The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-17


ner was driving Dexter on the road
in New York city he frequently hitehed
him TO two-man wagon and Invited
friend to have a ride through Cen
trial park and along the Rloomingdale
road behind the champion. General
Grant after he was elected president
was included In the number and in
memory OF the event local Arm pub
lished colored print showing the two
celebrated men riding behind Ham BILE
tonian's fastest son. The noted divine,
Henry Ward Beecher. while writing
his novel Norwood for the New York
Ledger, also had a ride behind the
horse which Charles ]. Foster referred
to as the "son OF the morning" At
ter jogging through the park Dexter
felt the speed spark swapping and
rushed of at the top of his clip. For
a brief period he was Beyond control.
bur when MFR. Bonner managed to take
him back tTlfie ne noted that his
passenger was clinginS to the seat
rail- with both hands while tears were
coursing down his cheeks. Also when
ne asked him II he would stop the
horse Mr. Beeeher. whose voice had
thrilled two continents replied "Do
not stop him, Mr.. Bonner. Do not
stop him. sir. what you see are tears
of JOY over a ride behind such mag
nihcent horse"
making speed Hapdiy.
Al Blake was r. hard luck trainer
that was located for many years at the
old Cleveland driving park. 1t was
very rare event for him TO get a horse
! that was good enough to go TO the
races but he always lived In the hope
that someone would bring him o trot-
ter or PAGER that would under his
management. prove Dexter or OAR
by One spring day when all trainers
hnnAa hitch Uf
, in Cleveland brought him handsome
mare. In their opinion she was
perfection and had chance TO
be a second edition Of Goldsmith Maid.
Notwithstanding all of Blake's skill.
| however. he could not drive her a
quarter faster than forty seconds. AS
Blake did not have very many horses.
WINGED that she would not improve he
would be minus a bosrder. So when
ever they came out to see her perform,
she had either been worked that morn
| ing or the day before, or had little
mishap that would make IL inadvisable
to take an airing, Finally one sum-
mer day Secretary Fasig moved the
| judges stand some distance toward the
three-auarter pole so that the spscta-
| tors In the grandstanl could have an
unoostructed view OF knights OF Ply
thias drill in the lnheld. As soon as
| Blake heard OF 1t he sent for the own
ers of the mare and told them that she
! was ready to step quarter that would
astonish them. After locating them
! in the judges stand he told them he
would let her hum the last quarter.
| It was in the high-whe sulky days
and when their favorite made the trip
| in thirty three seconds they were as
| founded. In order 10 be sure that they
made no mistake they asked Blake to
repeat her and this time she whizxed
by In thtrty-two and oneAhalf seconds,
2:1o clip. Being positive that they
had a champion the two owners de-
cided that Blake could never train one
of that kind so they settled with him,
and sent her over TO Splan with in
| structions to hold her over. Splan
| obeyed orders, but when he started
her upon the following spring, she
hung at quarter in forty seconds.
After trying everything that he could
| thing of he asked Blake for the key
that would unlock her speed and while
he was mifred over the matter he final
| ~ told Splan to 20 over and have Fa-
sig move the judges stand.
An Unusual Present.
For a number OF years Deacon Part
ridge won the county race at his honfe
town in Northern New York. In fact
1t became such a regular event that
q few people suggested that the ass
ISOLATION give him first money In the
I spring and let him spendit when 1t
would do the most good. Finally one
bold spirit decided that hewould call
halt so he slipped down to Syracuse
and purchased real trotter. His Sc
lection was a handsome gelding and
after bringing him. home he started
In on long slow preparation that al
ways brings results. Al every oppor-
| tunity he worked out with the deacon
and was soon satisfied that he lay over
hts prospect at least four or I'VE Sec
onds. Finally when race day came
the insurgent decided to let The dea-
con have the first heat 80 as not to
give the old gentleman too much OF
jolt and also to find out just how fast
he could step. On the next trip he
decided to make close finish so as
not to get q faster fecord than neces-
sary and when he won by head. as
| he thought. he was somewhat sur
prised that the judges gave the head
to the deacon. And he finished on the
inside. however. he thought that they
must have overlooked him. This ex-
asperatea him 30 much. however. that
he won the third heat by an open
Angthr. Also Is he passed the stand