The Detroit times., 1914-08-13
Famous Trotters Have Marvel
Gus Histories That Read Like
Those in the Library
SWEET LITTLE ROBERT"
HAD A GREAT CAREER
Bred and Raised in Small Min
inc Town, He Was Distanced
in First Race

Nu hrst saw the light VI uoS
AVA amid the most humble sur
roundings, and their early years were
6raught with hardship and mistor-
tune. The obstacles eventually were
overcome through the power OF great
ness and their star shone In the as
tendency when the winning OF large
stakes and purses brought them 70
public eye. Many raised amid Inc
most luxurious surroundings and wor'
shipped as idols when at the height
OF winning career. end their days
al have brilliant but unfortunate
men, unwept. unhonored and unsung.
The life stories OF many famous
race horses read like fiction. An ex'
ample OF these was Robert j.. known
In his turf days as Sweet Little Rob
ert." No truer, gamer. more con-
sistent race horse ever faced q start
er. Bred and raised In small min
ing town Of Pennsylvania. he began
his racing career In very inauspic'
ious manner. being distanced In his
frst start. The following season he
startled the turf by pacing q mile In
2:10h at Terre Haute, Ind. after q
series Of hsart-breaking races against
the Iron horse" Joe Patchen, and
the feet John r. Gentry, In which
he usually returned the winner and
was always strong contender.
He changed owners frequently IN
after years, and finally came into the
hands of o rag peddler. who used
him In his daily rounds. The little
horse was rescued from such mental
service by q kind-hearted lover OF
horses, who had admired him for his
speed and gameness in his racing
days. He was pensioned on Q blue
grass farm To live out the remaining
days Of q strenuous career.
The story of klamath, 2:07 u. ID
full Of interest. In the spring OF
1890 . strange party arrived at Dies
Moines, Ia, from far over the
Rockies. Their objective point was
the grand circuit and their home ad.
dress klamath Falls, Ore.
The party consisted Of one horse
and traps, the owner and driver, T.
w. Raymond, his invalid wife, . mas.
cot In the shape Of q wiry little dos
and q caretaker for the horse. The
small tent served a. sleeping quar-
tiers for man and wife and was al
ways pitched In close proximity tc
the horses stall. Klamath was
known by the stable name Of .Cook
|ey." and TO hear Tom Raymond call
Ing out to the horse, Eat 'em up
Cookey," In hot finish was enough
to stir the blood Of the most hard
ened race goer.
VShA hn~~A ma 20 hts
every word and "Cookey" won more
than his share Of races. But an evi
eye seemed to hang over the little
outfit. The devoted wife succumbet
to the dread disease which had taker
hold on her. The mascot was killed
under the wheels Of q train. Ray
mond never became reconciled Il
the death Of his wife and passed
away about one year later. Leaving
his few worldly goods. including tn,
horse. to the faithful caretaker
Klamath raced with Indifferent sue
cess for o couple Of years. For on,
season his star had shown resplen
dent and "Cookey" will not soon b,
forgotten by those who saw him race
In 1896.
Ano bkOEy VI Syihno Ia k.VfNs II
one Of the plebeian rising to TIT
height Of fame. This homely littl,
gelding wearing the brand Of his ma
tive ranch no doubt caused NOR,
heartaches, and disappointment
among the betting fraternity thai
any horse that ever raced down tn,
"big ring" His erratic manners an,
terrific speed were always In evi
dence. II was not safe to bet Of
him, neither was II safe to be
against him, and to those VIII
watched his turf career he will neve
be forgotten, as he always did tn
unexpected.
Highball, 2:0sN, for many year
q disappointment through unsound
ness and his inclination to run away
was finally nodded into a perfec
racehorse by the skill of Ed Geer
and became q sensation on the Gran
Circuit. Country Jay, 2:03%, one @
the most wonderful race gelding ths
ever graced the turf after racln
consistently as four-year-old, brok
down. and for several years wa
thrown from pillar TO post. being tn
subject Of many lawsuits and muc
trouble. To overcome his infirm
ties at the age OF IL and renew a wiz
ming career was his evidence O
greatness. He was finally retire
and presented by his owner to
81 L.