Allerton and Axtell

by Gary Lee Martinson

  That night Gilbert started a fire in the kettle stove in his room. He went outside and cleaned the coffee pot under the water pump. He was feeling good about himself and what he had just done. He thought to himself he wasn’t just a groom for the horses, but also a trainer. He made himself a nice cup of tea before he went to bed.

  As he lay there, thoughts of Clara rolled around in his mind as it often did. He wondered what she was doing, what she may look like, if she even thought about him or remember him. He tried to picture what life would be if she were there. He knew they would take Ginger for a ride together. He wanted to tease her again like he use too. He thought back at some of the times and laughed out loud.

  The realization that he may never see her again was haunting. He spent the next several nights lying awake pondering about it. He decided to forget about Clara and get on with his life. After three and a half years of no response to his letters, he had to give up on her. As he lay there, he thought again he shouldn’t lose faith in their friendship. She was there in Dubuque, and he was here in Independence. He knew he should just take time off to find her. He was older now and felt confident to travel by himself.

  The negative thoughts crept back into his mind. It was obvious she had moved on and wasn’t concerned with him any longer. He thought her father must have realized the whole ordeal was a misunderstanding. Even if he wouldn’t allow Clara to write back, she should have found a way to get at least one letter to him. She must have known he was writing her. He thought maybe she was taking the letters to school and sharing them with her new friends, and getting a good laugh. He dispelled the thought with a chuckle.

  A sickness in his stomach grew, making it harder to fall asleep. He never cried, but his eyes crusted with dried tears. He looked up at his mothers portrait illuminated in the moon light. Eventually he drifted off to sleep.

  Word had spread around town that Axtell would be ready to trot another exhibition at the track on June 3rd. This time it would be a full mile pulling a sulky, with several official timers present. It was exciting to see fifteen hundred people showing up to watch this unofficial exhibition. The racing season was to begin soon, and this would be a great indication to everyone how well Axtell would fair in the upcoming season.

  On that day Mr. Williams astutely jogged Axtell around the half mile track several times. Each time they passed the amphitheater the crowd would stand and cheer the two of them. He would politely tip his hat each time. The high wheeled sulky carried red, white and blue ribbons behind, showing a flutter of unmistakable beauty. When Mr. Williams was ready, he stopped to have Gilbert and Barney remove the ribbons.

  Mr. Williams gave Mr. Hussey, Mr. Tabor and Gilbert the word they were ready and the watches started when they passed the starting line. Axtell showed great pride in his trot, with a speed so great it blew off Mr. Williams’ hat off. The crowd roared with enthusiasm and laughter. Axtell trotted the mile in 2:24 on a half mile track.

  This performance prompted the crowd to cheer wildly. To show his appreciation of the crowd, Mr. Williams went to tip his hat, then realized it was gone. He laughed and the crowd laughed, as well.

  The time of 2:24 was his best half mile track time ever. This exhibition was of course, just a practice exhibition and would not count as an official record. It was a great sign of things to come since his previous best time on a half mile track was 2:30. The fact he was able to trot 2:24 this early in the season was encouraging.

  Mr. Williams yelled out to Gilbert, Mr. McHenry and Mr. Hussey, “I never had to encourage him at all!”

  Mr. Williams stopped the sulky and got off as Gilbert immediately began to rub Axtell down. Barney brought a bucket of water for Axtell after cooling down. He also fed him a handful of green grass and some carrots. Mr. Williams took one of the carrots and rewarded his colt for his great performance. He anticipated the need for more carrots so last fall he contracted the purchase of five hundred bushels from local farmers. The increased interest in breeding horses in the area increased the market for products such as carrots, oats, and hay.

  The crowd remained at the track cheering, and showed no signs of leaving. Mr. Williams had been given his hat back by one of his employees. He stepped up with Axtell and actually bowed and tipped his hat before Gilbert escorted Axtell back to his barn. He stroked and spoke to Axtell with great affection as he was leading him off. He caught a glimpse of the lovely Laura Willard. She was standing along the rail smiling at Gilbert.

  “Hello Laura,” Gilbert said warmly.

  Laura could tell Gilbert’s tone was soothing, inviting, something she did not expect but hoped for. “Hello Gilbert,” she said kindly, “Can I talk to you?”

  “Sure,” Gilbert replied, “I have to cool down Axtell. How about later.”

  “Can we talk while you do that?”

  “All right.”

  She followed as Gilbert led Axtell back to the stable. Laura was flushed with the feeling of importance walking with Axtell.

  A gust of wind blew Laura’s blonde hair into her face. She waved it away out of her face. “I should put my hair up.”

  Gilbert out of respect said, “I like it down and loose.” He quickly realized his statement may have been a bit forward.

  This didn’t bother her, in fact it amused her, “I will leave it down than.”

  They were quiet until Gilbert stalled Axtell, “So what do you want to talk about?”

  “Oh, yeah,” She was hesitant to say, “I heard news about Clara.”

  Gilbert excitedly said, “You did?”

  “Yes,” she was disappointed he was so excited, but she knew he would not like the news. “Ethel Greene was in Dubuque visiting her cousins when she ran into Clara at a dance.”

  “Really,” He said excitedly, “How did she look?”

  “She apparently looked to be having a great time dancing with a boy.” She said hoping Gilbert would be upset.

  “Did,” Gilbert had to think of the girl’s name, “Ethel get a chance to talk to her?”

  “She was only able to speak to her briefly, as she was being escorted out by a tall boy.”

  “What did she say?”

  “Gilbert,” Laura tried to get him to think about what she was saying, “she said he was very handsome.” He was quiet, beginning to think.“Ethel said, she seemed to be more interested in leaving with this tall handsome boy, than to talk to an old friend she hadn’t seen in years.”

  “So she said nothing?”

  “Well, they had the usual pleasantry’s. Then she excused herself and left.” He began to brush Axtell down slowly. “Gilbert, did you hear me?”

  “I heard you,” he said calmly.

  Laura felt it was her responsibility to help Gilbert realize that Clara was moving on with life. “She is happy with another boy. She has given up thoughts of you and moved on.” She followed him around the horse nagging at him. “It will be all right. Clara is but one fish in the sea. Take me for instance. Don’t you think I am a pretty fish.” She pursed her lips humorously like a fish.

  Gilbert looked at her, although the sight was tugging at his laugh emotions, he could not smile. His gut was retching with sickness at the thought of Clara. Gilbert looked at her through the corner of his eyes. “Would you like to go for a walk later.”

  “Yes,” she responded, “I would love to.”

  After they had taken care of Axtell and the other horses, he felt a closeness to her because she helped him like Clara had. Gilbert walked her home. They had a nice talk. When they were nearing her house he directed her to a more secluded area of a park. She was delighted by the playful act. Gilbert looked into her eyes. She could see his eyes were wild and moving quickly from one place to another. Her smile melted away and a serene serious look emerged. Her eyes stared intently into Gilbert’s.

  His eyes then stopped moving, he put his index finger under her c
hin. He raised her head up and moved his head slowly forward. She closed her eyes and their lips met with passion.

  Allerton trotted his first mile of the season a few days later with less than one hundred of the town’s people present. Allerton showed great poise and pride in his gait.

  Mr. Williams could see that the present stands at Rush Park would not be sufficient to hold the crowds expected. He wanted to build twenty-five hundred seat amphitheater to accommodate the spectators by the July fourth festivities. He advertised he would race Allerton and Axtell against one another at the county fair.

  Both horses started the 1889 season on June 25th in Cedar Rapids for the Cedar Rapids Trotting Association summer meeting. Allerton raced against older horses in the 2:29 class. Most of the horses had time records below 2:30. Allerton was able to secure the third place money. He also lowered his mile record on any track by trotting it in 2:31 1/4 and 2:32. The performance of Allerton made many horsemen believe he would fair very well later in the season.

  Axtell was offered a purse of $500 from the Cedar Rapids Trotting Association, to trot against the three-year-old’s half mile track record time 2:26 1/4. The morning of his exhibition, Axtell was hungrily eating a pile of timothy hay as if he hadn’t eaten in days. It was Mr. Williams’s theory that he fed his horses well a few hours before a race. This was a practice supported by only a few breeders around the country.

  The crowd in Cedar Rapids greeted Mr. Williams and Axtell with a hardy cheer. They had Axtell pulling a new forty-five-pound sulky. Mr. Williams tipped his hat, as usual, and they jogged around the track twice.

  Mr. Williams scored for the word, which was given and watches began. The hard trotting Axtell reached the quarter mark in :35. The pace quickened in the second quarter passing the half in 1:08. The crowd was anticipating a new record not just for a half mile track, but possibly a mile track. However, Axtell began to fatigue and his pace slowed.

  He was able to set a half mile track record, by several seconds finishing in 2:21 3/4. The crowd rose in unison giving Axtell and his driver three cheers. Gilbert returned the great horse to his stall to cool and gave him some fresh green grass. The feeding of green grass to a campaigning horse was unusual. Other breeders present, shook their heads in wonderment.

  The next meet was in Minneapolis on July 2nd, Axtell was offered a $500 purse to race against time once again. The mark to beat would be the time set by Sunol at the close of the previous year of 2:18. Many thought it was too soon to race again just five days after his trot in Cedar Rapids. Mr. Williams felt Axtell was up for the challenge.

  Mr. Williams attended a dinner the night before the race. Bettors were paying fifteen to ten that Axtell would beat Sunol’s time. The next day was raw, cool, and breezy, the odds changed ten to one against Axtell beating Sunol’s time.

  Mr. Williams approached Mr. Hussey at the track, “John, are we ready to go?” The two men walked toward the barn where Gilbert had been caring for Axtell all morning.

  “Yes,” Mr. Hussey responded, “What is the plan, Charles?”

  “Trot this race as fast as possible and set a new record,” he smiled.

  “I mean,” Mr. Hussey started to say when Mr. Williams interrupted.

  “I’m sorry, John. I was just joking.” Mr. Williams said, “We have the wind to start the race, so I think we should take advantage of that. We will drop to a good solid pace through the back stretch against the wind. Then we will push the final stretch with the wind.” Mr. Hussey had walked the track earlier as instructed by Mr. Williams. He glanced out over the track before he continued speaking. “Do you see any bad areas on the track?”

  “I noticed the back stretch’s outside lanes were soft.” Mr. Hussey said.

  Mr. Williams sighed, “Well I planned to keep him inside anyway, but good to know”. He turned to Gilbert and asked, “How did he eat this morning?”

  Gilbert reported, “He ate well and his muscles are toned and ready.”

  “In other words, things couldn’t be better?”

  “Yeah,” Mr. Hussey replied, “everything’s a go.”

  Mr. Williams jogged Axtell around the track several times one way then turned around to go around the correct way. He stopped before the start so Gilbert could rub Axtell’s legs down. He looked to Gilbert, who smiled and nodded. The judges signaled to Mr. Williams that they were ready. He nodded to them, got aboard the sulky, then flipped the reins to score up.

  On the second score Axtell and Mr. Williams were given the word to start. As the wind blew, Axtell flew through the first quarter of a mile in :33. Even though he trotted partially against the wind for the second quarter the half mile time was raised at 1:06. The crowd erupted with excited cheers. Everyone could see that the record was well within reach of the fleeting team.

  The pace slowed a bit in the third quarter as Axtell hit the mark at 1:40. Down the stretch he trotted as the crowd cheered with excitement in anticipation of a new record. Axtell began to waver, possibly tiring. Mr. Williams brought down a calm whip and he recovered to get under the wire with a strong burst. Mr. Williams was confident Axtell had done it as he continued to jog him around the track to cool.

  The judges deliberated for a moment, before the official time was read off as a new record time 2:15 ½. The crowd burst with cheers when the time was read. This didn’t only break the record for three- year-old’s. It also broke the four-year-old’s record held by Manzanita of 2:16, set back in 1886. The cheers went on for ten minutes as Mr. Williams politely stood next to Axtell and bowed several times.

  Later while Mr. Williams was checking Axtell’s legs, two well dressed men approached him. “Mr. Williams, my name is Henry McKinney.”

  Mr. Williams stood up, “It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. McKinney.”

  Mr. McKinney began to walk around studying Axtell silently. Miss Timms then approached the two men. She didn’t say anything, but was aware the two men were negotiating something, even in silence.

  Mr. Williams followed Mr. McKinney as he looked over his horse, wondering what the man truly wanted. He was suspicious that he was looking to find something to disqualify the record time. Finally out of frustration Mr. Williams spoke, “So, I take it you have a reason for disturbing us.”

  “Yes, I do,” he said, “This is a fine horse. Potentially with the best training I can give him he could be the best trotting horse of all time.” The air of arrogance in his statement caught the ear of Miss Timms, and the nearby Mr Hussey.

  Mr. Williams was quick to respond in a kindly tone, “He will be the best standard bred trotting horse of all time.”

  “Fifty thousand dollars, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you gave him the chance at greatness.” Mr. Williams starred at him as he looked at Axtell’s teeth.

  When Mr. McKinney finally looked Mr. Williams in the eyes, Mr. Williams replied politely, “It will take $100,000 to purchase Axtell.” Mr. McKinney’s eyes widened with a brief look of disdain, obviously taking offense to the reply. It was obvious to anyone involved in harness racing, that Axtell was just beginning to make history. Mr. Williams eased the tension with a softer response. “I am sorry, but I am looking forward to racing Axtell this year myself. To be honest with you, I believe my wife would quit talking to me if I sold him.” Mr. McKinney nodded silently to his associate and they moved on.

  The lovely reporter Miss Timms was anxious to talk to Mr. Williams, but there was another man wanting to talk to him. She spoke softly to Mr. Hussey as she waited. “Well, that was certainly interesting. This looks like it will be interesting as well. They’re not wasting any time to steal the glory.” Miss Timms was happy to eaves drop on the activity.

  “Mr. Williams, my name is Alvin Simons,” he held out his hand.

  He shook his hand and replied, “My pleasure, Mr. Simons.”

  “Congratulations on that great exhibition. Absolutely stunnin
g performance,” he said with great excitement.

  “Thank you.”

  “Well, sir, I represent the St. Paul Association. We would like to offer you a purse of $2,000 to race against time at our meeting next week. Would you be so kind as to accept our offer?” As a second thought he added, “Since you are already in the area.”

  Mr. Williams paused for a few seconds, “Yes, we would be honored to attend and race in St. Paul.” Mr. Williams shook his hand, “Axtell will attempt to beat any time you set, sir, thank you.”

  “Thank you very much, sir. It will be our pleasure to host this great event.” He informed Mr. Williams of some specifics and gave him a written invitation.

  After Mr. Simons left, Mr. Hussey and Miss Timms approached Mr. Williams. Mr. Hussey asked, “Are you sure you want to race again so soon? We will be making an appearance at the Fourth of July races, then have to come back here.”

  “I realize that,” he said, “But it is a great opportunity.”

  Miss Timms chuckled and felt a change of subject needed to be done. “Do you realize you have created a feud for the record?”

  “How do you mean?” Mr. Hussey asked as Gilbert joined the congregation.

  “Well,” Miss Timms settled into an excited explanation, “Minneapolis and St. Paul, have been battling for years for bragging rights about horse racing. They are very competitive in money, attendance and records. Obviously St. Paul is going to advertise this race as the race no one will want to miss. And if Axtell beats his own record, St Paul will have bragging rights for a long time. You will probably receive another offer from Minneapolis to beat it again. And it will go on and on.”

  Mr. Williams shook his head, “I guess we will be caught in the middle, a good place for us. But we’ll have to move on after St. Paul.”

  Miss Timms asked, “Would you be able to turn down the amounts they will offer you to continue to try?”

  “It would cut down on travel time,” Mr. Hussey said.