"In an obscure corner of my evening paper last Thursday, were merely by chance, the item arrested my attention, I read the following dispatch, 'Columbus, Ohio - The famous grey pacing stallion, The Eel. 2:02 - 1/4, is reported at the point of death in his stall, at the driving park, where the Grand Circuit Races are in progress. He was to have started in the free-for-all tomorrow, but the veterinarians say that he will not live through the night. He arrived here sick from Detroit a few days ago and is now in the last stages of congestion of the lungs."

Then follows a eulogy fit for "royal blood". It includes a description of the horse and his outstanding victories on dirt-track and ice.

"Ponder this record - for its like is not to be found in light harness racing history. In forty-five races The Eel was never back of third money, and only five and one half times back of second. In these forty-five races he paced 152 contested heats, 94 of which he won, while in 37 he was second , in 14 he was third and in 6 he was fourth, being unplaced in but 2, and in those he was fifth. The average time of his winning heats (85) over dirt tracks was 2:06 77.75, of which 75 were won in races in the average time of 2:06 62.75. As aforesaid, his average time in 49 heats won in races over mile tracks was 2:04 35.49. An in those 152 heats, paced over dirt and over ice, over mile-and over half-mile tracks he was never once distanced, drawn or ruled out.

"We understand it was the intention at first to bury the horse at Columbus and erect a suitable monument. But later the museum people of that place approached Mr. Entricken to have him embalmed and mounted. They will place him in the museum and have a gold shield appropriately engraved with a list of his notable victories.

During the Centennial year, Mr. Ron Seltzer, Chairman of the Centennial Committee, saw fit to check on this final resting-place of the Eel, but could not authenticate it or further trace his last remains through the good offices of the museum. Rumour has it that he was poisoned. Mr Howard Alles claims that an offer of $14000 was made for him several days before he died.

Man vs Horse:

There is a story, well authenticated, of a race between the Eel and Tom Longboat, the famous Indian marathoner. The race took place in the Woodstock Fair Ground, over a distance of ten miles. This one the Eel lost; his speed gave him no advantage - eye witness - Mr. Max Bickle, V.S. Woodstock, Ont.

Among the other horse fanciers and owners in the village were the Ratz Family, the Zimmerman Brothers, Henry Schlemmer, the Lingelbachs, Mr. McIntosh - who used to travel to Scotland to buy his heavy horses - Philip Herold. Fred Liebler.....

In July 9, 1903 issue of The Tavistock Gazette we read: The Flying Sid of F.W. Entricken and Wisdom King of F. Liebler "cleaned up" at the Stratford races. On July 16, 1903 Wisdom King took first money in his class at the London races.

In the 1910 Christmas issue of the Tavistock Gazette appeared this advertisement of Ratz & Koch: The Horse Age has given place to the Horse-Power Age but the local tradition of fine animals still carried on at the Tavistock Fall Fair. The six horse hitch, the hackneys and carriage turn-outs and the jumpers are still giving pleasure to old and young.

Tavistock Fall Fair 1908