LIFE WITH THE TKOTTEES, 13 



that made a record of 2:25^ in lier first race, she being, by 

 Governor Spragne. 



My old-time friend Matt Colvin was then in the heyday 

 in liis glory, and associated with his name will always be 

 that of the stallion Pilot Temple, a son of Pilot, Jr., that had 

 the distinction of being out of the dam of Flora Temple, the 

 first trotter to beat 2:20. In all jnj experience I have never 

 seen a harder i)air to beat than Matt and Pilot Temple. As 

 hustlers they were first class. Pilot Temple was Miat is 

 known as a " handy' ' horse. Whenever he was tired Colvin 

 would grab him up in his arms for a few jumps and let him 

 run, and then set him down trotting again. That was more 

 feasible in those days than now, when the judges are strong 

 lor honest trotting during the entire mile. Pilot Temple 

 trotted for many a year over all kinds of tracks. In all kinds 

 of weather, rain or shine, hot or cold, the little bay was 

 always ready for his race, and he received plenty of 

 training besides, for in those days a man who didn' t drive 

 his horse an hour or so every day was thought to be neg- 

 lecting his business. After living to be over thirty years of 

 age Pilot Temx)le died in St. Louis a few years ago. Matt 

 Colvin, who drove him for so many years, is still alive and a 

 resident of Kansas City, able to hold his own with any of 

 the new drivers. Though over seventy years of age, Matt 

 has gone west to grow up with the country. 



Another famous perf ormer^ and a great pacer in his day, 

 that was at the St. Louis track, was Billy Boice. He was 

 a member of the Corbeau family, and a bright bay horse 

 about fifteen and a half hands high. He resembled the 

 latter-day i^acer Johnston very much in his gait and forma- 

 tion, and was fast and game, being able to go one or two 

 mile heats; and after pacing a good many races in harness 

 he was ridden a mile in 2:14| by John Murphy, the occasion 

 being a race at Buffalo between Billy Boice and RoUa Gold- 

 dust, that was a celebrated saddler of those days. This 

 was the first time that 2:15 was ever beaten by a pacer, 

 either in harness or under saddle, and as it was considered 



