RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



frame In memory and carry with you until life ends 

 in shadow. In October, 1893, Transylvania Day 

 was fair, and a fair face looked with expectant eyes 

 out upon the track and across the ragged edge of the 

 city to where the tall shaft, which marks the grave of 

 Henry Clay, pierces the Blue. One of the leading 

 candidates for track honors had been reared by her 

 father, Erastus Corning, and the daughter, Har- 

 rletta, had journeyed from Albany to witness the 

 effort of her namesake. The brown mare by Al- 

 cyone was bred by Mr. Corning, as was her dam, 

 Harriet Clay out of Mercedes by Cuyler, and he had 

 named her in honor of his daughter, the joy of his 

 household. Erastus Corning was the former owner of 

 Harry Clay and in breeding Harriet Clay to the black 

 stallion he joined speed-supporting blood to action- 

 giving blood. Mercedes was a daughter of Emma 

 Arteburn, who was by Mambrino Patchen out of 

 Jennie Johnson, a thoroughbred. The mare Harrletta 

 and the girl Harrletta had seen much of each other at 

 Albany, and now the two were for the first time to- 

 gether In Kentucky, and the question was whether the 

 meeting would end in rejoicing or disappointment. 

 Crit Davis drove Harrletta with great skill, and, when 

 the last heat had been trotted, her record was 2.09!, 

 and the official decision was In her favor. I sat with 

 Mr. Corning and his daughter during the race, and, 

 when the announcement was made that Harrletta 

 had won the Transylvania in the fastest time up to 

 that date, the spirit of which rare Ben Jonson 



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