Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-16
FAMOUS TROTIER
DIES OF INJURIES
SAVAGE LOSES DIRECTUM'
CHAMPION SEVEN YEARS
Dies at His Home on the international
Stock Food Farm Near Minne-
apolis Sunday After
noon
fsneclal to The Herald

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 15.-Directum,
2:O5h. for sixteen years 4-year-old
champion stallion of the world, died
at his home on the International Stock
Food farm near Minneapolis, Mimi,
yesterday. No greater trotter ever per-
formed on the American turf, and his
loss will be mourned by the breeders
of harness horses all over the world.
Although 20 years old, Directum was
still well and vigorous and every year
added to his fame as a sire of extreme
trotting speed. His death was the re-
suit of an injury received few days
ago, and was unexpected. The loss OF
the famous black stallion breaks the
quartet of worlds champions owned
by NJ. w. Savage, and is considered an
irreparabe loss by his owner.
Directum was champion trotting stall
lion of the world for seven years. With
careful handling there is no question
but what Directum would have been
the first 2-minute trotting stallion, but
hard racing late into the fall and over
bad tracks caused a sprained tendon
and ended the racing days of one Of
the greatest trotters the world has ever
known.
What Others Say
The following extract from the Horse
Review November 8, 1901, gives an idea
of the value placed upon the greatest
son of Director by horsemen:
What memories the mere mention
of the name OF the "black rascal"
evokesl Has there ever been a greater
trotter? Many men deny it. AS many
also affirm that none other has ever
made such an impression upon them,
an impression which the passage of
time and appearance Of new champions
is powerless to obliterate. The son of
Director was indeed above ordinances" "
and let come what may--even the long
expected and delayed "2-minute trot-
ter''-will always remain so in critical
estimation.
Every champion trotting stallion is
of two-fold Importance, first as a
great performer; after that as a great
progenitor. History shows that, with
merely exception sufficient to prove
the rule, the stations great enough to
trot to the championship have also
been equally great, or greater, as sires.
Consider such horses as Ethan Allen,
George NJ. Patchen, George Wilkes, jay
Gould Axtell and Allerton. Great as
were their turf triumphs. it is in their
descendants that their truest title of
fame exists.
1t is this phase of Directum's career
that is at present of such Importance.
VIII ne, or VIII ne not, place himself
on a level with these, his great prede-
cessors? It lies with his future to de-
termine this, but in so far as a fore
cast can now be made, every indica-
ton points to its early and most i'm
pressive determination.
zone reason that it will be high
among the highest is because also Of
the family he comes from. 1t began
with Dexter thirty-five years ago and
1t has been furnishing worlds cham
pions ever sinee-Jay Eye-See, Phallas,
Direct, Nancy Hanks, Evangeline,
Lockheart, Impetuous. Tommy Britton
Bonnie Direct, Directly, Eleata and a
host of others. Blood tells. The blood
of Directum has always told and al
ways will. It makes him, and its per-
petuatlon through him cannot but be
prolific of record breakers yet to
come"