Lovers of the Horse 67 



John McEwen. owned l)y the well-known steeplecliase jockey, Xat Ray, of Toronto, 

 paced a mile in piitilic in '2.04 at Poughkeepsie in 1907, and as the track there 

 is not consider<'(i anywhere near a fast one, it looks like Nat's pacer could have paced 

 the Columbus track in its best condition in '2.0'-2 or better. La Point has been many 

 miles in her work around 2.05 over a mile ring, and 13ertliena Bars has shown 2.0G 

 for a mile. 



Although none of the horses named have established world's records, if w^e except 

 Angus Pointer's waggon record of '2.03^, Canada has the distinction of producing 

 the holder of the three-year-old pacing record for a half-mile on a half-mile track. I'lie 

 gelding Black Bird. "^.H!, created a world's record when he paced a half-mile in 1.04^ 

 on the Exhibition track here in 1904. This record still stands, although it was equalled 

 by the colt Ian Bar during the Canadian Circuit races at Stratford in 1907. Mr. Pierce, 

 who trained and raced Ian Bar in that year, had a two-year-old in his stable that 

 could pace a half close to 1.05, and he was contident there would be a new recoril for 

 three-year-olds when the youngsters got to racing. 



In vears ijast numv trotters bred in Canada were able to go south aiul win on 

 the big tracks, but oidy one was able to get into the charmed circle of select society, 

 and that one is the gelding Wentworth, who took a record of '2.04^, the fastest ever 

 obtained by a Canadian-bred. Wentworth was foaled in the vicinity of Hamilton, 

 and was unbroken until five years old. He was sired by Superior, a stallion owned 

 by the veteran Simon James, who, by the way, is still hale and hearty at his home 

 below the mountain, although carrying the weight of more than fourscore years. It 

 was ]\Ir. James' son, Havis, now recognized as the leading Canadian Knight of the 

 Sulky, that first brought Wentworth into the limelight, winning many important races 

 with the black gelding on the Grand Circuit. Among the back numbers, Alvin, 2.11; 

 Geneva, '■2.11^, and Fides Stanton, 2.15, were the bright liglits. Later the trotters 

 from this side to attract attention were Johnny, 2.12|; McAdams Jr., 2.12|; Larabie 

 Rose, 2.14; Mary Scott, 2.14; Jennie Scott, 2.141; Othello, 2.14^, and Ayliffe, 2.161 

 Of these, much was expected of the gelding Johnny, that is owned by the Brantford 

 horsemen, Messrs. Hunt & Colter. At the beginning of the season of 1906 it was 

 confidently thought by those on the inside that Johnny would return to winter quart- 

 ers with a record of 2.0iS or better, but unfortuiuitclv the little trotter went wronir in 

 one of his hind legs and did not get to race. The following winter he was started on 

 the ice circuit, and made good in all the races, and in 1907 he was sent after the money 

 on tracks in the United States after he had cleaned up the trotting stakes on the Cana- 

 dian Circuit. Race after race was won by the Brantford trotter, and it was only when 

 he measured strides with the fast flyers at Detroit, in the celebrated Merchants and 

 Manufacturers' Stake, and at Columbus, that lie met witli defeat. 



Of the trotters in Canada to-day probably the fastest is the black gelding Othello, 

 owned at Chatham. This horse has made but one start on the Grand Circuit, but 

 in that he showed much better than a 2.10 trotter when he was second to Daniel at 

 Columbus last fall in 2.()8|. Othello continues to be raced on the big tracks, and un- 

 less all signs fail, another extremely fast trottcM- lias to be credited to Canada. 



