318 RACEALONG 



CHANCE 



Pranks played by chance make the lives of many 

 horses look like a chapter of accidents. In 1856 the 

 dam of Blackwood was purchased at Lexington, 

 Ky., by Adam Steel for $125. In 1860 he gave G. H. 

 Buford a half-interest in the colt that came with 

 her, to develop it. Buford trained Blackwood four 

 months and reduced the three-year-old record to 

 2:31. Steel then repurchased his interest for 

 $12,500 and sold the colt to Harrison Durkee, of 

 New York, for $30,000. 



The blind pacer Sleepy Tom, that cut the world's 

 record to 2:121/4 in 1879, became the property of 

 Steve Phillips in exchange for a colt worth about 

 $75, an old watch, a quart of whiskey, and $7.50 in 

 money. Little Brown Jug, 2:11%, the next pacing 

 champion, was purchased as a yearling by O. N. 

 Fry for $50. He sold him as a two-year-old for $75 

 and took him back on a debt of $60. 



Moko was offered for sale at Lexington, and as 

 no one made a bid on him he was taken back to 

 Walnut Hall Farm, where he became one of the 

 leading sires. Walnut Hall, his assocaite in the stud, 

 did not get a much better reception. When John 

 Splan purchased his dam, Maggie Yeazer, she was in 

 foal to the gray horse, Conductor. That did not 

 look very good to L. V. Harkness, but when the 

 colt was foaled his color, form, and early speed 

 earned him the name of the farm, where he was 

 destined to remain for life. 



