THE BLACK COLT ST. BEL. 127 



for the champion four-year-old honors. Hinda Eose 

 was not herself either in 18S5 or 1886, showing symp- 

 toms of breaking down, which precluded a proper 

 preparation. Indeed, as in the case of Wildflower, 

 though of course to a much smaller extent, distemper 

 left its permanent effect on Hinda Eose. We have 

 waited and worked patiently but vainly with this great 

 mare in recent seasons, hoping that she would stand 

 training again, beheving that if she could be thor- 

 oughly prepared she would trot to a record "not far 

 from the head." 



The black colt St. Bel was the third member of the 

 Beautiful Bells family in point of age, and was the 

 next after Hinda Eose to earn distinction on the turf. 

 I broke him at eight months old, and had him going 

 nicely for his age, when I went East in 1883 with 

 Hinda Eose, Bonita and AVildflower. On returning, I 

 found him and Manzanita somewhat broken up, and 

 both were some time in ''roundino^ to" ao^ain. He did 

 not make his first public appearance until 1885, in 

 which year he accompanied the stable in its Eastern 

 campaign. His maiden race was on a muddy track in 

 the "JN'ational Trotting -Stallion Stakes for foals of 

 1882," at Albany, September 14th, and he won it easily 

 in straight heats, quite outclassing his only opponent, 

 and not having to go faster than 2:45 to win. This 

 was his only start in 1885, but he was a colt that 

 took his work well and showed steady improve- 

 ment, and was quite a "bread-winner" in our sta- 

 ble the following season, although he contracted a 

 severe cold crossing the mountains that year. Hi& 

 initial race was at Maysville, Kentucky, August 18th, 



