Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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prominence by The Horseman, the official racing journal of America. In the issue of October 15
there appears a story written by A. S. Beaulieu, of Logansport, president of the Logansport
Driving Club, concerning Lady Patch’s performance, which is coached in horseman terms.
Following is Mr. Beaulieu’s letter:
Logansport, Oct. 10 -- On the closing day of the fall meeting given by the Rochester
Driving Club at Rochester, Ind., the brown yearling filly owned and driven by O. M. Powell, also
of Rochester, made a very successful attempt to lower the world’s half-mile track record of 2:22
1/4 for pacers of that age made in 1916 by Hemet Queen.
The day was ideal for such an attempt and at 4:00 o’clock Powell appeared on the track,
accompanied by two record pacers. After scoring past the judges’ stand once, the three horses
went up the stretch, turned and as the wire was reached the word was given. At the wire the filly
was between the two aged horses, but before the turn was reached she went into the trailing
position with the third horse in second position. The first quarter was reached in 35 seconds and
the half in 1:10 1/4; the three-quarters was reached in 1:44 1/4 with the filly still in the trailing
position. At the seven-eights pole the horse setting the pace was pulled out leaving room for
Powell to come through at the rail. The last quarter was in 34 seconds, making the mile in 2:18
1/4, with the filly finishing strong.
This filly is known as Lady Patch and is by Walter Cochato. She was bred by Mr. Powell.
Her first dam is a mare with no record, by Indiana Dan Patch; her second dam, also a no record
mare is by Raindrop; her third dam, also of no record was by Prodical, and the fourth dam was by
Deck Wright.
This filly conformation, gait and manners would be hard to improve upon. She goes in an
open bridle and a light set of hopples, not even wearing a set of quarter boots. She was broken this
spring when Mr. Powell took the Farmer to the early meet at Fremont, Ohio, she was turned out
and was not again taken up until after he sold the Farmer at the July Grand Circuit meeting at
Cleveland.
This event was given much publicity and a large crowd was on hand to witness the trial.
Motion pictures were made of this filly, but I am sorry to say none was made of her either while
she was leaving the wire or at the finish of the mile. However after she had gone the mile a film
was made while in motion and another of her standing and which will show her, Mr. Powell, Mr.
Maple, owner of the sire, and the writer. I understand that the films made are to be sent to the
International News Co., and that they will be shown throughout the land in the motion picture
houses, using this company’s service.
I saw the mile and can vouch for the time; also that this event was staged under the rules
of the American Trotting Association, which makes it a bona fide record.
-A. S. Beaulieu.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, October 27, 1924]
OLIVER POWELL SELLS LADY PATCH FOR $3,600
Oliver POWELL, well known race horse breeder and driver, who lives south of
Rochester, on Saturday sold his famous brown filly, Lady Patch, to William Leber of Ephrata,
Penn., at a private sale in New York City. The purchase price was $3,600. Lady Patch is a three
year old pacing mare that won eight firsts and four seconds on the Grand Circuit in the summer
just passed and won six firsts and three seconds in 1925. She won $4,000 in prize money during
the 1926 season. She held a track record of 2:05 1-4 on the Cleveland track.
Lady Patch holds several world’s records which are: for a yearling 2:18 1-4 made on a
half mile track at Rochester; for a two year old 2:11 1-2 at Montpelier, Ind.; two fastest
consecutive heats in the world for a three year old on a half mile track at 2:07 3-4 and 2:07 1-4 at
Louisville.
Mr. Powell it will be remembered sold another horse, The Farmer, two years ago for a
record price of $8,000. He now has seven horses in training for the season next year, one of them
being William Patch a full brother of the mare he just sold and Powell says he will be even faster.
[The News-Sentinel, Rochester, Indiana, Monday, December 6, 1926]