i 888 sale. 97 



In 1888 Buffalo was looking for a new Secretary. C. 

 J. Hamlin, who was at that time at the head of the Buf- 

 falo Park, offered Fasig a few inducements to locate in 

 that town and act as Secretary of the Buffalo Driving 

 Club. After thinking the matter over, he decided to re- 

 main with the Cleveland Association and continue his 

 sale business, which was now beginning to look like a 

 fixture. Selecting May 15 to 19 as the dates for his fifth 

 sale, Fasig began to advertise for consignments. When 

 the catalogue was issued it contained three hundred and 

 fifty lots, W. J. Gordon having consigned all of his breed- 

 ing stock, together with William H., 2:1834, and Croxie, 

 2:1954, while S. A. Brown sent a consignment. This 

 with such racing material as Sarah B., 2 -.20^4 ; Decorator, 

 2:23^4; Patsey Clinker, 2:20; Windsor M., 2:20^4, and 

 over a score of others attracted many of the best buyers 

 and when the hammer fell for the last time, it was found 

 that two hundred and fifty head had been sold for $99,- 

 450. John H. Shults, the "Monarch of the Sale Ring," 

 made his first appearance as a buyer at Cleveland during 

 this sale, and, as was the rule in those days, Sudie D., the 

 highest priced lot of the week, was knocked down to him 

 on a bid of $4,100. She was a six-year-old mare by Al- 

 cyone, out of the dam of Ambassador. Mr. Shults also 

 paid $2,500 for Miss Leontine, a two-year-old filly by 

 Robert McGregor, out of Leontine, 2:2334, and $2,000 

 for the twelve-year-old mare Kitty Wilkes, 2:34^, by 

 George Wilkes. Decorator sold for $3,200, Patsey 

 Clinker for $2,025, and Strategist, 2 128, for $2,000. 

 These were the days when a pedigree with a little speed, 

 or a pedigree with a good story, brought the money in the 

 trotting horse business. Everything was sacrificed to 

 the standard and a few speed producing lines of the tin- 

 cup variety. 



