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, j 1 , . r i LITTLE MINCHS PERFORMANCES. The table and story, "Some Veterans of the Turf," in Daily Racing Fobm, February 14, interested me greatly and I have added it to my collection of permanently valuable figures. I observe that you have limited it to horses racing since 1890 only, while you also say that it is not intended as complete, but as "a sample only." So I am not offended at the omission of a horse that I have always considered the most remarkable campaigner known to the turf. May I call your attention and that of the readers of Daily Racing Fokm as well, should you care to print this to him? His name is Little Minch. "The Minch" was foaled 1880 and his last season out was 1891. You say that "Bankrupt was the iron horse of Americas racing." He won eighty-two races out of 344 starts in thirteen seasons. Little Minch raced ten seasons, during which he started 220 times, won eighty-five times, was thirty-nine times second, thirty-one times third and sixty-five times unplaced. Is this not a much more remarkable record 1 especially as the average company he met was much harder game than Bankrupts. From tho time he was a two-year-old, when he tackled George Kinney, up to his last season, when he bumped against Dr. Hasbrouck, Little Minch never dodged the quality, from Miss Woodford down. I believe he is the oaly champion sprinter who even won a stake race at a mile and three-quarters, and he holds the Memphis track record for a mile and a quarter 2:10 with 121 pounds up to this day. He also deserves a place in the "Manuals" list of American Racing Records, although it isnt given him. August 5, 1890, he being then ten years old, he won a race of seven-eighthB mile heats at Garfield Park in 1:29, 1:291. I have never found where this was beaten, and the "Manual" giveb no record for heats at this distance. It is perhaps going back a long way into ancient history, this, but tho aid horses stick longest in the memories of the men who can remember back of Henry of Navarre or even Salvator. "The Minch," in his heyday, I used to follow with the interest of an enthusiast, and, with me, at least, "long shall the memory of his deeds endure." The schedule of his turf performances is as follows : Year. Races. 1st. 2nd. 3rd.Unp. 1882 15 6 3 2 4 18S3 15 9 12 3 1884 23 9 6 4 4 1885 24 13 1 3 7 1886 22 7 7 2 1887 25 15 2 1 7 1888 S5 11 8 S 11 1889 31 11 6 6 S 1890 13 3 2 1 7 1891 17 1 3 5 8 Totals 10 220 85 39 31 63 A note of explanation is due regarding those sixty-five times unplaced. A big percentage of them was due to Minchs amiable habit of refusing to break with his field, which ho developed early and cultivated assiduously. How the starters loved him! At Monmouth once the stewards finally announced that no farther protection would be given him, and the next tio.e he started he came from behind and beat Aurelia, Geraldine and one of the swallost fields of the season in the Passaic Stakes. I remember too, that he was once left at the post at Nashville, but finally decided to go on, when he actually ran Gleaner then at his bast to a head at five furlongs in 1:01, and covered the distance himself in a shade below 1 :00. It is also a remarkable fact that he finally retired sound, although a stallion, and every trainer knows how much easier it is to keep a. mare or gelding sound than an entire horse. John L. Heeyey. Chicago, 111., Feby 16, 1899. Mr. Hervey is tho statistician of the Horso Review and an authority on harness figures. Bat he leans to the thoroughbred in a high class way and Little Minch is one of his idols.l
