The Driving Clubs of Greater Boston 



H7 



Anaconda's teat of establishing a record of 

 2:01 3-4 and 2:09 3-4. an average of 2:05 1-4, 

 Jay-Eye-See held the double-gaited record at 

 2:06 1-4 pacing, and _':io trotting, an average 

 of 2:08 1-8. The difference of almost three 

 seconds plainly shows the superiority of 

 Anaconda. 



L. 01 iking hack over the career of "Happy 

 Jack," it is noted that he drove his initial 

 race in 1856 with a raw-boned Canadian 

 pacer, owned by his brother, that won the 

 race in 3:01. Shortly after this he opened 

 a livery stable near Flenington, X. J., and 

 remained there until about 1870, when he 

 campaigned a couple of horses through New 

 York state. 



It was during this time that he met Alden 

 Goldsmith and engaged to handle his Vol- 

 unteer stock. While with Goldsmith he 

 drove Driver. 2:19 1-4, and Huntress to her 

 three-mile record of 7:21 1-4. that stood as 

 the world"s record for twenty-one years, when 

 Bishop Hero, in 1893, reduced it to 7:19 1-4. 

 In accomplishing the feat of trotting three 

 miles in 7:21 1-4, Huntress made her first 

 mile in 2:283-4, the second in 2:26, and 

 the third in 2:26 1-2, and the middle half of 

 the third mile was stepped in 1 :og. This 

 was a reduction of 11 1-4 seconds from the 

 previous mark for that distance. The event 

 took place at Prospect Park, Pong Island, 

 on September 21. 1872, and the betting odds 

 were $1,000 against $250 that the trotting 

 record of 7:32 1-2 would not be lowered. 



Trout remained with Goldsmith three 

 years. Then he returned to his own home in 

 Xew Jersey for a few weeks' visit, and, while 

 there he met William Povell, who proposed 

 that he should go with him and drive the 

 noted trotter. American Girl, 2:16 1-2. That 

 was the year of 1874. 



That Fall he hired out to John Merrow, 

 of Boston, to train and drive his stable of 

 campaigners. During the four years he was 

 associated with Mr. Merrow he successfully 

 raced, among others, the noted horse, 

 Camors, 2:193-4, and Sea Foam, 2:241-2. 



In 1878 Trout opened a public stable at 

 the old Beacon Park. The years of 1885-6. 

 he managed P>eacon Park and it was in those 

 days that the park had its liveliest times. 

 The old Mill Dam road was the Mecca for 

 the local road-drivers during the sleighing 

 season. Charley Perkins' roadhouse, the 

 Hawthorne, St. Julien, the Albany, and other 

 roadhouses were then open for the public to 

 put their steaming horses under the sheds 

 while they partook in the hotel of refresh- 

 ments, both wet and solid, before a glowing 

 fire. 



Beacon Park, too, was especially prepared 



tor racing on the snow, and many were the 

 match events decided every day, and, during 

 the Summer season a large crowd would 

 congregate every forenoon on the broad 

 piazza, that faced the track, to watch the 

 horses quartered at the park receive their 

 work, and discuss the merits of their own 

 horses. This frequently led to an argument 

 between enthusiastic owners, which usually 

 ended in each putting up from $100 to $500 

 and racing for it right then. 



For a number of years Trout trained at 

 Mystic Park, one of the best that he raced 

 during that period being the pacing mare, 

 Allen Maid, 2:161-2. He then successfully 

 handled horses for Dr. Fowler of Moodus, 

 Conn.; J. H. Richardson, owner of the 

 Thorndale Stock Farm, Andover, Mass. ; 

 Commodore George Perkins, Webster, 

 N. H. : and for Edwin Rice. 



In running the clubhouse for the members 

 of the Metropolitan, "Happy Jack" is cer- 

 tainly in his right element. As a host he is 

 always bubbling over with good humor, can 

 tell a story well, and has the magnetism that 

 attracts friends. A day spent with "Happy 

 Jack" was never lost. It only served to pro- 

 long a man's life in making him feel kinder 

 to mankind. 



CHAPTER XII 



Trainer E. D. Bither Who Made 



Three World's Champions 



EDWIN D. BITHER was born in 

 Charleston, Me., in 1851, and re- 

 ceived his education in the schools 

 of his native town. When seven- 

 teen years of age Mr. Bither began 

 an apprenticeship in the profession of which 

 he has since become one of the most prominent 

 members, and for three years he was asso- 

 ciated with Foster S. Palmer of Bangor, Me., 

 who brought out and developed General 

 Knox. In 1871 Mr. Bither availed himself of 

 Horace Greeley's advice and went West, and 

 in 1875 ne entered the employ of J. I. Case, 

 Racine, Wis. 



In 1879 Mr. Case visited Kentucky and 

 purchased of Col. West, of Georgetown, 

 several colts and fillies, and largely owing to 

 the advice of George Brasfield, a black 

 youngster was included in the lot. How 

 little any then present imagined the plain- 

 looking black yearling was one day to be 

 the reigning king of the turf, and the first 

 trotter to put the magical figures — 2:10 — on 

 the board. 



Shortly after this Mr. Case made another 

 visit to Kentucky and this time purchased 



