as
II eager for the embrace OF the sea: 1T
! hath a pleasant seat"
The men and women who people the
city and county and supplanted the abo-
| rhymes. were Of New England ancestry.
and carried westward with them from
Central and Western New York their
] horse kind and that love OF the horse
that distinguishes men and women OF
AnglO-Saxon blood above those OF any
other breed. In view Of this fact, and
in view Of the other fact that it was
kalamazoo track. in the fan OF 1853. that
! Flora Temple set the trOtting record at
2;ls Sd. which stood pat until Dexter, ten
years later. at Buffalo. lowered Il 20
| 2:l7 IA. It is not TO be wondered at that
the Kalamazooans are strongly infected
with tho horse bug. Michigan Is most
| emphaucally State OF good horsemen
and horsewOmen and good horses. IN
/ Ike some other States that could be
mentioned. Michigan has not permitted
her horse kind to deteriorate.
The people OF the State recognized
early the important fact that IL Is Just
as easy 20 breed up as down. and that
In breeding up the profit is far greater.
| So II has come to pass that the wealth
/ OF the State has been vastly increased
/ thereby. and Michigan become a mart
where good horses may be had al top
OF the market prices.
! And. by The same token, Il may be
mentioned here that In the business OF
lhorsebreeding. as In other industries. he
who destroys the golden egg must soon
er or later reckon with the bankrupt
court. and, eventually, rest@his bones on
a cot in the Rlmshouse. Michigan has not,
In her long and eventful history. done as
Vermont did In the early years OF the
/ Morgan. part with her best mares and
stations. and then awaken from her long
slumber 10 find that a large source OF
her wealth had departed. never 70 return
through the same channels
/ To-day the people OF Vermont are
! spending thousands OF dollars. perhaps
millions, 20 rehabiIitate the Morgan
/ breed. and even the Federal government
| has been appealed 10 for aid In that
direction. What Oliver Goldsmith once
said OF the bold yeomanry OF old England
| may be aptly applied 10 useful types OF
/ horses: When once are lost, can never
be supplied"
/ Thus far. in the panorama OF the pass
] ing show OF the grand circuit one fact
stands out as prominent as a red barn
in a lonely meadow, that in the matter
Of class nothing has appeared that meas
ures up IN speed capacity with such trot-
ters as High Ball, Sonoma Girl. and
Fleming Boy, in the green trots. nor any,
Eel at the pacing gait. Nor is there any
thing in sight at present that promises
anything sensational in the way OF ex-
treme speed. except It be Hamburg Belle,
which is. after all, in turf parlance. an
aged trotter.
McDOnalds roam mare is unquestion-
| ably a great trotter. and outclasses Marie
| y. and Bisa, her closest competitors, up
10 daa. She has won up TO last week
$4,000 in stakes, and VIII probably go
into winter quarters the largest money
winner OF the seasons racing; but she
| will have 10 be a mighty busy mare
from now on to equal the winnings OF
I Spanish Queen (Which she must soon
meet in her brilliant campaign OF 1908.
AS far as can be learned. Margin. Marie
N. and Blsa are afflicted with lameness.
which, with continuous racing, may de-
tract from their speed and future earn
ing capacity. Spanish Queen is hardly the
mare she was last year. Much was de-
manded Of her. and doubtless her vitality
has been much impaired by her strenuous
campaign Of last season. Flesh, blood,
| feet. and tendons have their limitations.
as have all things animate and mani
mate. and ii Is rare, indeed. that horses
stand up and consistently race. year after
year. like Lady Suffolk. Flora Temple,
George Wilkes. George NJ. Patchin, Lady
Thorn, Dexter. and Goldsmith Maid. and
grow better as they grow older. Flora
was past fifteen when she trotted 10 a
worlds record and the Maid was nine
teen when she reduced the trotung rec
ord 10 PA. All OF the horses named were
mature animals before put 10 hard work
| Under our present system, yeariings are