RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



The outgrowth of the rather bitter controversy 

 between Mr. Hamlin and Mr. Singerly was a meet- 

 ing between Belle Hamlin and Prince Wilkes at 

 Lexington, Ky. At the Phoenix Hotel I had a room 

 that communicated with that of Mr. Hamlin, and 

 views were frequently exchanged as to the probable 

 result of the contest. The night before the race the 

 lobby of the Phoenix was crowded with a speculative 

 throng, and pools were being sold on the race. Prince 

 Wilkes was the favorite, and this nettled Mr. Ham- 

 lin. He had on a silk skull cap and slippers, and 

 thus attired he stepped into the crowded lobby and 

 backed his mare to the tune of thousands. It was a 

 thrilling occasion, and the sum wagered by Mr. 

 Hamlin was exaggerated. Prince Wilkes defeated 

 Belle Hamlin, and Mr. Hamlin never got over the 

 impression that his driver was not true to him. Belle 

 Hamlin entered breeding ranks, but thus far has 

 not earned distinction in that line. The question is, 

 was her vitality used up on the trotting track? 



A fortunate purchase made by Mr. Hamlin was 

 Chimes, brown horse foaled April 4, 1884, by Elec- 

 tioneer, dam Beautiful Bells, second dam Minne- 

 haha. As Electioneer was out of Green Mountain 

 Maid, he had three great brood mares close up in 

 his pedigree. In his announcement of 1891 Mr. 

 Hamlin called attention to the fact that three days 

 before Chimes was 14 months old Charles Marvin 

 drove him a quarter in 35 seconds. As a two-year- 

 old he won a stake in 2.33^, and as a three-year-old 



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