The evening times., 1911-08-17
FROM PLOW TO TURF KING

From wearing the menial yoke OF
the ploW to carrying the two minute
harness Of victory in two $4,000
stakes Is fortune that comes most
rarely to race horse. And yet with
in two years that is what has happen
ed to the now famous trotter r T C,
winner of the great Kalamazoo and
Grand Rapids stakes. He is a horse
with history that suggests how
many more of his fellows in field and
in wageR-useful but inglorious ser
vice-may have within them talents
undeveloped.
X t c, the phenomenon Of the pres
ent trotting season, is we'll bred,
though probably not bit more so
than hundreds of other unframed
horses scattered all over the land, and
IN no state more largely SO than in
New York. 1t was luck that rescued
him from the farm and gave to the
world of sport champion with a ro-
nance. His SCARED shoulders, scald-
ed by the burning sweat caused by the
work collar he wore when he labored
in the fields, tells something of his
story
He is not the only horse that has
outlived a lowly station. The original
'plow horse" was Captain Lewis-a
Dig, coarse-loolling chestnut gelding
Of type very similar to that of r T
C. Captain Lewis was taken out of
a plow and in 1882 John Murphy
drove him in 2:20 LA good mark
IN those days. He had some breeding.
He was by Captain SPHINX and was
owned by George W. Archer, of Roch-
ester.
Another one lifted out of a condi-
ton of ignoble servitude was Alice
Barnes. She was hitched to a deliv-
cry wagon in Atlantic City for years,
and 1t was only her fussy manner that
LED an old-time trainer to make in
quiries about her. He bought her,
tried her for a short time and then
she went back to her previous condi-
ton Seven or eight months later the
same trainer, who had some senti-
ment as we'll as a wealth of shrewd-
ness, wondered if he had not made
mistake in returning her. He repur-
chased her. She was awkward and
but he let her find her
own gait and was rewarded with sue
cess. He sold her to E. E. Smathers
and Mr.. Smathers Won with her many
races. Alice Barpes, twice rescued
from a delivery wagon, made a rec
ord Of 2:10 IA.
And so on the story might go.
Wherever blood is, hone always az
ISIS, and more than hope, lies possi-
plilty-no matter how remote it may
appear. 1t is with horses as with
men-and particularly with trotting
horses-no previous condition of SER
vltude is a bar to higher things. Men
lal use may discourage but not de-
grade for the foundation of blood is
always there. Neither may physical
lnflrmity that does not attach itself
10 wind or limb create an impossible
barrier. There are many instances.
TOR example, where blind horses have
raced successfully. Perhaps the hest
OF these was Rhythmic He combined
IN the highest degree the quality of
with the highest order of !
courage, coupled with perfect docility.
NO man ever saw that splendid trot-
ter IN a field pressed hard by rivals
IN driving finishes but admired his
great heart and the perfect confidence
ne mad in his driver. No matter what
the tumult, nor how close he could
feel the challenge Of opponent, he
gave out his best effort without fear
OF collision or injury, trusting that
his driver would do his best. Small
field or big field made no difference to
him. Men wondered II he-knew when
crowned his struggles. Every
one hoped he did, for there was a lot
OF sentiment about the good, game, old
blind horse.
But to return to R T c. He was
bred by James W. DAILY of Mt. Kisco,