The champion who hated his trainer
by Lisa Harkema
He was the milk horse who turned into a world champion, but was treated badly as he was a tough cookie. Because of the treatment he received St Julien hated his trainer and driver, but the duo still worked well enough together to lower the world record three times.
The bay gelding St Julien was born in 1869 and bred by Joseph Dunning of Middletown, NY. Gelded, he spent the early part of his life pulling a milk wagon in Orange County, New Tork. He was broken to harness as a 3-year-old but not trained until the following year when he was taken to the Goshen track for training. According to an article outlining St Julien’s story in the Chicago Daily Tribute on Nov 9, 1879, while being jogged at the Goshen track, he was spotted by James Galway of New York City who was so impressed that he purchased him for $600 and at once turned him out. Galway was born in Stuartstown, Northern Ireland in 1836 came came to America around 1853 where he built up a wholesale trade.
A bottle of wine and a great career start
Nothing was done the following year, in 1874, but in the fall William Sargent “handled him some for speed, and the following winter he was driven on the road, showing considerable speed to sleigh.” He showed so much promise that later that summer the gelding was started on the Grand Circuit. The horse still didn’t really have a name and when Sargent asked Galway for a name, so that he could enter him at Poughkeepsie, the name was picked from a bottle of wine which an agent had left with him the same day.
St Julien surprised everybody with his achievements that were astonishing for such a green horse. In his fourth race, at Springfield, Massachusetts, August 27, 1875, he won the required three of five heats and trotted to a record of 2:22 1/2 (1.28,6). This time matched the winning time of the elite group that day.
To California
The following February it was announced that St Julien had been sold to California for $20,000, the buyers being Bob “RS” Morrow and Orrin A Hickok. Initial newspaper reports quote the price as $10,000, but later articles from California fixed the price at $20,000. The gelding was then taken to California where his speed was further developed and St Julien raced in both fairs and match races.
On Sep 2, 1876, at Oakland Park, he raced the famous trotter Dan Voorhees for $10,000 and won three out of four heats, the fastest in 2:25 1/4 (1.30,3). However, as St Julien had a mind of his own and would not always be all that game, Hickok worked tirelessly on the horse, keeping him away from the track for a long time.