224 CANADIAN TUEF BECOLLECTIONS 



A TEOTTING MATCH IN MONTREAL IN THE 70 'S. 



Along in the '70 's the Albion Hotel in Montreal was a 

 favorite stopping place with the leading horsemen, both 

 of western and eastern Canada. Its then proprietor, 

 L. W. Decker, was an enthnsiastic admirer of the light 

 harness horse and generally had one or two fast trotters 

 or pacers in his stable. It was, therefore, natural for 

 horsemen to foregather at the Albion, and many a pleas- 

 ant evening was spent discussing who owned the speed- 

 iest nag. Many a match, both on the ice in winter and 

 over the turf in summer, resulted from these evening 

 chats, and much good sport was thereby furnished the 

 public. 



One night a good-looking stranger was introduced to 

 the select circle by Mr. Decker. He said he hailed from 

 New Hampshire, and as he was well posted on the horse 

 question he proved an agreeable and entertaining com- 

 panion. His business was that of a travelling salesman 

 of patent medicines and his outfit, a good-looking, cross- 

 matched team, a black and a gray, hooked to a gorgeously 

 decorated wagon, made an attractive appearance. He 

 occasionally drove his horses single, and on more than 

 one occasion joined some of his newly made Montreal 

 friends in a drive out to the Back river. The black horse 

 was his favorite single driver, and was a good stepper, 

 though in several trials of speed on the road with local 

 horses he had generally come out second best. 



One night at the usual gathering of horsemen in the 

 Albion, a prominent Montrealer, while extolling the 

 quality of a new purchase he had lately made in the west, 

 declared his willingness to make a match against any 

 horse owned in Montreal, the stake to be $100 or $200 a 

 side, and the distance, mile heats, two in three. None of 

 the local horsemen present appearing anxious to accept 



