Allerton and Axtell

by Gary Lee Martinson

  The next meeting they attended was August 19th, for the Northwestern Breeder’s Meeting in Chicago. Allerton was racing in a class of 2:35 for a purse of $2,000. Allerton was favored in the race with Victoria Wilkes a distant second. Other horses participating were John W. Poem, and Alric. The odds makers had Allerton at $50, and the rest of the field at $50.

  The first heat was called with Mr. Williams driving Allerton, word was given to start. Poem dashed out to the lead and held it to the distance mark. Allerton kept close with Victoria Wilkes in third ready to make the move as they hit the stretch. Mr. Williams began to drive Allerton and slowly the lead held by Poem melted away. Poem went into a series of breaks, and Allerton beat him at the wire in a time of 2:211/4.

  Before the second heat started, race odds for Allerton’s was $50 and rest of the field $15. Allerton took the lead from the start and was hounded by Poem throughout the race only by breaking into a run to his advantage. He was penalized to third place for the race. Victoria Wilkes was strong and made a play before the stretch. She tired and fell back to finish the race in sixth place.

  The third heat saw no betting as the race was conceded to Allerton. When the word was given, Allerton broke and the entire field had passed him before he settled into a trot completely taken out of the race. John W. held the lead until the stretch when Victoria Wilkes showed her true talent and won in a time of 2:25 ½.

  The fourth heat would surely be Allerton, everyone thought. However, Allerton found himself behind once again to the field throughout the race. It seemed to John Hussey that the other drivers had purposely boxed Allerton from making a move. Mr. Williams later convinced John that he was mistaken. The winner for the heat was John W. in 2:25 ½. Victoria Wilkes took second and Alric third.

  The fifth heat was started with Alric taking the early lead and staying there through the third quarter mark when Allerton found his fleeting gait. It was a tight race down the stretch, Allerton squeezed out the race victory with John W. second and Alric third.

  They stayed in Chicago to attend the Washington Park Stake. Allerton was entered in the 2:27 class race which was the first regular race of the meeting on August 23rd. He was racing against eight other horses for a $2,000 purse.

  Allerton was the favorite with betting going for $25, Elista $20, Bassenger Boy $13, Alric $5 and the rest of the field was, So Long, Silver Cloud, Erin, Glamour and Dixie V were going for $15. Silver Cloud drew the pole for the first heat.

  They were miraculously able to get off on the third score. Bassenger Boy broke immediately when word was given, opening the door for Allerton to take the lead from the start. Allerton trotted strongly and was headed to the wire for the win. Silver Cloud took advantage of her pole position to take second and Elista with a burst down the stretch took third from Dixie V. Surprisingly, before the second heat began, Bassenger Boy showed as the favorite with $25 and Allerton with $20, Elista $15 and the field $8. Bassenger Boy had shown great speed and persistence after he had broke in the first heat.

  The start of the second heat found Allerton strongly in the lead to the first turn. Bassenger Boy brushed to pass Elista on the back stretch and began to creep up on Allerton. As the two horses approached the finish, Bassenger Boy appeared to be taking Allerton, but Mr. Williams urged his horse and Allerton lertched ahead at the wire in 2:21.

  Mr. Williams pushed his colt to do his best race ever in the third heat. Allerton did the first quarter in :35 1/4 the half in 1:10 1/4, a steady trot to the three quarter 1:45. Bassenger Boy ran with him to the three quarter mark. This was an incentive for Mr. Williams to push Allerton to do the last quarter in :33 1/4 to finish the race in 2:18 1/4. This time would have been a new race record time, but a horse named Faust had lowered the race record for three-year-old’s to 2:18 the day before. The crowd cheered for the effort and poise, shown by the great racing horse. His performance in the past few days proved to the racing world he was a great trotter.

  Later that day Axtell appeared in the Stallion Stake at Washington Park. The corrupt races suspected in Chicago made it difficult to insure a clean race. It wasn’t until a man named Jim Graham of Biggsville, Illinois came forward and offered to challenge Axtell with his runner pulling a cart Earl McGregor, by Robert McGregor.

  The first heat went to Axtell in an easy trot of 2:19. The second heat would be trotted with another runner pulling a cart to accompany Axtell for the last half mile of the course. Axtell trotted off the start with a very strong gait. More than one hundred watches were set to record his time so no mistake concerning time could occur. Axtell led through the first quarter in :33 1/4. The colt stayed the course and relentlessly reached the half in 1:07. The running horse started off after the fleeting trotter. Axtell’s pace had slowed slightly through the third quarter mile. Mr. Williams flicked the reins of his colt, pushing him for more speed. The running horse was hard at his heels. The mighty colt sped down the stretch in a most beautiful unwavering speedy gait.

  As the finish closed, the runner pulled head to head with the elegant trotter. Axtell, as proud as he is, breaks at the finish losing at least a quarter or half second off his time. The crowd’s frenzied cheers hushed in disappointment when he broke. The silence was haunting until the timers had posted the time on the board. The crowd cheered when they read the time of 2:14. The three-year-olds’ record had been broken again by the same horse for the third time that season. Mr. Williams was as proud and happy as Gilbert had ever seen him.

  There was the gathering of prominent men at the Vienna Café one morning, just a few days after the Washington Stakes Races. There was Mr. Byron Tabor, Mr. C.E. Purdy, Mr. Z Stout and Mr. Morse. The four businessmen often gathered at the café for breakfast in the morning before opening their businesses.

  Mr. Soener, owner of the Vienna Café, came out of the kitchen. Mr. Purdy asked, “You don’t happen to have today’s newspaper do you?”

  “I have today’s Chicago Tribune, which is actually yesterday’s paper. Will that work?” Mr. Soener said with a big smile on his face. “It has a great article about Axtell.”

  “Yeah,” Mr. Purdy said excitedly, “Let’s have it.”

  Mr. Soener handed him the paper, “I already read it, but I would love to hear it again.” He sat down while holding a cup of coffee.

  The waitress brought over the breakfast ordered by the gentlemen. As she placed the food down, Mr. Purdy spoke up, “Gentlemen from the words of the Chicago Tribune dated August 24th in the year of Eighteen Hundred-Eighty-nine.”

  “Come on Purd’, get on with it.” Mr. Stout said.

  “Yes, please spare the dramatics,” Mr. Morse said.

  Mr. Tabor picked up a basket of muffins and held it out in front of Mr. Purdy just to tantalize him and irritate Mr. Stout and Mr. Morse, “Muffin, before you start.”

  Mr. Purdy thought seriously for a minute about taking a muffin, but once he looked at Mr. Morse and Mr. Stout decided to decline the offer, by waving off the basket.

  Mr. Purdy cleared his throat and began to read, “Axtell, the most wonderful natural trotter ever foaled, added a new wreath to his laurels yesterday by trotting a mile at Washington Park in 2:14, reducing his own and three-year-olds’ record to that figure. It is not likely to be touched by another horse for many a year. It will go on the books as a record made in a race. Such as it is. But all the conditions were those of a “dress parade” mile. The track was especially prepared, no horse was by the colt’s side to carry him wide on the turns, and a runner was at the head of the stretch to sharpen his ambition in the few seconds at the end of a supreme and body-breaking effort.”

  Mr. Purdy took a moment to take a sip of tea. “The runner did this, but spoiled the finish of the superb mile because he was driven up too fast and carried Axtell to a speed break fifty yards from the wire, and in which he passed under it. Had the colt finished at his gait the record of Phallas, Two minutes thirteen and three quart
er seconds made at west side track July thirteenth, eighteen eighty-four would have been equaled.”

  “Or bettered,” Mr Morse added.

  Mr. Purdy coughed before he continued reading, “This leaves Axtell third on the list of Stallions. Only Maxy Cobb’s two minute fourteen and one-quarter seconds, a “Dress Parade” figure, and Phallas at two minutes thirteen and three quarters seconds stand before him.”

  “Wait a minute,” Mr. Morse asked, “Wouldn’t he be ahead of someone with the time of Two fourteen and one quarter.”

  “I don’t know what it means,” Mr. Purdy said.

  “Maybe the answer is in the rest of the piece.” Mr. Stout said hoping to get Mr. Purdy to continue reading.

  Mr. Purdy continued reading the article, “It is only a question of a few weeks when he beats those records. The Washington Park mile is good, but not fast, and such going at Cleveland or Lexington would have given him a mark of two-twelve or two-twelve and one half. It was a noble mile for any horse, and nobler still when it is considered that Axtell is only three years old, and Phallas was seven and Maxy Cobb nine when they made their fastest trips.”

  He cleared his throat before continuing, “The mile was, next to Guy’s two-ten and three quarters, the fastest trotting mile of the season, and goes on the records as the tenth fastest mile ever traveled at the trotting gait. His owner drove him with excellent judgement, and the fast mile was made between two other in two-nineteen and two-twenty and three quarters.

  When the two horses came out for the second heat it was announced that distance had been waived, that a runner would help Axtell from the head of the stretch, and that the colt would, if possible, break his record. Axtell went away true and level on the first score and with Earl McGregor going easily six lengths in front. The colt flashed round the turns close to the poles and a thousand “ups” rang out as he went past the quarter posts in thirty-three seconds at a two-twelve clip. His gait and pace were perfect and the half was a reached in one-o-seven. At this rate the mile would be in two-fourteen.” Mr. Purdy calmly picked up his cup of tea to take a sip.

  Mr. Tabor asked, “Would you like me to continue for you?”

  “I got it,” Mr. Purdy replied as he took one last sip before continuing. “On the first turn leading to the stretch the runner dropped in behind Axtell and he was by the three quarter posts in one-forty-one. This was maintaining the two-fourteen clip. The eye could almost take in the increase of speed as the horse straightened out and down the stretch, and one hundred shouts of “He’ll do it!” were in the air as he went past the lower end of the grandstand. But the runner spoiled the performance in a measure by coming up too fast, fifty yards from the wire Axtell broke and ran in. Many private watches held in the stand told the story of a broken record, but not until the time two-fourteen was hung up from the stand did the big hearty cheer rise up. It was a great one when it came, McGregor trotted an easy and laid up mile, and finished two hundred yards back.”

  “What does that mean?” Mr. Morse asked.

  “I don’t know,” Mr. Purdy answered. The rest of them shook their heads.

  “If he ran in,” Mr. Morse asked, “Wouldn’t that disqualify the race?”

  “It would if the judges felt it benefitted the participant.” Mr. Tabor explained.

  He stopped reading again to take a sip of tea and looked over the rest of the article. “Oh, they have some quotes from Charles here.”

  “Really, let’s hear it,” Mr. Morse said irritated by the pause.

  Mr. Tabor said, “Well let him take a break.”

  “All right,” Mr. Morse pulled out his pocket watch, “I guess we still have time.”

  Mr. Purdy then continued, “After the race. Axtell did not seem greatly distressed, though his quivering legs told of the supreme effort he had made. Williams was quietly jubilant and said, “We can go faster than that,” as he weighed in to round out the record, and walked to the barn to see Axtell cared for. Before Axtell went his fast mile Colonel John W. Conley of this city met C. W. Williams his owner, and asked him to put a price on the colt. “I am not prepared to name a price,” said Williams. “Will you take one-hundred thousand dollars for the colt?” Asked Colonel Conley. “If I were offered one-hundred thousand dollars for him – a positive offer – I would consider it,” answered Williams. “Think the matter over,” said Colonel Conley, “and if you decide to take that amount let me know.” Colonel Conley would not give the name of the principal for whom he acted.”

  Mr. Purdy took a gulp of tea this time as his tea was beginning to cool. Then he took a big bite of muffin.

  “Is that it?” Asked Mr. Stout.

  Mr. Purdy shook his head, then, as he swallowed part of the muffin, he continued. “Axtell’s career has been a most wonderful one. He is a phenomenon. Each time he starts against a record the record goes. He stands fifteen point two and one half hands high, and weighed about one thousand and thirty pounds as he trotted yesterday. He is by William L., dam Lou, by Mambrino Boy, a mare that cost Williams about one hundred eighty-five dollars at the Stout Farm, Dubuque, Iowa. The colt goes as if he likes it, seldom breaks and is full of trot ambition. He wears five ounce shoes in front, and three ounce ones behind, is smooth-gaited and evenly balanced, and a born trotter in disposition and conformation. Before the snow flies this child of the northwest will have made a new stallion record that will live for years to make equine egotists of California and Kentucky jealous. He is likely to make his next start at Hartford next week. His owner is offered a big purse and a perfect track to go against Maxy Cobb’s record there. Mr. Williams had not decided to go last night.”

  Mr. Purdy took another long gulp of tea and another good bite of muffin as the rest of the men sat quietly waiting to hear more. Mr. Purdy continued to look at the paper as if he were preparing to read on. He paused and took another bite of muffin. When he swallowed the last bite of muffin he said, “That was it.” Mr. Stout and Mr. Morse scowled at him, but Mr. Tabor chuckled.

  Mr. Soener looked to the men, “Has anyone heard if he was going to Hartford?”

  “He is on his way back here, I guess.” Mr. Stout said.

  Mr. Tabor pulled out his watch at glanced briefly at it, “Well, I better get going to open up for business.”

  “How has business been, Byron?” asked Mr. Stout.

  “About two-twenty,” he replied indicating that business has been great.

  Mr. Purdy took a bite of his eggs, “Now my eggs are cold.”

  “You should eat faster, instead of reading the newspaper.” Mr. Tabor chuckled out as he got up to leave. The men broke up and went their separate ways to start their business operations for the day.

  The next morning the business men, except Dr. Tabor, found themselves together having breakfast once again. Mr. Soener presented the group with another newspaper. This time it was from the Chicago Herald. He handed it to Byron Tabor while looking at Mr. Purdy. “Maybe you had better read it this time.”.

  “I’ll read it,” volunteered Mr. Morse as he reached for the paper. Mr. Morse purposely reached around Mr. Purdy to grab the paper, to insure that Mr. Purdy would not intercept it. Everyone at the table chuckled including Mr. Purdy. “Thank you.”

  “Read it well,” said Mr. Purdy.

  “The Chicago Herald, August twenty-sixth in the year of eighteen eighty-nine.” Mr. Morse read with a smile and the group chuckled once again. “Allerton and his stable companion, the mighty Axtell, did much to make the meeting of the Northwestern Breeders’ Association, just closed at Washington Park, the great success it has proved. In fact they were the life and spirit of the show. While Axtell’s record of two-fourteen in a race may not stand, yet he will keep the mark until,” he paused a second, “well, he lowers it, of course, as he is bound to do some time in the future. Mr. Williams has not decided whether he will make another effort this fall to further reduce his rec
ord, but the presumption is he will.”

  He stopped reading long enough to say, “Should I put more feeling in this oration.”

  “Sure,” Mr. Purdy said, “why not.”

  Dr. Tabor walked into the Café and made his way to the table of men. He noticed that Mr. Morse had the newspaper stuck in front of his face ready to begin reading again. “Are we reading another article about our esteemed horse?”

  “Yes,” said Mr. Stout.

  “I see that Purdy’s been fired from the reading job.”

  Mr. Purdy spoke up in his own defense. “I didn’t read that bad. A man is entitled to a break once in awhile, isn’t he?”

  “It’s all right, my son told me all about it.” Dr. Tabor said, “I was very impressed to hear that you could read.” The men all chuckled.

  Mr. Morse then continued to read with more ambition, “From what could be learned, he will participate in the fall meeting of the Kentucky Breeders, Association, as he did last year, when it will fair to predict all the stallions records will be wiped out.”

  “I couldn’t get you to start over, could I?” Dr. Tabor asked unseriously.

  The response came quick and in unison from everyone at the table including his son Byron, “No!”

  Mr. Morse then continued, “This winter Axtell will be limited to thirty mares at one-thousand dollars each, for he is to trot next year. His book is already full or nearly full. It was only last week that Mr. Williams refused a check for five-thousand dollars to serve ten of the finest mares in Kentucky, and without insuring their foal-getting at that. Allerton will also stand for a short season at five-hundred dollars for service. The fact has never been made known before that hundreds of Iowa people visited Washington Park on the days that Axtell and Allerton trotted. They nearly went beside themselves with joy over their performances. These two phenomenal colts were bred, broken, trained and have been driven by an Iowan. Mr. Williams’ home is at Independence, Iowa, and the people for hundreds of miles around fairly worship the two animals.”