1 
 
THE 
 
 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK 
 
 SKETCHES OF THE DIFFERENT BREEDS 
 OF VERMONT HORSES . 
 
 By ALLEN W. THOMPSON 
 
» 
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2009 with funding from 
 
 Boston Library Consortium IVIember Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/horsesofwoodstocOOthom 
 
OLD GREEN MOUNTAN MORGAN (HALE'S). 
 
 Ch. li., bred by Nathaniel Whitcomb, Stockbridge, Vt. Foaled 1834; sire, Old Gifford Morgan 
 (Wier's). Died 1862. 
 
 \_E}igraving locincd by yoJin H. JVal/ace, Esq., Ed. " Wallace's l\Io>ithlyy\ 
 
THE 
 
 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK 
 
 WITH 
 
 SKETCHES OF THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OF 
 VERMONT HORSES 
 
 BY 
 
 ALLEN W. THOMPSON 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 CAMBRIDGE 
 
 ^rintcti at tJjc I5i)jcr^itie ^re^^ 
 
 1887 
 
Copyright, 1887, 
 By ALLEN W. THOMPSON. 
 
 The Riverside Press, Cambridge: 
 Electrotyped and Printed by H. 0. Houghton & Co. 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 As far back as we have the h istory of the horse, he has played an im- 
 portaut part in the welfare of man, whether in the time of peace or 
 war. Almost a companion with some, a pet and idol with many. When 
 the most of the horses of the country were down with the great epizootic 
 of 1872 ; when the streets of the cities were blockaded as it were with 
 , all kinds of merchandise ; when mail-carriers had to carry the mails on 
 their backs, — then all could see, realize, and appreciate the value of the 
 horse to man. It would have been well if some of the past generations 
 had told more in regard to his good traits and qualities. The Arab 
 takes pride in claiming that his horse traces in his breeding to the stud 
 of Solomon. Though it is not true, it shows that he realizes the value 
 of blood and the quality of his horse. In the history of the settle- 
 ments of nations, cities, and towns much is said as to the first settlers, 
 but scarcely anything of their domestic animals. This is not right ; it is 
 selfish. Yet the horse is spoken of more in history than any of the 
 other domestic animals, and it shows a little how he has been regarded. 
 Now, when we have blood cattle, sheep, and hogs, as well as blood 
 horses and pure-bred fowls of all kinds, each should have their share 
 of praise. Yet the horse will, for some time to come, receive the lion's 
 share. 
 
 It is well known that the soil and climate have much to do with pro- 
 ducing poor or fine animals. It is said of Vermont that she is noted for 
 producing fine horses as well as great men ; that her horses are much 
 sought for in the markets, on account of their tough, wiry, enduring 
 constitutions and their fine style and make. This makes it desirous to 
 know more as to the first horses of Vermont, their breeding and origin. 
 The first settlers of the State came from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, 
 Connecticut, and New Hampshire, and they took with them their horses 
 and other stock. From Rhode Island was introduced the blood of the 
 Narragansett pacer ; from the valley of the Connecticut, the thorough- 
 bred English horse. At this time the English thoroughbred had been 
 quite largely bred in the Connecticut Valley. A number of the purest 
 blood had been imported from England, and quite a number from New 
 
2 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 York, New Jersey, and Virginia. The Barb horse Ranger was imported 
 to New London, Conn., about 1765. He was kept at Hartford and 
 vicinity for several years. Was at first a dapple gray fifteen hands high, 
 and of the finest form, symmetry, and finish. His great value was that 
 his descendants inherited in a marked degree his rare qualities. It is 
 admitted that he was the best Arabian ever taken to America. There is 
 quite a story as to his origin, and how it was that he was taken to Con- 
 necticut. It may be and it may not be true. The ridges on his legs 
 show that they were broken, and it may have been the cause of his 
 being taken to this country. The reason of his being taken to Virginia 
 shows his great value as a stock horse. It was at the siege of Boston 
 that the attention of Washington, his officers and staff, was attracted 
 by the superior horses that composed the cavalry from the Valley of the 
 Connecticut. Upon inquiry it was found that they were mostly by an 
 Arabian horse called Ranger. This caused the Virginians to believe 
 that Ranger would improve their horses at home, and, through the advice 
 of Washington and Lee, Captain Lindsey was sent to see and buy the 
 horse, if he thought best. This he did, and took him to Virginia. The 
 thoroughbred mares of Virginia and Maryland were largely bred to him, 
 and the cross is highly prized in the racer. In Virginia, Ranger was 
 known as Lindsey's Arabian. 
 
 There was a large number of young Rangers kept and advertised in 
 the Connecticut Valley, and it is known that one or more of them was 
 taken to Vermont. One was kept at Stowe and Morristown, owned by 
 a Mr. Stewart, a counterfeiter. He said he was never afraid of the offi- 
 cers catching him if he could get the start of them on his horse. The 
 horse General Putnam rode down the declivity of one hundred steps, 
 when he escaped from the British, was by Ranger, One writer states 
 that Washington's celebrated gray charger was, too. This must be con- 
 sidered doubtful, unless Washington obtained him when at Boston, or 
 soon after. Some writers have claimed, because the northern part of 
 Vermont bordered Canada, her first horses must have been largely of 
 French or Canadian origin. It can be seen how absurd this claim is 
 from the fact that the southern part of the State was first settled, and 
 by settlers from the South, who took their horses with them. As the 
 southern part became settled, the settlers pressed North from the South. 
 The southern towns were settled fifty years earlier than the northern 
 towns. The border towns of Canada were mostly settled by settlers 
 from Vermont. 
 
 In the first settling of the country, horses could only be used as beasts 
 of burden. The settlers in breaking into the wilderness, unless by the 
 side of large rivers, could go but a short distance, as there were no 
 roads, only the paths of the wild beasts and the red man, and the lined 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. o 
 
 trees marked by the hunter and woodman. Another reason why they 
 could not go far from the borders of civilization was, that they must be 
 near a market. The first few settlers of many of the towns of Vermont 
 had no horses at first ; they came into the State on foot. They knew, 
 before they could have the horse, something must be raised and provided 
 for. When this was accomplished, then the horse was procured. The 
 horse then wanted was the one the easiest to ride, as there were no wagons 
 and but few roads ; the one that was the surest-footed, that was the safest 
 to get over the rough, bad routes they had. The people were poor, and 
 could not at first enjoy the luxury of the saddle, so the horse wanted 
 must have a good wide back ; no rail-backed horse was warrted. In the 
 winter the good roads on the snow and the cold weather made it more 
 pleasant to ride behind the horse on the sled than on his back. After 
 a while the rich substituted the pung for the sled : this was considered 
 a little aristocratic. Woolen blankets were used instead of "buffalo 
 robes." Now the sled and pung have given way to the sleigh, and it 
 is hard to say what the sleigh will give way to. 
 
 Though the horses of the eastern and western part of the State had 
 a common origin, their type and characteristics did not continue the 
 same. The western part of the State borders on New York, and this 
 caused many of the inhabitants to do their marketing at Troy and Al- 
 bany. Horses were taken to New York, and furthermore horses were 
 brought from New York to the western part of Vermont, and it caused 
 the horses of the two sections to be somewhat alike. 
 
 The first important cross upon the horses of the western part of the 
 State was from a son of imported Messenger, called Bishop Hamble- 
 tonian. He was foaled on Long Island in 1806 ; he was a bay, fifteen 
 and a half hands high, and weighed about eleven hundred pounds ; had 
 quite a reputation as a racer. He was taken to Granville, N. Y., in 1822, 
 and there kept, with the exception of two or three seasons, until his death, 
 which was in 1834. Some of the seasons he was kept part of the time 
 at Pawlet, Wells, Poultney, and Burlington, Vt. The Hambletonian 
 blood was largely bred and highly prized. It gave size and speed, but 
 with this there was often a coarseness and a lack of style and beauty. 
 The cross is highly valued in the pedigree of the trotters. But few 
 Hambletonian horses were taken across the mountain to the eastern part 
 of the State, so that, comparatively speaking, the blood was not bred 
 on the eastern side of the mountain ; yet, wherever it was, it did leave 
 quite an impression in transmitting speed. The Morgan blood was the 
 first cross upon the horses in the eastern part of the State, and so popu- 
 lar was it that at one time nearly all the horses of the eastern part could 
 be called Morgans. Their popularity commenced about 1820, and it 
 continued until 1860 ; then the dema.nd was for horses having more size 
 
4 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 and speed. Had the Morgan horses been bred to average in weight 
 ten hundred and fifty pounds, and fifteen and a half hands in height, 
 the demand for them must have always been great. It was their small 
 size that cost them their popularity (there were too many small ones). 
 They were not bred at first to any extent upon the west side of the 
 mountain. The Morrills seemed to be what the market demanded, and 
 they have been largely crossed upon the Morgans. The Morrills, prop- 
 erly speaking, are a branch of the Morgans, as their founder, Old Mor- 
 rill, traces on his sire's side to Bulrush Morgan. Yet the characteristics 
 of the two classes of horses ai'e very different every way. The Morrills 
 are more rangy, larger made, and have more speed than the true Mor- 
 gan ; their manes and tails are not as full ; nor do they have the style, 
 spirit, and endurance of the Morgans proper. Their founder. Old Mor- 
 rill, was bred in Walden, Vt., foaled in 1843, was a black, sixteen hands 
 high, and weighed at times thirteen hundred pounds. He was kept the 
 most of the time at Danville, Vt., and died there in 1862. The first 
 cross upon the Hambletonians was the Black Hawk cross. Old Black 
 Hawk, the founder of the family that takes his name, was bred and 
 raised in Durham, N. H. ; was foaled in 1833 ; was taken to Lowell, 
 Mass., when five years old, where he was owned by Benjamin Thurston 
 until 1844, when he was purchased by David Hill, of Bridport, Vt,, 
 who took him to Bridport and there kept him until his death, which 
 was in December, 1856. His being owned so long in Vermont gave 
 him his name, Vermont Black Haw k. He was called, when Hill owned 
 him. Old Black Hawk, Hill's Black Hawk, and Morgan Black Hawk. 
 Black Hawk was a jet black, not quite fifteen hands high, and weighed 
 about nine hundred and fifty pounds. He was a very smooth, fine-made, 
 handsome horse ; was stylish and fine driving, and was considered fast 
 in his day. He was largely patronized at Bridport, and had the greatest 
 reputation of any horse of his day. He was a remarkable preponent 
 sire, and stamped his characteristics in a marked degree on his progeny. 
 The Black Hawk cross gave beauty and style, with speed ; many of his 
 sons were from fifteen and a half to sixteen hands high, and weighed 
 from eleven hundred to twelve hundred pounds. The Black Hawks were 
 not bred to any extent on the east side of the mountain; one of the 
 sons. Captain Lightfoot, was kept at Bethel in 1854, and sired that sea- 
 son the dam of Draco Prince ; blk. h. rec. 2.24J. Rattler (Bigart's) left 
 some stock in the southern part of the State. "Was foaled at Danlw, 
 Vt., in 1844 ; was a bay, fifteen and three-quarter hands high, and 
 weighed eleven hundred and fifty pounds. He won the stallion race 
 on Long Island in 1850, in straight heats, best time 2.46. He resem- 
 bled the Hambletonians, as he had one or more crosses of Hambletonian 
 and Messenger blood, though his sire was Sir Henry, grandson of the 
 Garret horse, and he by Leonidas. 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 5 
 
 The Columbus blood had something of a run on the west side of the 
 mountain. Old Columbus, the founder of the family, was a French 
 horse taken from Canada to Bakersfield, Vt., about 1842 ; from there he 
 was taken to Massachusetts, and in 1854 to Orwell, Vt. He was a 
 chestnut with white feet and a white face, fifteen hands high, and 
 weighed one thousand pounds ; was a converted pacer and was fast. 
 His blood has given speed, but not beauty or style. The Columbuses 
 are not free, good drivers or roadsters. 
 
 The next cross was the Ethau Allen. He was kept several years at 
 Shoreham, Vt., as was his great-son Daniel Lambert. The Ethan Allen 
 and Daniel Lambert blood has been and is very popular. It has given 
 beauty, style, and finish, with great speed. They are free, pleasant, 
 fine roadsters and drivers ; yet there is too often a lacking of size among 
 the Ethan Aliens and Lamberts, which should be rectified by a cross of 
 some larger strain of trotting blood. A number of sons and grandsons 
 of Rysdyk's Hambletonian have been brought into the State, both in 
 the eastern and western part, and have been quite largely bred from ; 
 some were used as early as 1870. It is hard to say now what the re- 
 sult of the cross will be. In some instances expectations have not been 
 realized. 
 
 The Clay blood has not been bred to any extent in Vermont. Bal- 
 lard's Cassius M. Clay 54 is the only one of note that has been used. 
 He was foaled in 1854, at Contoocookville, Hopkinton, N. H. ; sire, 
 Jones's 1st Cassius M. Clay, by old Cassius M. Clay 18; dam by a 
 pacing horse that came from Maine. "Was bred and was owned at one 
 time by President Pierce. One account is that he was bred by Judge 
 Perkins. Was purchased in 1859 by Jones & Ballard, and taken to 
 Hartford, Vt., where he was kept until his death, which was in 1878. 
 He was a dark mahogany bay with star, fifteen and three-quarter hands 
 high, and weighed over eleven hundred pounds ; rec. 2.37. He was 
 largely used, and proved a valuable cross for the Morgan and Morrill 
 mares. Four of his get are in the 2.30 list, and quite a number have 
 trotted in 2.40, or better. The mares by him have proved very pre- 
 potent in transmitting speed. Lady Barefoot, rec. 2.26J, dam, was by 
 him, and the dams of several of the fast ones. ' 
 
 Thus briefly have been stated the facts, from the beginning to the pres- 
 ent time, as to the horses of Vermont, and they can apply in a general 
 sense to the horses of the different towns of the State. 
 
 This fact can be understood, that many of the noted horses have been 
 kept in a certain section, so that their progeny for a time is the most 
 numerous in the section where they have been kept ; for instance, the 
 Justin Morgan was kept several years at Randolph, Harris Hamble- 
 tonian at Bristol, Old Morrill at Danville, Black Hawk at Bridport, 
 
6 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 Ethan Allen and Lambert at Shoreham, Ballard's Cassius M. Clay at 
 Hartford, and Woodstock at Woodstock. 
 
 The inference is plain, that the stock of the horses named was, at 
 first, the most numerous in the towns where they were kept ; yet it does 
 not always remain so, as more or less of it is sold and taken away, and, 
 too, it is allowed to die out. 
 
 Much interest is felt at the present time in regard to the horse Old 
 Papineau, which was brought from Canada to Vermont about the year 
 1833, kept at Danville and Groton till about 1838, and then taken to 
 New Hampshire. This renewed interest in Old Papineau has been 
 called out from the fact, learned the present year (1887), that Taggart's 
 Abdallah 16 traces to him on his sire's side. Farmer's Beauty, the sire 
 of Abdallah 16, was purchased by David M. Taggart, of Goffstown, N. 
 H., at Wells River, Vt., in 1845. Taggart states that at the time of the 
 purchase he was told the horse was bred and raised at Wells River 
 by Dr. Thatcher from the doctor's celebrated mare, afterwards sold in 
 Boston. It has been ascertained, however, that Farmer's Beauty was 
 raised at Groton, Vt., by Dr. Horatio W. Heath, and was foaled in 1839 
 or 1840. After the death of Dr. Heath, the horse, then called simply 
 Beauty, was sold to Alden G. Heath, of Topsham, Vt., who sold him in 
 1845 to E.Baldwin, of Wells River. Very soon after the purchase, 
 Baldwin disposed of him to D. M. Taggart. Farmer's Beauty, as Mr. 
 Taggart called him, was sired by J. J. Peck's Young Papineau ; dam. 
 Dr. Heath's mare, — a large bay mare of great endurance as a roadster; 
 breeding unknown, though called a Morgan mare. Young Papineau 
 was the son of Old Papineau ; dam, a chestnut by Young Bulrush or 
 One Eye. 
 
 Very little is known as to the first horses that were taken to Wood- 
 stock. It is remembered that, when Ephraim Brewster moved into 
 town, he drove a yoke of cattle, and his wife rode a horse, with one child 
 before and one behind. No description of the horse is given. It is 
 known, too, that Dr. Stephen Powers, in 1774, rode a horse to Middle- 
 borough, Mass., and it is stated he assisted in caring for the wounded 
 after the battle of Bunker Hill. 
 
 As the first settlers came mostly from Middleborough and Salem, 
 Mass., and Lyme, Conn,, it is understood that the first horses of Wood- 
 stock came from those places. Lyme lies on the Connecticut and joins 
 New London, where a large number of the blood-horses that have been 
 brought to this country were imported. It has been stated Ranger, or 
 Lindsley Arabian, was imported there. It is safe to infer that some of 
 the thoroughbred horses that were taken to New London were kept at 
 Lyme, and that the horses that were taken from Lyme to Woodstock 
 were some of their descendants. 
 
"V. 
 
 WOODSTOCK, 873. 
 
 Blk. h., bred by Mr. Rider, Topsham, Vt. Foaled 1S57; sire, Young Morrill, iiS; dam, a graymare. 
 Quicksilver blood. Record 2.40. Died August, 1877. 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 7 
 
 From 1725 to the breaking out of the Revolution there was much 
 more racing done in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island than 
 has been recorded. The feelings of our strict Puritan fathers were 
 against it, which is why so little has been said or is known in regard to 
 the practice. Yet their own sons very often indulged in the pleasures 
 of the race, as is ascertained from some old letters and notes written at 
 the time, which have come down to the present day. 
 
 The pleasures and amusements of a people have to be given up in 
 war, and it was so during the Revolution. The war absorbed the whole 
 thoughts and energies of the people. "When it was over and things re- 
 sumed their usual course, then the pleasures that had been laid aside 
 were in part indulged in again. It is understood that some of the first 
 settlers of Vermont, before removing to the State, had something to do 
 with the race, and that, when circumstances favored, the old pastime 
 was revived. The exact year they commenced racing horses at Wood- 
 stock is not stated ; but as it was a central place for the people of the 
 adjoining towns to come to before it became the county seat in 1787, it 
 is safe to say racing was taken up soon after peace was declared. The 
 reason why there was more of this sport going on at Woodstock than at 
 many of the other towns was, that it was something of a hub or center 
 for the people to come to. The street now called River Street was the 
 race-course. The horses were started near Mr. Myers's house, and ran up 
 the river as far as the schoolhouse. The length of the race-course was 
 about equal to the distance by the road between the two lower bridges. 
 Eighty rods was the distance most generally run then in Vermont^ 
 The races were mostly scrub races, and the stakes the drinks for the 
 crowd, which was not large. No time was taken, so it is not known how 
 fast they ran. But two horses were started, and there was more or less 
 of it done as late as 1835. The following are the facts as to one of the 
 races. One who will be called Mr. A was so confident that his horse 
 was the fastest that he offered to bet one dollar and a gallon of rum that 
 his horse would beat the crowd. The offer was taken, and Mr. A's 
 horse was beaten. It is supposed that most of the races run were very 
 similar to the one described. Some may ask, What benefit was the 
 racing ? The benefit was that it improved the speed, the endurance, 
 and quality of the horses. It brought in a better class of horses, higher 
 and better bred. Every one could see what horses had the most speed 
 and bottom, and these were the ones which must have been mostly bred 
 from, as it is plain to every one that, to improve a race of domestic ani- 
 mals, the best must be bred from. The old files of Spooner's " Vermont" 
 Journal " show a large number of horses advertised to stand at Wood- 
 stock. Every one can see how valuable the advertisements are now, and 
 how much more they would be if among the number there could be found 
 
8 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 y 
 
 one of a horse that was kept at Woodstock from 1798 to 1800, — a horse 
 that proved the most remarkable and famous ever owned in Vermont. 
 If the facts known about him then could have been put into an adver- 
 tisement, it would have saved much trouble and discussion as to his ori- 
 "gih and blood. The horse meant was " the Just^ Morgan," the original 
 Morgan horse, the founder of the race of horses called Morgans. All 
 agree that he was owned by William Rice, of Woodstock, during the 
 time named. F. A. Wier, of Walpole, N. H., who spent much time in 
 looking up the facts in regard to the Morgan horses, states, in a letter 
 that was published in the January number of the "Albany Cultivator" 
 for 1846, that Justin Morgan was on a visit to William Rice's, having 
 his horse with him ; that he was taken sick, and died there ; that shortly 
 before his death the horse was made over to Mr. Rice as security for the 
 expense of Mr. Morgan's sickness. The records of the probate office 
 at Randolph rather show this, as they show that there was no horse ap- 
 praised with Mr. Morgan's property. There was a saddle, bridle, and 
 whip. It shows strongly that the horse had passed out of the hands of 
 Mr. Morgan at the time of his death. 
 
 Mr. Morgan advertised the Figure Horse, the seasons of 1793 and 1794, 
 to stand at Randolph, Lebanon, and Royalton. The age, color, or size 
 of the horse is not given in the advertisements, but they state that he is 
 from near Hartford, Conn. These advertisements were not discovered 
 until 1878. It is claimed now by some that the Figure Horse was " the 
 Justin Morgan," from the fact that recent investigations show that " the 
 Justin Morgan" was taken to Randolph in 1791, instead of 1795 as first 
 stated. The year 1795 was given from the memory, the recollections of 
 several, some fifty years after the event took place ; though some said 
 that it was earlier than 1795. It is nothing strange a mistake was made 
 in the year, under the circumstances, as they had no dates to refer to. 
 Mr. Morgan broke up keeping house in 1793, and had no grand list at 
 Randolph after 1794. It was understood he had the horse when he was 
 keeping house. < John Morgan stated that he was living at West Spring- 
 field, Mass., when Justin Morgan got the two-year-old colt ; that he was 
 sired by a horse called True Briton ; that he, John Morgan, kept two 
 seasons, and that he kept True Briton the season that he sired Mr. Justin 
 Morgan's colt. John Morgan's advertisements for True Briton have 
 been recently found, and they show he kept the horse the seasons of 
 
 1788 and 1789, and it was understood the colt was sired the first season. 
 This shows that "the Justin Morgan," instead of being foaled in 1793 
 and taken to Randolph in 1795, as was first stated, was in fact foaled in 
 
 1789 and taken to Randolph in 1791. 
 
 Another mistake was made as to Mr. Morgan's horses. When he 
 took the colt to Vermont, he took another one too, that was called, fifty 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 9 
 
 years after, a three-year-old gelding colt. Recent investigations show- 
 that the three-year-old gelding was a four-year-old bay colt, or stallion, 
 and was the horse that he advertised as the Figure Horse. Mr. Mor- 
 gan's two brothers, Caleb and Stephen, and his sister Eunice, lived at 
 Randolph when he did. His sister was a widow. Her name was Wil- 
 liams, and she had a son and daughter. When Mr. Morgan was on his 
 way home with the colts from Springfield, he stopped all night with his 
 sister, who lived about a mile from the center of Randolph, towards the 
 East Branch. The next morning Mr. Morgan went over to Mr. Moul- 
 ton's, his sister's near neighbor, and had him and his son Jude Moulton 
 come over and see the colts. They were shown a four-year-old bay 
 stallion. They did not notice the little one until Mr. Morgan called 1 
 their attention to him. They then saw what they called a little runt of U 
 a colt that did not look to be worth ten dollars, and so told him. Mr. 
 Morgan tapped the colt on the shoulder, and said, " A good deal there, 
 sir ; a good deal there, sir." This incident has been handed down in 
 I Mr. Moulton's family, as Jude Moulton married Mrs. Williams's daugh- 
 ' ter, and his sons and grandsons and others have often heard him re- 
 late it. 
 
 There is some interest felt in Mr. Morgan's four-year-old bay stallion, 
 the Figure Horse, as it is understood that Mr. Rice took him to Wood- 
 stock. This appears from a statement given of a horse in D. P. Thomp- 
 son's " History of the Town of Montpelier." He says (p. 91) : "Jona- 
 than Shepard built the first blacksmith shop in Montpelier village. Some 
 years after, he sold out his shop and custom to James Hawkins, taking 
 Mr. Hawkins's farm, and letting Hawkins have, too, the first Morgan horse 
 ever known in Vermont or elsewhere." In a note at the bottom of the 
 page he states: "Mr. Shepard is still living [this was in 1860], and his 
 ' statement is that he purchased the horse of a man in Woodstock for 
 about two hundred dollars, a very large price at that time. The man in 
 Woodstock had the horse of one Justin Morgan, a man of that section, 
 who reared him from a colt. Mr. Shepard states from his own knowl- 
 edge that Justin Morgan owned the mare that brought the colt ; that she 
 was a great traveler ; that he [Morgan] had driven her to Canada, 
 where he had relatives, in a day, the distance being seventy miles ; that 
 it was on one of these visits that the colt was sired by a common Cana- 
 dian stallion ; and that it was from this colt growing up and being kept 
 at Randolph and other places, that the whole race of the noted Vermont 
 Morgan horses originated." 
 
 The town records of Montpelier show that Mr. Shepard's deed of Mr. 
 j Hawkins's farm was dated February 14, 1797. This shows that the 
 I horse was not " the Justin Morgan," as Mr. Morgan had the horse at 
 j that time. Mr. Shepard's son, George C, now of Montpelier, says h^ 
 
10 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 has often heard his father speak of getting the horse of a man in Wood- 
 stock, but cannot now remember the name of the man his father said he 
 had the horse of. Being asked if the name Rice sounded like the name 
 his father gave, he said it did. He said he did not think his father kept 
 the horse more than a year. It is supposed " the Justin Morgan " sired 
 stock when owned by Mr. Rice. It is stated he ran one race on the 
 race-course when in Mr. Rice's hands, and won. 
 
 The horse was taken through Woodstock by his owner, Mr. Goss, of 
 Randolph, the season of 1807, when he made a short season at Clare- 
 mont, N. H. The horse was kept at Woodstock part of the season of 
 J.813, at Mr. Taylor's hotel. 
 
 The Blazing Star blood had something of a run, and there are horses 
 now in Woodstock that have a cross of the blood in their pedigree. 
 Blazing Star was bred and raised by William Bridge, of South Wood- 
 stock ; foaled, 1813. His sire was a large bay horse, said to be of Eng- 
 lish and Dutch blood, and is believed to be the horse advertised as Slow 
 and Easy in the " Woodstock Observer," the seasons of 1822 and 1823, 
 by Simon Smith of Hartland. The advertisement states the horse drew 
 the premium at the Windsor County Fair in 1822 ; that his sire was 
 the noted horse Traveller, owned by Charles West, of Providence, 
 R. I. ; grandsire, imported Old Traveller ; Slow and Easy's dam, a bay, 
 full-blood Dutch mare, known by the name of Slow and Easy, bred by 
 Judge Vanderloop of New York, and purchased of him by Charles 
 West for three hundred dollars. 
 
 Blazing Star's dam was a very fine black English mare that was 
 often ridden on the parade. Her son took her color, had a white stripe in 
 the face that gave him his name, was about 15;^ hands high, and weighed 
 a little over one thousand pounds. Was a very muscular, fine-acting 
 horse, resembling in his style and actions the Morgans, as did his stock. 
 Mr. Bridge sold him when three years old, for two hundred and fifty 
 dollars. His new owners, thinking to improve the looks of the horse, 
 had his large handsome tail cut off. When the horse got up with it off, 
 and it was seen how it hurt his looks, his owner said he would give fifty 
 dollars to have it back. The horse was often ridden at musters and 
 trainings, was taken to Canada, and back. One of his sons was kept 
 for stock, owned by Sullivan Cady, — a brown, and not as large as 
 his sire. Some claim that the dam of Dorsey, Green Mountain Black 
 Hawk, was Blazing Star blood. She was owned by Mr, Fletcher, South 
 Woodstock. 
 
 It was about 1814 that the horse Tally-ho was taken to Woodstock, 
 from Connecticut, by a Mr. Dyer. The horse was an imported Norfolk 
 trotter, and must be the one recorded in the first volume of the " Trot- 
 ting Register." It states: "Tally-ho was foaled in 1791 by Sportsman ; 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 11 
 
 dam by Papist. Imported in 1793 ; stood in several of the Hudson 
 River counties." Jacob Boyce, of Woodstock, traded for the horse, but 
 he soon became afraid of him, and traded him to William Hutchinson, of 
 Pomfret. Tally-ho vfas a handsome mahogany bay, with black points ; 
 off hind-foot partly white ; mane and tail full ; fifteen hands high, and 
 weighed one thousand pounds. Was a high-headed, handsome, well- 
 made horse, with great muscular power and fine trotting action, and had 
 speed, which his stock inherited. Tally-ho was owned by Mr. Hutchin- 
 son as long as he lived; died in 1820 or 1822 ; was largely patronized. 
 His colts were all bays and natural trotters, and many were fast. A 
 number of his sons were kept for stock ; one called Young Tally-ho. 
 He was larger than his sire, and had great speed. His dam was ridden 
 by Colonel Dana in the war of 1812. 
 
 It was a mistake letting the Tally-ho blood die out in the male line, 
 as it was trotting blood. Imported Bellfounder was a Norfolk trotter. 
 The great popularity of the Morgan blood was the cause, as all other 
 classes of horses had to give way for a while to the Morgans. The 
 Walker horse, or Morgan Tally-ho, was one of the best stock horses 
 ever owned in the State. His dam was by Tally-ho, as was also the dam 
 of the fast-trotting gelding raised by Isaiah Lee of Hartland, Vt. He 
 was the fastest trotter in the county. He was taken to New York, and 
 made a very fast trotter. Was sold for two thousand dollars. It is be- 
 lieved that the old trotter Ripton, that was the champion of the trotting- 
 course in 1842, was the Isaiah Lee horse. The Walker horse sired 
 many fast ones. When the mare that was bred to him had speed or was 
 of trotting blood, the produce was sure to have speed. 
 
 Several of the most noted of the Morgan horses have been kept at 
 
 Woodstock. First, as has been stated, " the Justin M organ ; " next, his 
 most popular son, Woodbury, made several seasons at Woodstock, the 
 last one in 1830, when the price was ten dollars the season. Woodbury's 
 best son, Old Gifford, made several seasons at Woodstock, as did his 
 famous son Old Green Mountain. His last seasons were in 1850, 1851, 
 and 1862, when the price was twenty-five dollars to warrant. The 
 horses named were great parade horses, and were often ridden at the 
 musters held on Mower's meadow. Major Charles Dana, Jr., rode Old 
 Gifford at one of them. 
 
 At one of the musters when Woodbury was ridden, the big Jersey colt 
 and one of his sons were, too. The two last rather took the attention at 
 first, on account of their black color and great size, they standing sixteen 
 hands high, and weighing fourteen hundi-ed pounds ; but before night it 
 was seen Old Woodbury outlasted them in style, spirit, and action. The 
 fact that the Morgan horses named made several seasons at Woodstock, 
 and that their sons and daughters were largely bred from, shows that the 
 
V 
 
 12 
 
 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 horses of Woodstock were once very strong of the Morgan blood. Some 
 could have been called inbred Morgans, as they inherited several crosses 
 of the blood, and this may be the cause why Woodstock has not the 
 ' credit of raising one of the 2.30 horses. The true Morgan horse is one 
 of great spirit, life, and endurance ; a great roadster, and all-day horse ; 
 but his form and shape are such that he cannot go fast for a mile, and, 
 with his lack of size, has caused his popularity to set. The demand has 
 been, since 1860, for larger, more rangy horses, with more speed ; and 
 now, where once they nearly all were Morgan sires, there are but few 
 that trace to Woodbury. 
 
 The best one of the Walker horse's sons was the Ransom horse, and 
 he was one of the best, if not the best one, ever raised in Woodstock. 
 He was bred by Elder Jacob Holt ; foaled about 1839. His dam was a 
 Hambletonian mare brought from Washington County, New York, about 
 1835, when two years old, by Marshall My rick. She was a large, rangy, 
 brown mare, a fast trotter, and went in fine style. Her son rather in- 
 herited her color, form, style, and travel. He was sixteen hands high, 
 and weighed eleven hundred pounds. Daniel Ransom bought the horse 
 when six years old, but his value was not realized or appreciated ; for 
 about 1849 he was sold for a song to Dr. Bissell, a peddler of medicine, 
 and his great worth lost to the horse-breeders of Woodstock. His value 
 has been since discovered by the prices his colts have brought on account 
 of their speed, and the value of his daughters as brood mares. This could 
 have been known at first, as he inherited two crosses of trotting blood, 
 the Tally-ho and the Hambletonian. His sire, the Walker horse, was by 
 the Moulton horse, a son of Bulrush. When a horse inherits two or 
 more crosses of trotting-blood, he is sure to transmit speed. The Jerome 
 Cox horse was by the Ransom horse ; dam, Blazing Star blood ; foaled, 
 1849 ; resembled his sire ; not quite as large ; left excellent stock, but 
 was not any more appreciated than was his sire. 
 
 It was in the fall of 1855 that George Harpin took to Woodstock a 
 horse that he called the French Prendergast ; called also the Harpin 
 horse, or Young St. Lawrence. Mr. Harpin purchased the horse in Can- 
 ada; foaled about 1850; sired by the Old St. Lawrence; dam called 
 Morgan blood. The horse was a sorrel, fifteen and three fourths hands 
 high, and weighed over eleven hundred pounds ; was a good traveler, 
 and could trot close to 2.50. He was kept at Woodstock and vicinity 
 until 1860 ; was then taken to St. Louis, Mo., where his sire had stood 
 at two hundred dollars the season. Draco stood near him the season of 
 1861, but the Harpin horse drew the most patronage. He left excellent 
 stock at Woodstock. Some trotted better than three minutes, were sold 
 for a large price and taken away, and nothing more was known of them. 
 He sired the dam of Susie Taylor, one of the most promising trotters 
 
HORSES OF AVOODSTOCK. 
 
 10 
 o 
 
 ever raised in "Woodstock. She was by the Pinney horse, a son of Old 
 Green Mountain. The Pinney horse left excellent stock. 
 
 About the year 1860 the family of horses called Morrllls began tcT 
 attract attention. Their large size and fast way of going seem to indi- 
 cate that they were the horses the market demanded. Though they; 
 trace back on the sire side to " the Justin Morgan," and are classed as 
 Morgans, they have inherited so many out crosses that they are a very : 
 different type of horses, not having the form, style, spirit, and action of , 
 the true Morgans. It is mostly through Young Morrill that the Merrills { 
 have obtained the reputation in which they are held. He was a remark- ' 
 ably fine horse, and he transmitted his good qualities to his stock. Draco, 
 his best son, was kept at Royalton the season of 1859. His large size and 
 fast way of going caused something of a feeling for the Merrills. One of 
 Draco's sons was kept several seasons at Woodstock, called Young Draco, \ 
 or the Henry horse ; was foaled in 1859 ; was a bay, fifteen and one half ; 
 hands high, and weighed ten hundred and fifty pounds. Was a fine- \ 
 looking and acting horse ; could trot close to 2.40 ; did not prove a very j 
 good stock horse ; was burnt in the fire of 1867. 
 
 In the spring of the year 1864 Frederick Billings purchased the horse~ 
 John Morrill, by Young Morrill. The horse had gained quite a reputa- 
 tion in a race that he trotted the fall before with Draco, in which he was 
 a close second, and it was believed that he would make the fastest horse. 
 The price paid was four thousand four hundred dollars ; but it took two 
 or more paper dollars then to bring one of gold. The season of 1864 he 
 was kept at Hartford, Vt., at thirty dollars to warrant. He trotted a 
 few races the season of 1865. He won his record, 2.40, this year, in a 
 race that he won at Hartford, Vt. He was shown at the Windsor 
 County Fair this year held at Woodstock, and trotted a public trial in 
 2.33 ; the first half in 1.14. About this time the horse's name was 
 changed to Woodstock. He trotted a few races the season of 1866 ; 
 was kept at Woodstock the season of 1867 at fifty dollars to warrant, 
 and each season thereafter until his death, excepting the season of 1869, 
 when he was kept at Stowe, Vt. The horse changed owners in the 
 spring of 1873, and the price changed to twenty -five dollars to warrant. 
 He died in August, 1878. 
 
 Woodstock was a noble-looking horse. A coal-black, without a white 
 hair, mane short and tail full, nearly fifteen and three quarters hands 
 high, and weighed over eleven hundred pounds. Was better made for- 
 ward than most of the Merrills. A good head, wide between the eyes, 
 neck rather short and heavy, but arching; withers prominent; body 
 round and rather short ; back the very best ; hips long and smooth. 
 One would not expect a horse that was so heavy made forward, with his 
 rather short body and blocky build, could have the great speed that he 
 
14 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 showed. The secret of his speed was his great stride, caused by the great 
 propelling powers of his hind parts ; but his way of going was heavy 
 and tiresome, and no horse could live to carry it in a race. He had a 
 mean, cross, treacherous disposition, which he inherited from the side of 
 his dam ; and when he broke in his great bursts of speed, he broke to 
 run away, and it took a man then to stop him. Woodstock did not 
 prove as good a trotter or a stock horse as was expected. As a class of 
 horses, his colts did not prove free, pleasant roadsters and drivers. He 
 transmitted a certain amount of speed, but it was not of the high type 
 and quality wanted. He has one in the 2.30 list, — Royal John, gr. g., 
 rec. 2.26^, with twelve heats in 2.30 or better. His next fastest one 
 was Fred Billings, b. g., rec. 2.40, though he showed trials in 2.32, 
 and a half in 1.14. 
 
 Woodstock blood, through his sons and daughters, has been largely 
 bred upon the horses of Woodstock and vicinity. Quite a number of 
 I his sons were kept for the stud. The following are some of the most 
 prominent ones: Robert Bonner, b. h., foaled 1863, rec. 2.40; Killing- 
 ton, b. h., foaled 1863, rec. 2.42 ; the Gifford, or Wheat horse, b. h., 
 I foaled 1863, trotted in 3.00; Young Woodstock, blk. h., foaled 1864, 
 rec. close to 3.00 ; Hermit, br. h., foaled 1865, rec. 2.40 ; Woodstock 
 j Prince, blk. h., foaled 1865, rec. close to 2.40 ; the Sherwin horse, blk. 
 h., foaled 1865 ; the O. E. Taylor horse, ch. h., foaled 1875, trotted 
 close to 2.40 ; Black Diamond, foaled 1867, rec. close to 2.40. All the 
 ! horses named, excepting Young Woodstock and Woodstock Prince, are, 
 i or were, large horses, averaging fifteen and three quarters hands, and 
 I weighing from eleven hundred to twelve hundred pounds. Hermit 
 I proved the best sire for trotters, as he can be registered as standard on 
 I account of his record and the record of his get. 
 
 "^ The Vermont Horse Stock Company started their breeding stud at 
 Shelburne in 1871. They introduced some very high-bred horses. A 
 horse now owned by C. Morgan, of South Woodstock, was by one of 
 them, — " The Woodburn Pilot." Mr. Morgan's horse is a bay, foaled 
 in 1873, dam Morgan blood, and is the only Pilot horse that has been 
 owned or kept at Woodstock. His stock is promising. 
 
 The Hambletonian blood has been bred to a certain extent at Wood- 
 stock since 1876. The cross promises speed, and it is believed Wood- 
 stock will soon have the credit of raising one or more of the 2.30 
 horses. 
 
 Frederick Billings owned several seasons Gilroy, 1185, blk. h., foaled 
 1875, by Messenger Duroc, 106 ; dam by Harry Clay, 45. Gilroy is of the 
 same blood as Prospero, blk. g. ; Elaine, b. m., rec. 2.20 ; and Dame Trot, 
 b. m., rec. 2.22. Messenger Duroc has fourteen of the 2.30 horses to his 
 credit ; and fourteen of the 2.30 horses' dams are by Harry Clay, includ- 
 
W. J. Dana Sc. 
 
 DRACO, I 16. 
 
 Blk. h., bred by Robert Lane, Danville, Vt. Foaled 1S53 ; sire, Young Morrill, 118 ; dam by the Josiah 
 Hoyt Horse. Record, 2.28^4, and is credited with siring three of the 2.30 horses. Dead. 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 15 
 
 ing the dam of St. Julian, rec. 2. 11 J. Gilroy has shown trials better 
 than 2.30. His stock indicates great. promise of speed.^ 
 
 The stock of A. W. Thomson's bay horse Extra, 1126, is showing 
 very promising as to speed. The first one of his get, as a six-year-old, 
 showed a trial in 2.36|, and a half in 1.16. Extra is sixteen hands 
 high, and weighs eleven hundred pounds; was by Lockwood, 1125; 
 dam by Woodstock, 873 ; grandam, the dam of Susie Taylor, by the 
 Harpiu horse, or Young St. Lawrence ; great-grandam by the Walker 
 horse. Lockwood sire, Aberdeen 27, is the sire of thirteen of the 2.30 
 horses, and is of the same blood as Dexter, 2.17^. Woodstock, Gilroy 
 and Extra are the only standard horses that have yet been owned or kept 
 at Woodstock. _ 
 
 With the exception of the years 1848, 1849, 1851 and 1854, the pres- 
 ent Windsor County Fair has been held constantly at Woodstock. The 
 fine show exhibited each year in all the departments has made them very 
 attractive, and has caused a very large attendance, averaging from five to 
 eiffht thousand yearly. It was said at the time there were ten thousand 
 people present in the year 1856. Upon the whole this fair is one of the 
 best and most successful held in the State, and having been held so long 
 at Woodstock, it may be considered as almost a part of the town. 
 
 The trotting has been, and is, one of the great attractions, and if the 
 summaries of all the races were published in book-form, with a descrip- 
 tion of some of the best ones, it would be a work of much value and 
 interest. Only the best time made, and a notice of a few of the best 
 horses, can be given here. It should be remembered that the fairs at 
 first were not what they now are, or what they came to be in a few 
 years. The pens for the cattle, sheep, and hogs were arranged around 
 the Park. The horses were shown in the street, and were driven on 
 River Street to show their speed. The fact that no horses were driven 
 to sulkies at the first two or three fairs, shows how little speed in the 
 horse was thought of and considered then. The horses were ridden or 
 were driven to the road wagon to show their speed. 
 
 The first fair was held in the fall of 1846, and the Southgate or Whit- 
 ney horse, a son of Old Gifford Morgan, was awarded the first premium 
 as the best stock horse. In 1847 this was given to the Walker horse or 
 Morgan Tally-ho. In 1848 the fair was held at Springfield. The Bar- 
 nard horse, a son of Old Gifford, took the first premium. The Ken- 
 tucky Gold-dust horses sprang from this horse, as he was the grandsire 
 of Dorsey's Old Gold-dust. 
 
 In 1849 the fair was held at Windsor, and the Harlow horse, or Gray 
 Hawk, took the first premium. He was by the Walker horse, and a i 
 very strong, powerful-going horse ; was considered one of the fastest i 
 1 See " Queries and Answers " in The Turf, Field and Farm, Feb. 4, 1887. 
 
16 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 ones. It is doubtful if he could have beaten three minutes much. At 
 first he was ridden in his trials of speed. Mr. Harlow had a sulky made 
 for him in 1850. In 1850 the Buckman horse, or Green Mountain, Jr., 
 took the first premium. In 1851 the fair was held at Hartford. Edward 
 Collamer's five-year-old chestnut gelding made the fastest time, 2.57, on 
 a third of a mile track. In 1852 the horses were shown on Mr. Blake's 
 meadow, on a track a trifle over a third of a mile. The Benson horse, 
 a son of the Harlow horse, a large gray horse, showed quite well, as did 
 a bay one driven by Mr. Cook. The Fraser horse, a son of Old GifEord, 
 drew the first premium. 
 
 In 1853 the horses were shown again on Mr. Blake's meadow. Gard- 
 ner Winslow's five-year-old bay gelding, by the Harlow horse, made the 
 fastest time, 3.23. Jason B. Pierce's four-year-old bay mare, by the 
 Ransom horse, trotted in 3.25. A $15 purse was trotted for and won 
 by Mr. Pike's horse, of Cornish, N. H. The horses trotted on time. 
 The Weston horse, or Gray Eagle, five years old, was first seen at the 
 fair this year, and was sired by a son of a spotted horse owned in Pom- 
 fret, known as the Perry horse. A gray horse, owned by Mr. Morrill of 
 Sharon, was given the first premium as the best stock horse. 
 
 In 1854 the fair was held at Hartford, and several purses were trotted 
 for. Mr. Dotie's horse made the fastest time, 2.57. Holden Hatch's 
 three-year-old chestnut stallion won one purse, his best time 3.08 ; he 
 was a grandson of Vt. Black Hawk. In 1855 the present grounds were 
 purchased, and the fair has been held upon them every year since. The 
 fair was a great success this year. The trotting was very interesting, and 
 was all for premiums. J. J. Bowen's five-year-old black gelding made 
 the fastest time, 2.58. Mr. Weston's Gray Eagle trotted in 3.00. Ver- 
 mont Boy, owned at this time by Mr. Gilson, trotted in 3.10. 
 
 The fair for 1856 was the largest one that had been held ; the show 
 in all the departments the very best. The show of horses and cattle 
 never was larger or better. The grand cavalcade of all horses reached 
 nearly around the track, and was a very imposing sight. The Carter 
 horse, or Quechee Boy, won the premium over Cheney's Lightfoot, time 
 3.00 ; he was by Old Green Mountain ; was sold the next spring and 
 taken to Tennessee. J. J. Bowen's little roan mare Bethel Maid was 
 first seen this year at the fair, and made the fastest time, 2.54. She was 
 beaten in a trial of speed by Ballard's b. g. Ratler. They trotted a race 
 the next day after the fair, and Ratler won ; his fastest heat was 2.52. 
 They trotted another race that fall on the Woodstock track, and the 
 Maid won in straight heats, her fastest one 2.51. 
 
 In 1857 Vermont Boy, then owned by Wm. Sturtevant, made the 
 fastest time, 2.52 ; he won the purse and also the race with Cheney's 
 Lightfoot. He was taken to Tennessee the next spring, and sold to the 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 17 
 
 parties that bought the Carter horse. The Carter horse, or Quechee 
 Boy, lived but a short time after he was taken to Tennessee. 
 
 In 1858 Ballard's Telegraph, or Kentucky Hunter, b. h., made the 
 fastest time, 2.51 ; he won over Gray Eagle or the Weston horse. A 
 gray horse from Rochester was awarded the premium as the best stock 
 horse. There were three purses trotted for after the fair on the track. 
 C. B. Ballard's gr. g. Franklin won over Bethel Maid ; his fastest heat 
 2.49. Wm. Sturtevant's b. g. Thunderbolt beat Brattleboro' Maid, best 
 time 3.00 ; and Cheney's b. h. Lightfoot beat the Strong mare and one 
 other ; his fastest heat 2.54. 
 
 In 1859 the trotting for the premiums was very interesting and ex- 
 citing, much more so than usual. Telegraph, or Kentucky Hunter, won 
 the big purse in five heats, his fastest one 2.46. Thunderbolt took one 
 in 2.46. Flying Cloud, or the Davis horse, won the premium as the best 
 stock horse. In 1860 the fair was not as successful as usual, on account 
 of the weather. Telegraph, or Kentucky Hunter, won the big purse 
 again ; his best time 2.44. Old Green Mountain, twenty-six years old, 
 was shown at the fair, and he passed around the track followed by some 
 dozen of his sons. Their handsome shape and color, fine style, life, and 
 action, caused them to attract much attention and to be greatly admired. 
 
 In 1861 C. B. Ballard's ch. h. Wellington won the purse after a very 
 exciting contest ; best time 2.45. Draco trotted a race on the track this 
 fall, which was not much of a race ; fastest time 2.41;^. L. T. Tucker's 
 blk. h. Draco won the $100 purse in 1862; his best time 2.33|. This 
 was a very exciting race, as the little bay mare Empress took the first 
 heat in 2.31. The rest of the trotting was very interesting. In 1863 
 Draco won the $100 purse over Woodstock ; best time 2.39. His son, 
 Draco, Jr., or the Henry horse, won a purse ; best time 3.00. The trot- 
 ting in 1864 was rather a failure on account of the rain, and some being 
 afraid to trot their horses. Woodstock won the big purse ; his com- 
 petitor was a mare called Lakeshore Maid, but really the old trotter, 
 Miller's Damsel. Draco was on the ground, but was not entered. He 
 trotted the next week after the fair on the track in 2.34 ; his son Draco 
 Prince, then four, trotted a race with Alpine Boy. Alpine Boy won the 
 first heat in 3.07. Woodstock trotted a public trial at the fair in 1865 in 
 2.33 ; first half 1.14. Draco, Jr., or the Henry horse, won the race over 
 Green Mountain Banner ; best time 2.53. Banner has proved a much 
 better sire for trotters than the Henry horse, as he has two of his get in 
 the 2.30 list. In 1866 the big purse was trotted for by the W. H. 
 Walker bay gelding Richmond, and General Stark, when the bay gelding 
 won ; best time, 2.49, being made by General Stark. Two races were 
 trotted on the track after the fair, W. H. Walker's bay gelding winning 
 over Richmond, best time 2.46, and the Henry horse taking the other, 
 
18 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 which was a sham race. In 1867 C. B. Ballard's gray mare Snow- 
 flake won her first race at the fair ; best time 2A0^. The five-year-old 
 chestnut gelding Joe Hunker won a very interesting race ; best time 
 2.49. He has since trotted close to 2.30. In 1868 Mountain Girl, ch. 
 m., won the big purse over Snowflake in four heats ; her best time, which 
 was the fastest, 2.36. Snowflake was lame. It rained so the third day 
 that the fair was postponed one week. In 1869 Snowflake won the big 
 purse ; best time 2.38f . The five-year-old bay gelding American Boy, 
 by Woodstock, showed quite well, winning two races over Susie Taylor 
 and Maggie Mitchell, and getting a record of 2.47^. 
 
 The trotting for the big purse in 1870 was a failure as far as any time 
 being made or any interest felt in the trotting. The six-year-old bay 
 gelding Fred Billings, by Woodstock, won a very interesting race in 
 straight heats ; fastest time 2.50. In 1871 Snowflake won the big purse, 
 and made her fastest time on the track, 2.34. Henry Wood's four-year- 
 old Cassius Prince got a record of 2.57^, and was but a neck behind 
 Young Cassius in 2.55. 
 
 In 1872 Fred Billings won the big purse ; best time 2.40^. The track 
 was lapped for him. The brown stallion Hermit, by Woodstock, won the 
 stallion race ; best time 2.39. General Lyon, 2.3 6|^, br. h., by Old Mor- 
 rill, was shown at the fair. 
 
 In 1873 Fred Billings won the big purse over American Boy ; fastest 
 heat 2.40. The little bay stallion Tarn O'Shanter, by Green Mountain 
 Banner, dam by Ethan Allen, won the stallion race over Cassius Prince, 
 Hermit, and Robert Bonner in straight heats ; best time 2.37^. 
 
 In 1874 the bay mare Kitty Cook, by Abraham, won the big purse ; 
 her fastest heat 2.34 ; if she had not been held in the last quarter, would 
 have trotted in 2.31 or 2.32. Cassius Prince won one race; best time 
 2.39. The track was made full length this year. 
 
 In 1875 A. H. Danforth's chestnut gelding Gifford Boy won two races, 
 beating Snowflake ; his best time 2.36. In 1876 there were over $600 
 offered in four purses. The large purse was $300, and was won by the 
 chestnut gelding Unknown in four heats, beating Bristol Bill and Young 
 Ratler, Bristol Bill taking the first heat in 2.33^. The fastest heat was 
 2.30^. 
 
 In 1877 Jeremiah, blk. g., by Hermit, won the $150 purse ; best time 
 2.44. The b. m. May Day, by Ballard's C. M. Clay, won one purse, best 
 time 2.42 ; and Ruby, ch. m., by Ballard's C. M. Clay, won a purse, fast- 
 est time 2.42i. 
 
 In 1878 Quechee Maid, by Ballard's C. M. Clay, won the big purse; 
 her fastest heat 2.33. Annie Lou, by Daniel Lambert, won a race, her 
 fastest time 2.40 ; and the black stallion Lyon Slasher won a purse, his 
 fastest heat 2.46. 
 
DANIEL LAMBERT. 
 
 Ch. h., foaled 1858, by Ethan Allen; dam Fanny Cook, by Abdallah I. Second dam by Stockholm's 
 American Star. Bred by W. H. Cook, Ticonderoga, N. Y. ; now owned by Joseph Battel!, Middle- 
 bury, Vt. At the close of 1886 twenty-eight of his get in the 2.30 list. 
 
 \,E7igraving loaned by Joseph Battell, Esq.'\ 
 
HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 19 
 
 In 1879 Annie Lou won the big purse ; her fastest heat 2.35 J. Ruby 
 won a race, best time 2.42J. Tommy, by Daniel Lambert, won two 
 heats, and made a dead heat in 2.43. The bay stallion Lockwood, by 
 Aberdeen, won a race in straight heats ; best time 2.47J. 
 
 In 1880 Colonel Peabody's b. g., by Daniel Lambert, won the big 
 purse; his fastest heat 2.36^. Susie L., ch. m., by Daniel Lambert, won 
 two races ; her fastest heat 2.39|. Wild Dandy, gr. g., won a purse ; his 
 best time 2.38. Green Mountain Boy, b. h., by Thomas Jefferson, won 
 a race ; his fastest heat 2.41. 
 
 In 1881 the bay mare Topsy D. won the big purse ; her fastest heat 
 2.36. Jessie, b. m., by Hermit, won a purse ; her best time 2.40. Lock- 
 wood won the stallion race ; his best heat 2.48. 
 
 In 1882 E. A. Perry's b. m. Susan P., by Cassius Prince, won two 
 races ; her fastest heat 2.41^. Hermit won the stallion race ; best time 
 2.54. 
 
 In 1883 Mountain Boy, b. h., by Daniel Lambert, won one purse ; his 
 fastest heat 2.37. Chromo, b. h., by Ballard's C. M. Clay, won the large 
 purse, his best time 2.38, and he won the stallion race. Frank D., b. g., 
 by Defiance, won a purse ; best time 2.37. 
 
 There were eight hundred dollars in four races trotted for this fall on 
 the Woodstock track, October 26 and 27. The chestnut mare Ellen, by 
 Daniel Lambert, won the big purse in a hard race of six heats, beating 
 Ned Hastings, Frank D., and Fanny P. ; her fastest heat 2.36. Ned 
 Hastings won the second and fourth heat in 2.36 and 2.37. Frank D. 
 took the third in 2.37. Frank D. won one purse, his best time 2.38 ; 
 and Limber Jim won two, his best time 2.44. 
 
 In 1884 Driver, b. g., 2.19^, by Volunteer, won the large purse; his 
 fastest heat 2.30^. Dasie Dean, gr. m., won one purse ; her fastest heat 
 2.44^. Joel Todd, gr. g., won a purse ; his best time 2.43. 
 
 In 1885 Driver won the big purse again ; fastest heat 2.36. Little 
 Hopes, b. h., by Blackstone, won two races ; his best time 2.41. The 
 trotting for the premiums was very close and interesting. 
 
 In 1886 the brown gelding John S., by DeLong's Ethan Allen, made 
 the fastest time, 2.36. He won two races. The chestnut gelding Ben, 
 by Almot, won two races ; his fastest heat 2.40. The trotting premiums 
 were closely contested for, and good time was made by the winning 
 horses. 
 
 The trotting up to about 1860 was for premiums and for county horses. 
 This protective policy gave the owners of the county horses a fair chance, 
 which they improved, as the trotting for the premiums was very close, 
 interesting, and exciting, much more than it has been since for some of 
 the big purses. The trotting premiums were cut down for a few years, 
 
20 HORSES OF WOODSTOCK. 
 
 and then were dropped, and the trotting was for purses open to all 
 horses. This was hard on the county horses, as they stood no chance 
 with the trained horses and ringers that were allowed to come in. The 
 result was that a large share of the purses were won by horses owned 
 out of the county and out of the State. This anti-protective policy has 
 greatly discouraged the training of the county horses. The trotting for 
 the large purse has often been a mere farce, not so interesting as the 
 trotting for some of the ten-dollar premiums. The large purse has been 
 considered the property of the owner or owners of a certain horse, as it 
 has been won for several successive fairs by a certain horse. A county 
 horse can win the premium but once, and why should a horse from any 
 part of the country be allowed to win the big purse more than once ? 
 
 Within a few years premiums for trotting have been offered again, and 
 <^e trotting for them has been very interesting and fast, and it has greatly 
 encouraged and stimulated the owners of county horses to show their 
 horses, and it would still more encourage them if part of the purses were 
 only for county horses. 
 
 A premium of $100 has been offered, open to all stallions, to be shown 
 with five or more of their get. It must be a very interesting sight to see 
 a number of the best horses in the country shown together with five or 
 more of their colts. Breeders would have a good chance to judge of their 
 respective merits. 
 
STANDARD OF ADMISSION TO REGISTRATION. 
 
 ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEOTTING 
 HORSE BREEDERS. 
 
 In order to define what constitutes a trotting-bred horse and to estab- 
 lish a breed of trotters on a more intelligent basis, the following rules are 
 adopted to control admission to the records of pedigrees. When an ani- 
 mal meets the requirements of admission and is duly registered, it shall 
 be accepted as a standard trotting animal. 
 
 1st. — Any stallion that has himself a record of two minutes and thirty 
 seconds (2.30) or better, provided any of his get has a record of 2.40 or 
 better, or provided his sire or his dam, his grandsire or his grandam, is 
 already a standard animal. 
 
 2d. — Any mare or gelding that has a record of 2.30 or better. 
 
 3d. — Any horse that is the sire of two animals with a record of 2.30 
 or better. 
 
 4th. — Any horse that is the sire of one animal with a record of 2.30 
 or better, provided he has either of the following qualifications: 1. Rec- 
 ord himself of 2.30 or better. 2. Is the sire of two other animals with 
 a record of 2.40 or better. 3. Has a sii-e or dam, grandsire or grandam, 
 that is already a standard animal. 
 
 5th. — Any mare that has produced an animal with a record of 2.30 
 or better. 
 
 6th. — The progeny of a standard horse when out of a standard mare. 
 
 7th. — The progeny of a standard horse out of a mare by a standard 
 horse. 
 
 8th. — The progeny of a standard horse when out of a mare whose 
 dam is a standard mare. 
 
 9th. — Any mare that has a record of 2.40 or better, and whose sire 
 or dam, grandsire or grandam, is a standard horse. 
 
 10th. — A record to wagon of 2.35 or better shall be regarded as equal 
 to a 2.30 record.