South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-02
SOME DOPE
ON HORSES
Reputation of the Kentucky
Breeders Rests on
Four Horses.

Notwithstanding the fact that OF
late years the blue grass counties of
Kentucky have been recognized As
the home Of the Jrotter and "a OF
there in the 2:O5 list were bred
there, Bingen is the only foundation
sire or family builder bred in the
state. and he made his reputation In
Massachusetts. From the earliest
days, the Kentucky breeders were
liberal buyers of stations and in
time they reaped a golden harvest.
While all families were represented.
the reputation of Kentucky rests on
the descendants of four horses. They
are Mambrino Chief, Alexander's
Abdallah, George Wilkes and Peter
the Great.
Abdallah, the sire OF Hambleton-
ian, stood at Lexington in 1910, but
was returned 20 New York. He was
followed by the Canadian horse
Pilot. while Blackburn's Davy
Crockett was brought from Detroit,
several Morgans from Vermont, and
Tom Hal from Philadelphia. Each
of them added a few units 70 the
horse history OF Kentucky. but they
would have been forgotten long ago
if Mambrino Chief had not appeared
in 1854 and Alexander's Abdallah in
1859.
Mambrino Chief made seven sea-
sons in Kentucky and was dead
when Lady Thorn. his fastest per-
former, carried everything before
her on the northern tracks. Alex
ander's Abdallah's services were
limited to six seasons, as in the win
ter of 1865 he was run off from
Woodburn farm by soldiers and died
OF exposure. These two horses and
their descendants put the flying trot
into the first flight Of Kentucky
horses. the Mambrino Chief family
supplying the mares with which AL
exander's Abdallah and his sons
were mated. Almont and Belmont
were the leaders in this branch and
Gen. Withers' clever advertising
methods spread sons of the former
all over the country. OF the eXiles,
Allie Gaines proved a leader in Min
nesota, Altamont in Oregon, Atlantic
i'm Ohio, before he was exported 10
Italy. Hamlia's Almont Jr. and AL
monarch in New York, g Bostwick's
Almont Jr. in Tennessee, lie Grande
and Piedmont IN California, and
Rampant in Nova Scotia. Belmont
also got number OF sons. the lead
ers being King Rene, who remained
in Kentucky, ard Nutwood, whose
get was scattered over Pennsylvania.
California, Kertucky and Iowa.
In 1873 New York sent another
family builder TO Kentucky. the best
of all. George Wilkes. He still had
nine years OF usefulness before him.
In that period, George Wilkes got
the greatest array OF light harness
performers and sires of racing speed
that has ever been credited TO any
horse. In a few years his sons were
carried 70 all of the states in the
Union, as well as the Canadian prov
inces, while Kentucky was fortunate
in retaining Bourbon Wilkes, Gam
BETA Wilkes. Baron Wilkes until he
was we'll along in years. Jay Bird,
Wilkes Boy. Onward Red Wilkes
until he was an old horse. Simmons
Young jim, Wilton, William T.. Bet
terton and Petbskey. All of them
had their admirers, but Baron
Wilkes was the only one that left
great son in Kentucky 10 perpetuate
his memory. That horse was Moko.
William LIS name was also recalled
when his grandson. Axworthy. was
shipped 10 Lexington and is now as
sociated with the names Of Guy
Axworthy and General Watts Alley
one. a son Of George Wilkes. that
was shipped 70 Massa chusetts early
i'm life. is represented at present in
Kentucky through Mckinney. by
Belwin. and I'm the next remove
through Zombro by San Francisco.
OF the other sons of Hambleton-
ians taken 70 Kentucky Dictator,
Happy Medium. Aberdeen, Harold.
Administrator and Sherman's Ham
bletonian each enjoyed their day in
the sunshine and then faded into the
pages Of turf history. although the
Harold line was carried on for one
remove by Lord Russell Happy
Medium was also destined 70 find a
niche in the hall of fame when his
Michigan bred grandson, Peter the
Great. appeared In the blue grass
country in 1902. He remained there
ur~H 1917. and in - years proved
the greatest sire OF early and ex-
IRENE speed in the world.
The career OF Bingen was Just as
unexpected. His sire. May King. was
discarded after a test on the turf
and in the stud, although one morn
ing at Cleveland heard Joseph
Cultivate offer J. c. Sibley 500 900
for him. IN time MAY King drifted
70 Fairlawn farm, where A. Smith
+ Mccain succeeded Gen. Withers. To
Mccain belongs the honor OF mat
ing him with Young Miss by Young
Jim. She produced Bingen. He was
purchased by George Leavitt and
shipped 10 F. II. Greeley OF Ellis
worth. Ne. Leavitt also sold the
F colt In his two-year-old form % :.