The definition of superiority
by Lisa Harkema
He was sacrificed to let his stablemate win the Hambletonian, then sold to Europe in anger. There he became arguably the most successful US trotter imported to Europe, but is now largely forgotten. The story of Muscletone is the story of the moral Hambletonian-winner as well as the most superior winner in the Prix d’Amerique ever – so superior the French actually ended up changing the rules.
At the Coldstream, formerly McGrathiana, farm in Kentucky, Charles B Shaffer had by the early 30s switched from trotters to runners though he kept two trotting broodmares from the family of Ruth Mainsheet for sentimental reasons. Shaffer had bought Ruth Mainsheet from her breeders, WL (“Farmer”) Spears, when her career had ended after just one start into her three-year-old season. At two she was one of the better horses in her crop and took a record of 2:08 1/4 (1.19,7), a very strong time back in 1917. Her daughter Ruth M Chenault, by Peter Chenault, was outstanding at two and undefeated in the junior futurities in 1926. Her seasonal earnings of $37,337.50 was, in fact, a record for two-year-olds for 22 years until beaten by Miss Tilly in 1948. In 1929 Ruth Mainsheet delivered a colt by Mr McElwyn, Main McElwyn 2, 2:02 3/4 (1.16,3), who proved to be an outstanding trotter in the same mould as his older sister. Both won the Junior Kentucky Futurity at two and showed abundance of speed and natural talent. When the time came to breed Ruth M Chenault, Shaffer settled on the obvious choice, Mr McElwyn. Born in 1931, the brown colt was named Muscletone. It’s easy to suspect the name was based on the horse’s appearance or some generic name, but far from it: Muscletone was a running ad for his owner, quite literally. Breeder and owner Shaffer was also the owner of a remedy for “muscular pains, muscular lumbago and sore and strained muscles” put out by the Standard Drug and Sales Co of Philadelphia which he called “Muscletone” – it’s full name being “Dr Chopins’ Muscletone”.
Like his maternal pedigree promised, the colt had plenty of early speed. Trained by HM “Doc” Parshall, Muscletone showed exceptional talent early and was clocked in 2:39 (1.38,9) in April as a two-year-old with a quarter in 34 1/2 (1.25,8). Despite obvious talent, Muscletone was still a bit immature, and Parshall was also a bit conservative, so on his debut at Salem on Jul 28, 1933 he “only” finished second to Bertha C Hanover. These two would continue to duel through the season. Bertha C again got the better of the colt two weeks later, again at Salem, but Muscletone won one of the three heats in 2:06 3/4 (1.18,8). After losing to Sturdy at the Good Time Stake, he then shaved a second off his record when winning the futurity at Springfield in late August. Though already good, Muscletone appeared to improve throughout the season. Come September he was excellent and easily took home the Junior Kentucky Futurity in two heats straight heats in 2:05 3/4 and 2:06 1/4 (1.18,2 and 1.18,5). On Sept 22 he ran a time trial in 2:03 3/4 (1.16,9) which wound up the 1933 record for two-year-olds. Though seen by many as the most talented in the crop, results-wise he was not the best, though. That honor clearly belongs to the now completely forgotten Sturdy who won 11 out of 12 races at two, but since had not been kept eligible to the Hambletonian was sold to Germany that November. In the final days of WWII in May 1945, Sturdy was one of the horses, alongside Walter Dear and others, taken from Charley Mills’ farm near Berlin never to be seen again.
A winter favorite
When the list of Hambletonian eligibles were released at the beginning of 1934 there was consensus that the early favorites were Bertha C Hanover, Muscletone and Lord Jim. Though Muscletone had been the strongest at the end of their two-year-old season, Bertha C had been very consistent and many believed she had more talent – and would accomplish even more – than her full-sister Hanover’s Bertha. This was supported by Bertha C having shown both a faster quarter and mile than her famous older sister at 2.
Muscletone started the 1934 season perfectly with easy two-heat win at North Randall and made it two for two at the Cleveland track when he won the Championship Stallion Stake ahead of Reynolda and Emily Stokes. In the Championship Stallion Stake it had been relatively easy sailing for the Mr Mcelwyn colt as no sons of Guy Axworthy or Peter Volo had been nominated due to a conflict between Walnut Hall Farm and the organizer, but when the Grand Circuit moved to Toronto several of the tougher competitors were back. It didn’t matter, though, as Muscletone swept home in three straight heats and set a new Canadian record of 2:03 1/2 (1.16,8) for three-year-old trotters in the second heat. The stiffest competition was female, though not Bertha C Hanover, as expected, but rather Egan’s Princess Peg who finished in second place.
Many now believed the Hambletonian to be a foregone conclusion, but not Muscletone’s trainer, “Doc” Parshall, who had even more faith in Lord Jim. Before the ’34 Hambletonian, he raced him against older horses at Rockingham Park in New Hampshire. He didn’t win, but Doc had a plan by racing him against older horses and was pleased with Lord Jim’s efforts. After the race, a horseman said that Lord Jim didn’t look too good that day. Parshall replied, “Don’t worry, I’m going to win the Hambletonian with this pot-bellied son-of-a-bitch.”