A BOVINE PACER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1178, 24 November 1883, Page 1

A BOVINE PACER.

The trotting moose had his day in the Eastern papers, and Dun Denniaon's pacing greyhound enjoyed a brief period of notoriety on our western tracks. Since that time there has bucn quite a period without any ' freaks' of that character, but here is the queerest of the lut : Wabash the 2 year-old calico calf that is credited with a mile racing record of 2min 20sec was taken to Philadelphia recently by his owner, Colonel Ohus. J. Burns, of Evansvile, Ind. (says the Times). Wabash has won seven races off the reef this summer and was only beaten once. On that oocnsion he fell down. At Bedtord Park he easily beat J. G. Mason's black gelding, the Major, a mile, in 2min 20sec. After this race Colonel Burns declined to accept an offer of 1500dols for his fleet-footed bovine. The calf is nearly 13| hands high, his legs are like those of a giraffe, and his horns are tipped with nickel-plated knobs. Colonel Burns bought the calf from an Indiana farmer, who was driving the split-foot trotter in a sulky, and beating all ordinary roadsters with ease. The calf is of plebian blood, and was bred, raised, and trained by the farmer. Hitched to a light wagon, Wabash trotted to Belmont Park, and was sent round the track several times at a 3min gait. The calf's wind and limbs are perfectly sound, and his owner says he has driven him 40 miles a day without making him turn a hair. Although Wabash trots fast and steadily in harness, he it much speedier when running under saddle. To show the calf's apeed he was saddled and mounted Ly a 1151 b jockey, and Mr liorton's bay mare, Clorinda, witu a record of 2.24 was started agiinst him. Clorinda went away in the lead wheu the word ' go' was givan ; but Reilly, the jockey on the calf, quickly clapped spurs into his sides, and, with a bellow that was heard a mile off, Wabash hoisted his tail like a jack-staff and set sail after the trotter. The crowd of horsemen present at once saw that Wabash had a mixed but fast giut that is peculiar to himself. When on the back stretch hie leers'seem to ' sprangle' out on all sides at once and he bowed his back like a broncho and blew a cloud of steam out ot his nostrils. Colonel Burns proudly waved his hand towards him and said to the crowd on the quarter-stretch : ' .Now, you watch that critter hump himself.' If 'humping' meant bellowing until the astounded Clorinda bolted across the track and stood trembling against the outside rails, Wabash did certainly what the Colonel expected. Wabash canm along like a locomotive, passed the timorous mare, aud was looping into the home stretch before timorous Ciorinda's driver could induce her to trot. Wabash won by an eighth of a mile, and was cheered by every spectator except Mr Horton, who rhythmically said to his driver, ' Well, don't it beat - Y —American Papers.