The Picture Horse
by Lisa Harkema
Struggling to stay sound, he made just a few starts in his career but impressed mightly both by his capacity and his physique. Guy Axworthy then went on to get revenge at stud by becoming one of the first superstar stallions.
Bred by John H Shults, Guy Axworthy was assigned to Tommy Murphy and in winter training at Savannah at 2. The colt was identified as one of “a pair of baby trotters, 2-year-olds, that are most promising”, the other being Flying Axworthy. That July, Guy Axworthy was reported to have worked out in 2:20 and a quarter in 32 seconds. His talent should not have come as a surprise. Guy Axworthy’s sire Axworthy had plenty of talent and early speed, but struggled with his feet. While Guy Axworthy’s paternal pedigree is seen as excellent, his maternal side is often dismissed as of unknown or average quality. Nothing is further from the truth, however.
Bred by William Corbitt at the San Mateo Stock Farm in California, Lillian Wilkes had a short but excellent career on the track. After winning her first race, at the new track in Napa on Aug 15, 1898, the reporter in the Breeders and Sportsman wrote that “a better gaited trotter was never seen on any race track.” She then defeated the world champion Sunol – the only loss anybody ever inflicted on Leland Stanford’s exceptional mare. Lillian Wilkes won that race fair and square, too, grinding down Sunol in the last three heats. Moreover, her 2:17 3/4 (1.25,6) winning time was a world record for 3-year-old fillies. Later in the season she severe sprained a front foot and was laid up for the season. She never made it back to the track.