MESSENGER STOCK. 43 



against Harry Walton, in -which he was distanced in the 

 second heat, for a purse of $2000. 



At the New City Course, K. Y., Oct. 10, 1861, she won 

 a race against George Cooley and Pill Doctor, in which 

 four heats, all under 2.30 were made. Belle of Portland 

 winning the fastest in 2.26. She was subsequently pur- 

 chased by Mr. J. J. Burgess, and died on the farm of her 

 ■owner at Belleville, New Jersey, on Friday, Feb'y 1st, 

 1867. Wilkes' Spirit of The Times, of Feb'y 9, 1867, in- 

 speaking of the death of the " celebrated trotting mare, 

 Belle of Portland," says: " she was in her day, one of the 

 best and gamest trotters on the turf, and gave promise 

 during last fall of coming back to her old condition, and 

 of being able to repeat, in the coming spring, some of her 

 previous exploits. It was the intention of her owner to 

 have trotted her for one season more, and then to have 

 retired her finally for breeding purposes." 



It may not be uninteresting to state that Mr. Belcher 

 sold her for $175, because she was unable to see anything 

 after it became dark. 



BELLE STRICKLAND. 



Sorrel mare with white stripe in face, and one white an- 

 kle, 16 hands high, and weighed 1080 pounds at four years 

 of age, foaled June 4, 1860, bred by Mr. Dobson, of Har- 

 mony, Me., got by the Merrow Horse, dam, by Witherell. 



She was sold when two years of age to Mr. Bemis, of 

 Wellington, and he sold her in January, 1864, to William 

 H. Strickland, of Bangor, for $200. Mr. Strickland sold 

 her to Mr. Manson, of Farmington, Mass., for $700, and 

 she afterwards became famous for her performances on 

 the turf. 



Aug. 21 , 1868, at Boston, she beat Madawaska Maid, Em- 



