Middlebury Register

DAM OF TAGGART'S ABDALLAH

VERMONT'S FASTEST RECORDS.

From the Mirror and Farmer.

The Middlebury (Vt.) REGISTER of the 15th inst., published by Joseph Battell of that place, has a column and a half of correspondence from T. W. Hopkinson, D. M. Taggart, Geo. B. Loring, Joseph L. Noyes, Dr. A. V. Conover, the pretended breeder of the dam of Lady Mack, the dam of Taggart's Abdallah, showing conclusively that there is no proof whatever that Lady Mack's sire was Old Abdallah I, or that her dam was by the running horse Old Trustee. If Mr. Battell will turn his attention to the dam of Honest Allen he will find it impossible to prove how she was bred, and that her published pedigree was made up for the occasion.

Chauncey P., North Hero, Vt., writes:

"Some time ago Capt. Warren Corbin of South Hero, owner of Old Earthquake, wrote to a local paper stating that his stallion was the sire of the fastest horse, Rex, 2.22½, that ever left Vermont. A. B. Ashley of Milton thought the captain was mistaken, and so named Topsy, owned by L. S. Drew of Burlington. He says: 'Topsy, sired by Walkill Chief, dam by Holabird's Ethan, which was sold by L. S. Drew of Burlington to J. S. Ferguson of New York, has the fastest record of any trotter ever raised in Vermont. At Poughkeepsie, N. Y., August 22, 1882, she won the first heat in 2.21¼, the next three and the race being won by Gladiator.'" Right in this connection the following communication from L. J. Chamberlin of Brandon, Vt., will be found interesting: "I would inform Capt. Corbin of Grand Isle county that the fastest records of horses bred in Vermont are: Comee, 2.19¼, by Daniel Lambert; Frank, 2.19¾, by Abraham: Lady Pritchard, 2.21, by Green Mountain Banner, dam by Flying Morgan; Topsy, 2.21, by Walkill Chief, dam by Holabird's Ethan Allen: Joker, 2:22¼, by Parish Horse; Rex, 2:22½, by Earthquake.

It will be seen that instead of first, Rex stands sixth on list. Comee's 2:19¼ was made without a skip or break; last half in 1:09. Topsy's record, made at Poughkeepsie, Aug. 22, 1882, was said by the Spirit of the Times to be very fast, considering the condition of the track. The fastest one of the lot was undoubtedly the chestnut mare Lady Pritchard, bred by L. M. Baker of Brandon, an extensive farmer, who used her at farm work until she was past five, then drove her a few times on the track, when she showed 2:38. The next winter the first time over the ice to a heavy sleigh driven by her breeder, who weighs over 200 pounds, she trotted a half in 1:16. She was sold that day for $1,500. Up to this time she had not had as good care or as much fitting for fast time as a good livery horse. In less time than a week after leaving the farm she trotted a race in 2:26. She has since trotted quarters in 33s., a half in 1:06¾, and a full mile over Fleetwood track in 2:18. Addison county is the banner county, being the birthplace of Comee, Frank, and Billy M., pacer, 2:19½, by Little Mack, the only horses bred in the State to beat 2:20."