1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 November Voice | Page 9

THE DAN PATCH STORY
By M. E. Ensminger
I love legends. They have a way
of becoming embellished each
time they are retold. And the
funny part of it is that most of
them don’t need any dressing up.
Certainly, the latter is true of the
Dan Patch story.
Dan Patch’s exploits took place
soon after the turn of the century,
from 1902 to 1910. In 1906, he
paced the fastest mile ever, in 1:55
at the Minnesota State Fair. That
record has never been broken.
Neither has it been recognized, be­
cause a windshield was pulled in
front of the sulky to break the
wind. But to the 93,000 rabid fans
who witness the feat, and to his
worshippers everywhere, the rec­
ord still stands.
The great horse’s owner, Will
Savage, was a fabulous and color­
ful character. Will and Dan be­
longed to each other, when win­
ning — yes, even in death. Mr.
Savage made headlines of a sort
when he paid $60,000 for the six-
year-old Standardbred pacer in
1902. Even his friends referred to
the deal as “Savage’s folly.” But
subsequent events proved how
wrong they were.
DAN PATCH brough fame and
fortune to his master, and to him­
self. A railroad line — The Dan
Patch line — was named after him.
There were also Dan Patch sleds,
coaster wagons, cigars, washing
machines (a two-minute perfor­
mer like DAN), and shoes for kid­
dies. And Mr. Savage built the
great horse an empire, surround­
ings befitting his station in life.
The stable was equipped with mod­
NOVEMBER. 1961
car for a visit. Men vied for his
shoes, women fought to pluck hair
from his mane and tail, small boys
played Dan Patch in the back­
yard and people wept when he be­
came ill.
The town of Hamilton changed
it’s name to Savage, in honor of
the man who put it on the map.
Dr M E. Ensminger, Ph.D.
But there was more than a pla­
Clovis, Colifornia
tonic relationship between horse
and owner — there was something
almost supernatural between DAN
and Will. On July 4, 1916, DAN
ern living quarters for 60 care­ PATCH and Harold Savage both
takers. Two race tracks were con­ took ill on the same day. Those
structed; the best mile strip ever keeping vigil over the horse saw
built, and a covered half-miler him snuff out his last race — the
with 8,400 panes of glass. Even race with life itself — on July 11.
during a Minnesota blizzard, DAN He died at age 18. Thirty-two hours
and his stable mates could train later, DAN’S master, Will Savage,
was dead at age 57. Both were bur­
in comfort — and style.
ied
at the same hour; Mr. Savage
DAN PATCH was the idol of
in
Lakewood
cemetery, and MR.
his day — the Babe Ruth, the Bing
PATCH
under
the shade of an oak
Crosby and the Beatles. People
came to see him, as they do any tree on the bank of the Minnesota
other notable. Lili Langtry, the river.
famous actress arranged to have
DAN and Will lived and died
her train stopped near DAN’S
together — and won a lasting name
that she could go to his private and fame.
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9