Rock Sand a Luxurious Traveler, Daily Racing Form, 1906-07-18

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BOCK SAND A LUXURIOUS TRAVELER. Mr. August Belmonts English horse Rock Sand traveled across the ocean in fine style. He had a splendid cabin in the animal quarters of the steamship Minneapolis. A special padded car carried him to Kentucky as was told in yesterdays Racing Form. Orders ragardlng the shipment nnd the care of tin stallion were Issued long before the animal was shipped, and every precaution was taken for his safety and health. A box stall, 10 feet by 12 feet, was constructed betwqan decks amidships, where the horse could have prcnty of air. The sides o this stall were heavily padded, and this Idea was carried out along the sides of the stall, the heavy cross beams overhead also being covered so that should Rock Sand toss his head there would he nothing by which he could be injured. The floor of the stall was covered a foot thick with peat moss, and over tills was placed a matting of oakum. In order to obtain sufficient seclusion for the aristocratic traveler orders were Issued to "keep other animals as far away from Rock Sand as possible." It was also provided that the thoroughbred should never be moved; neither was he to be tied. In anticipation of rough weather a "movable stall" was arranged for. This consisted of a heavily padded partition which could lie fitted across the stall dividing it so that no matter what the motion of the ship, Rock Sand could he confined to such a narrow space that he could not be knocked about. The actual care fell upon Harry Clarke, the foreman of the Atlantic Transport Lines live stock department, who made the trip especially to attend to Rock Sands wants. Four hostlers were with the horse. Mr. Belmonts orders were that Rock Sand should be constantly watched, and for tills reason the sleeping quarters were fixed almost beside the animals stall. The men were divided into day and night watches and never for a single moment during the journey was Rock Sand alone. Great care was taken with the horses feed. Every bale of clover hay and every bushel of sorted oats and bran had been carefully selected and afterward inspected as it went aboard. It might almost be said that the menu lias been worked out, for the general instructions dealt with the dally feed. Harry Clarke, who looked after Rock Sand, is a veterinary surgeon, and each day took the stallions temperature and notes on any change in, his condition.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1906071801/drf1906071801_1_6
Local Identifier: drf1906071801_1_6
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800