Chesley H. Searcy, The Fredericton Club Horse, Proved An Able Rival For John R. Braden
The Mooseleuk Driving Club of Presque Isle, Maine, purchased the legendary John R Braden, 2:02 3/4, a
Tennessee - bred pacing stallion in 1921. He was placed under the care of the late John Willard, an
equally legendary Maine - based driver.
The old Maine - New Brunswick harness racing circuit was completely turned upside down and one of the
greatest international rivalries ever to take place was spawned.
One of the first purchased "to beat" John R Braden was Colonel Bidwell, 2:02 1/2, bought for $8,500.
Next came Roy Grattan, 2:01 3/4, directly from the world champion Grand Circuit Stable of the late
Tommy Murphy for $8,500. He would be the champion of the Caribou Driving Club.
Houlton purchased Jackson Grattan, 2:01 1/4 for $12,500 (and later Calgary Earle), direct from the Grand
Circuit Stable of future Hall of Famer Walter Cox and his Good Time Stable.
The Woodstock Driving Club on the Canadian side of the friendly international border counteracted with
Dan Hedgewood, 2:04 1/2 for $5,000. He came from the stables of James A. MacGregor of Athol, Mass.
It should be noted that this gentleman was a native of Pictou, N.S.
Fredericton was late in bringing in a champion to dethrone John R Braden. The reason was that they
already had a rather famous stallion called Roy Volo. He was privately owned and driven by the late Bert
Lint, one of the greatest gentlemen or amateur driver of that time. Roy Volo was at an advanced age in
1923 and a suitable replacement was in order.
In 1924, Chesley H. Searchy arrived at Fredericton. The price paid by the Fredericton Driving and
Sporting Club, formed in 1922, is unclear. I have read several different figures ranging from $7,000 up to
$10,000. In any case, it was a huge amount of money for any standardbred at that time.
There was a good deal of "opposition" to this horse in the local area around Fredericton according to the
late Thane Belyear, a well respected classifier and local authority on the sport for many years.
This horse, Chesley H Searcy had one of the shortest racing careers ever recorded in United States and
Maritime racing history but still he became a world champion.
Here is his very brief, but historic career:
A bay pacing son of Silver Axworthy, 2:10, Chesley H Searcy was a foal of 1920. He was out of the dam
Malise C, 2:17 1/2 by Clay King, 2:27 3/4. The horse was bred by the late J. O. McAllister of Lexington,
Kt.
He had only one start as a two - year - old in 1922. It took place at Louisville, Kt., on Sept. 12. In a $250
test for two - year - olds, he finished 2 - 2 in the times of 2:14 1/4 and 2:14 1/4.
In 1923, Chesley H Searcy had only eight starts as a three - year - old. His record however, was a brilliant
7 - 9 - 1 in 19 heats.
His sophomore year began at the mile track at North Randall, Ohio, on July 6th. He finished 2 - 2 - 2 in
2:05 1/5, 2:05 3/5 and 2:06 4/5. (Note that the times are recorded in fifths, although generally racing was
slow to change from the old system of timing horses in one - quarter, one - half and three - quarters of a
second).
At Toledo, Ohio on July 13th in a $1,500 test for three - year - olds, Chesley flashed under the wire in a
brilliant 2:05 1/4 (m) in the initial heat for his lifetime mark. He was 2 - 2 in 2:05 1/4 and 2:07 1/4 in the
next two heats for his Grand Circuit driver Harry Stokes that afternoon in the huge 11 - horse field of up
and coming youngsters.
Then it was on to Findley, Ohio, on July 20th when he finished 6 - 1 - 1 for driver Stokes in 2:12 1/4, 2:07
1/4 and 2:09 3/4.
Distanced at Columbus, Ohio on July 25th in 2:05 1/4, he came right back to win at Aurora, Ill. on Aug. 24
in 2:14 1/4.
At Milwaukee, Wisc., seven days later Searcy finished 1 - 2 - 3 in 2:07 1/4, 2:07 1/4 and 2:09 1/2.
After two heat wins in September at Louisville, Kt. in slow times over an off - track, he finished out his
three - year - old season at Lexington on Oct. 6. The sharp - looking colt was 2 - 2 in 2:07 1/2 and 2:05
1/2.
Chesley H Searcy was the fastest new record performer as a three - year - old pacing colt in 1923 in all of
North America.
In 1924, Chesley H Searcy raced under the ownership of the Fredericton Driving and Sporting Club. He
was driven that fatal year by the late Bert Lint.
There were only four starts for the future Maritime hero that particular year.
They started at Houlton, Me. on the afternoon of July 3 in a $1,000 Free - For - All.
The grandstand was taxed to capacity as everyone wanted to see this new and rather high priced
member from the Grand Circuit.
Fans from all over the Maritimes, many from the Fredericton area, had "knocked" the newcomer ever
since his coming to the city of stately elms earlier that year, were in the standing room only crowd that
afternoon.
Three very fast horses paraded before the huge crowd. Dan Hedgewood, driven by the legendary P.E.I.
son Fred Cameron and Jackson Grattan, reined by Ralph Burill, a famous U.S. based driver, were the
other starters to oppose Chesley H Searcy and driver Bert Lint.
After a great struggle, an emotional Bert Lint paraded back his Fredericton - based club horse - a close
winner in 2:07 1/2. "No knockers" this time as the horse had won his very first test on the tough Maine New Brunswick circuit over two outstanding horses and drivers.
In the next heat, Cameron and Burill took turn at the "new kid on the block", Chesley H Searcy and Lint
rose to the challenge and when the dust settled, they paraded back the Fredericton - based duo after a
2:06 1/4 mile victory. It was a new world record for a four - year - old stallion on a half mile track.
Don Hedgewood won the third heat in 2:08 1/4 to round out the action.
At Caribou, Me. on July 11, another free - for - all brought out a huge crowd. This time four great ones
faced the starter in another $1,000 invitational test.
In addition to Dan Hedgewood (Cameron) and Jackson Grattan (Burill), the king himself, John R Braden
and driver John Willard had come out to defend the turf honor of the United States part of the famous
circuit.
In a very close and dramatic three - heat battle, Chesley H Searcy finished a very close 2 - 4 - 3 to John
R Braden in 2:08 1/4, 2:09 3/4 and 2:11 1/2.
In a stable remark, John Willard was heard to remark: "Chesley is a true world champion and he will get
better, he is an up and coming horse".
On July 24th, the historic Fredericton Raceway was packed. They had come to see their newly crowned
half - mile world champion hand John R Braden a defeat.
The same four horses faced the starter in another $1,000 invitational.
In the first heat, after prolonged scoring, Jackson Grattan and driver Ralph Burrill narrowly won over John
R Braden in 2:07 1/4. The grand old champion rebounded however to win the next two heats in 2:07 3/4
and 2:07 1/4.
Chesley H Searcy and driver Bert Lint had put up a gallant effort with a 3 - 4 - 3 summary. And the local
press was kind also. How could anyone fault Bert Lint and Chesley H Searcy. After all the much talked
about horse was a world champion on a half - mile oval and Bert Lint had as many friends on the U.S.
side of the circuit as he had on the Canadian side.
He was an amateur driver who once taught the late Billy Hood and the late Johnny Conroy lessons in
horsemanship.
The next big free - for - all took place at Presque Isle, Me., on Aug. 8. This time John R Braden was not in
the race but an outstanding mare by the name of Julia M Direct, 2:02 1/4 was. The one - time Canadian
champion was driven that afternoon by Evans.
Chesley H Searcy and Bert Lint finished 1 - 1 - 4 that fatal afternoon in 2:07 1/2, 2:07 1/2 with Jackson
Grattan winning the final heat in 2:07 1/4.
A day later all of the newspapers on both sides of the border were full of the unfortunate news.
Fredericton's world champion four - year - old stallion had broken his leg in the third heat. The right hind
leg was put in splints and world class vets were brought in from both sides of the border.
After much publicity, the final report or judgement came out.
Chesley H Searcy would never race again, but his life would be spared.
The final chapter in the saga of the 1924 world champion took place on the afternoon of Sept. 23, 1926.
At a public auction in Fredericton, the ill - fated stallion went under the auctioneer's hammer for a mere
$775. The buyer was the late Frank H. Noble of Springhill, N.S. The sulkies, harness and equipment sold
for $400 according to a short account we found in the Acadian Record, a Halifax - based newspaper.
What happened to the world champion stallion after 1926 is not known to this writer.
For the record books, we can say that Chesley H Searcy (or Searcey) had a lifetime record after two short
years of active racing of 33 heats with 11 wins, 10 seconds and five thirds with a lifetime best 2:05 1/4 on
a mile track and a world record of 2:06 1/4 as a four - year - old on a half - mile track.