The New York herald., 1922-12-10

filled with second and third raters next
season. There are strong indications at
present that either Single G. or Margaret
Dillon-and perhaps both of them-will be
shipped in box cars to Aroostook county,
Me-. some time during the coming winter
to join the rest of the Grand Circuit elite
which have already been annexed by the
most isolated community of Yankees in
New England.
Over 100 miles of Maine forest separate
Aroostook from the rest of the United
States, but three of the fastest PAGERS the
world has ever known-John r. Braden,
2:02 Y; Roy Grattan. 2:01 u. and Jackson
Grattan, also with a mark of 2:01 H-are
permanent residents. There are but four
good sized towns in the county, all of them
under 5000 in population. But what they
lack in numbers they make up for in
sporting blood and Aroostook has gone
wild over "hoss racin." The county ordi-
narily raises about $35.000,000 worth of
potatoes a year and the prosperity of its
residents permits of extravaganza in motor
cars and horseflesh.
For years every Aroostook village has
had it's trotters. There are several half
mile tracks in the county and during the
short, hot summers rivalry between the
different towns has been intense. Pressure
Isle is one of the most progressive of these
little communities and when the Presque
Isle trotters were left behind by nags from
Houlton and Caribou and Fort Fairfield
local pride was deeply wounded.
During the winter of 1921 Presque Isle
decided that something must be done to
preserve its sef-respect, and after innum-
erable conferences on the post office steps.
at grange meetings and around the big
open fire in the hotel office, the Mooselouk
Club was organized. Prosperous potato
growers. clerks, professional men, BARRIERS
-everybody-joined; and, what is more,
everybody turned anywhere from ten to
several hundred dollars into the club treas
ury. An ambassador was sent outside"
to look the ground over and he returned
with John r. Braden, the fourteen-year-
old pride of the Grand Circuit, which he
acquired for $4,000 of Presque Isle money.
Now" said Presque Isle, well show
'em Darn 'em!"
And Presque Isle did During the en-
tire season not one of the other towns
came within miles of winning a race and
members of the Mooselouk Club and other
residents made more money in the race
track pools than they had spent in the
purchase of John r. Gentry's most famous
son.
Early last spring the influx of rival
racers began. The sporting blood of the
rest of the county was thoroughly aroused
and Calgary Earl. sleek chestnut gelding
with a formidable record. was the first
Importation. Houlton expected great
things of the Earl, who had done well in
Syracuse, Springfield and on other Grand
Circuit tracks. Their hopes might have
been realized had his overanxious owners
refrained from pushing him to the limit
in a workout when he was in no condi-
ton to be extended. The Earl hadn't gone
a mile in under 2:23 in months when they
sent him around the half mile track at
,Houlton in 2:05. 'just to see what he
could do" AS result his speed was
broken forever, so the horsemen say. and
Presque Isles pride remained unhumbled.
In the meantime Caribou entered the
lists. The Caribou Driving Club was or
ganized along the lines Of the Presque
Isle horse owning syndicate and $500
was raised. The money went for Roy
Grattan. a bay gelding sired by Grattan
Royal with a record lower than that of
the Braden horse.
Houlton-undscourag by the fiaeco
with Calgary Earl-answered the challenge
by forming a driving club of her own, rails
ing s12.500 and investing it in Jackson
Grattan a rangey bay stallion sired by