KLATAWA'S DIARY. 



One of America's leading trainers and drivers made 

 frequent reports to the owner of a champion. The cham- 

 pion "got next" to these reports, and the following is his 

 diary, which was found in his stall, at Lexington, at the 

 close of the racing season in 1898. 



Denver, June 19. — I'm only three years old. I came 

 from the sunny land of gold. I was born on a beautiful 

 ranch at the foot of grand Mount Diablo. I came here 

 several days ago in charge of a good, kind man who 

 knows a horse, respects his feelings, and, oh my, how he 

 can drive one ! A nag has to love and do his best for 

 him, as I've always done. And can't I go ! I can fly 

 and beat the other fellows, and I know it. To-day my 

 trainer came into the stall and said to me "I have written 

 a letter to your owner and I do not mind reading it to 

 you." I can not remember all the good things he said, 

 but it made me awfully proud, and here are some of 

 them : 



"It affords me great pleasure to report regarding the 

 first start of your great colt here last Friday. At the time 

 I hardly thought him up to a hard race. It was a miser- 

 able day, the wind blowing a gale and the dust flying so 

 you scarcely saw the horse you were driving. He drew 

 last position in a field of nine. I was sure he won the 

 first heat in 2 114, but, owing to the dust, he got the worst 

 of the decision. In the second heat he was just beaten 

 in 2:12^. Won the third in 2:15^ (the second quarter 

 being in just thirty seconds); the fourth in 2:14, and 



