VOLUNTEER. 129 



VOLUNTEER. 



Clang, clang, went the bell for the race 

 A Goldsmith answered ''Here!" 

 Made weight and scored down in his place, 

 And won with a Volunteer. 



Volunteer was bred by Joseph Hetzel, of Florida, 

 N. Y. He was foaled May i, 1854, the day his dam, 

 Lady Patriot was four years old, his sire being four 

 and his dam three when they were mated. Richard 

 Underhill purchased the colt in the fall of 1858. He 

 took him to Long Island, and subsequently placed 

 him in William Wheelan's stable for training. 

 Wheelan found that he was a fast horse, but the severe 

 preparation of that period soon put him on the com- 

 plaining list and he was sent home. For the next two 

 years he was driven on the road by his owner's 

 brother and finally, in the spring of 1861, he sent Lady 

 Patriot's colt to Timothy T. Jackson, with orders to 

 keep him in good road condition and sell him if pos- 

 sible. Jackson gave him very little fast work, as he 

 showed stiff in the shoulders ; but with what he did 

 get, Volunteer pulled a heavy single-seated wagon a 

 mile and repeat over the Union Course in 2:33, 2:31^. 

 Alden Goldsmith heard of the horse and bought him 

 on June 26, 1862. While in the possession of Joseph 

 Hetzel, Volunteer was bred to a few mares, and from 

 their foals Alden Goldsmith purchased the colt Idler, 

 who showed fast, but met with an accident that caused 

 his death, Hamlet and Matchless, both of whom 

 trotted in 2 130 in public and proved noted prize 

 winners. 



