The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-08
John K. Gentry, Famous Kan
sas Horse, Dies.
HandsOmest Horse of Size In
the World.
lLSO HOLDS SPEED RECORD
Was Bought by Ramey Brothers
For $500.
Worlds Famous PAGER Was
Trained by Kansan.

John r. Gentry, "the acme of eS-
treme speed OF the light harness.
horse Of America, as developed dur
Ing the whole century, from 1900 to
1900" and the handsomest horse
OF his size in the world is dead
The wouId-famous PAGER, roaled IN
Kansas and trained and handled by
kansans. died at Nashville, Tenn. on
December Is, at the extreme age OF
81 years
In the twelfth biennial report of
the state board OF agriculture is found
the following statement by H q.
TOler. of Wichita, regarding the
history OF the famous Kansas horse;
Record Of Famous Horse
He was foaled on my farm near
Wichita, May IT. 1889, sired by Ash
land wilkes. 2:17 4 and his dam was
Damewood, Il daughter Of Wedge
wood. 2:19-
"Damewood bred to Ashland Wilkes
produced Myron McHenry, race rec
ord 2:15L. as her first foal- The next
season she foaled to the same sire a
small. chunky bay colt with black
points and without any white on MIN.
which afterwards led to the name or
the Little Red Horse being applied
TO Gentry. Nicely Todd was what we
named him. and the name was AFTER
wards changed by James +. Ramey,
who was then a trainer in my employ
Ramey broke Ashland Wilkes ana
wanted TO own a colt by his pet stall
lion. So I advised him to buy Nelly
Todd. 7 told him he could have the
colt at half price, or $500. James
+. Ramey and his brother Joe ana
John R. Gentry, OF Hughesville. Mo-,
finally bought him at one year old
Great Young PAGER
''Ramsy severed his connection with
our farm and took his colt to Hughes-
Vile. where the youngster received MS
early education as a two-year-oId- he
was worked as Il trOtter, but dldn
make speed fast enough 10 SUIT the
trainer, and they put the hobbies on
him a couple OF times 70 set him 20
pacing, and along in the spring or ms
three-year-old form. I began to get
a letter twice a week from Jim Ramey'
tulI of the great young PAGER, rastesI
horse on earth etc. etc; but as
am originally from Missouri I did NOT
place a great deal of confidence in this
talk, altho I had TO acknowledge the
corn when Gentry won five straight
races. and took the worlds three-year-
old race record pacing, and never was
beaten heat.
Little Red Horse From Kansas.
The same report of the board OF
agriculture carries. under cut OF
I0f,n P Gentry. the caDion: " The Lit
tie Red Horse from Kansas VINO mas
hurried all competitors. worried tnelr
owners. and has but one rival-Joe
Patcheu. another Kansas bred horse
A racing Journal has the following
to say in regard to the death OIL ZIG
Little Red Horse from Kansas;
For years the famous little red horse
had been a peusioner the farm of the
late railroad magnate =, n aar I'M 4obn
1t is a quarter OF Il century ago tnat Joun
II Gentry was one Of a group or PAGERS
which contributed much to the making OF
harness horse history. At the time ne came
q
Direct Mascot and Flying Jtb- great quar-
ter of the tree-fOr-all class. we're on tne
decline but others 1T least equnlly as
treat ware looming on the racing horizon
in Joe Patcheu. Star Pointer Robert d
and Frank Agan. and Tor several seasons SEASONS
they furnished contests IN the open pacing
classes which make that period stand our
as the golden age" of the free-f9r-dllers.
Linked with the name OF John H. GENTRY Is
that Of W H (Biuy) Andrews. one OF
the worlds greatest relnsmen and at tnat
.frno one AZ abe Younger generation of those
WHO racef horses. He drove the little horse
TO his best record OF 1901. over the Port
land Maine. track in 1856 Late in his
% rper on the turf he became the property
Of the spectacular Wall street plunger.
Lewis g. Tewksbury. and in the hands OF
Ed Bovine, along with Robert J. TOOK
part in many speed exhibitions
In the stud John II. Gentry. while not
sensational sire. has given to the racing
world several high-class performers. Prob
ably the greatest OF these Is the bay stallion
Johu r. Braden. which the Tennessee re1ns-
man. JOnn Thomas. has raced for several
seasons. DOEu on the mile dAtl NH
tracks, and which was one of the best OF
the p&eers racing on the Grand Circuit the
past seascn in the faster class stakes lie
fonk a record OF 2:O2at and was n fire.
0uent winner the Big Ring. Another
son WAS Jones Gentry 2:O3it. which won ON
the Grand Circuit 4 few seasons back. He
also sired the dam Of that great pacing
mare Grace Direct 2:O0Ia, one Of the great
uaciug mares that has ever appeared ana
which established the worlds three heat
record for a mare during the campaign OF
1919