Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Mystery History


Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win a fabulous prize!

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.
Posted by at
Labels:

11 comments:

larry said...

umm, sea biscuit has cantered over from santa anita to be honored by the city of pasadena at a city hall ceremony?

September 8, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Petrea Burchard said...

Ooh, Larry, I think that has to be it. This is obviously City Hall, built in 1927. The people are well-dressed, so it's not a depression photo but must be a bit later. The horse is wearing English tack and no Rose Parade-type stuff. Gotta be a race horse. And look at the one guy in the cap just to the left of the horse's rump. Not as well dressed as everyone else. Trainer.

September 8, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Margaret said...

Darn. I think Larry must be right.

September 8, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Susan C said...

I would think that there would be a much bigger crowd for Sea Biscuit, but I don't have an alternative.

September 8, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Mister Earl said...

Catherine the Great of Russia visits Pasadena.

September 8, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Kevin at Time River Productions said...

That isn't Seabiscuit. It actually is an English Jumping horse named Merriweather. The year is 1921 and Merriweather was involved in a famous criminal court case, California vs. Nathaniel Craig. Craig, who's head and right shoulder can be seen behind the horse's mane, was accused of robbing Citizen's Bank on Colorado at Marengo of $200,000 and escaping on horseback. Merriweather had been hitched to a post outside the bank and saw the masked gunman exit the bank and ride off on his horse. Because a horse could not be accommodated in the court building on Walnut, the judge moved the court to the front steps of City Hall. Here Meriweather is being sworn in by the court clerk, Cilla Eaton (woman in print dress and bonnet, holding a Bible). Meriweather's owner and trainer, Luke Barget can be seen in the black cowboy hat on the far left of the picture. On the prosecution table are exhibits of two horses, one belonging to Nathaniel Craig. Meriweather did indeed identify Craig's horse and it was the conclusive evidence that led to the conviction of Craig, who received 20 to 30 years in San Quentin. Ironically Craig was pardoned after three months and hired as president of Union Bank which in its press releaase announced, "Craig has just the skills we need to expand our bank."

September 8, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Cafe Observer said...

For now, I place my bets on the editor.

September 8, 2009 at 11:21 PM
paul (that talker guy) said...

Judge Ida May Adams decides that discredited race horse el loho can return to the track in February, 1948. (I'd have gone with Seabiscuit, but Ida May is much more fun... )

Paul

September 9, 2009 at 12:33 AM
Unknown said...

It's a ceremony at city hall for the last horse in Pasadena before cars took over.

September 9, 2009 at 8:08 AM
Michael Coppess said...

Aaround the final turn its merriweather, el loho and seabisquit. Heading for home its el loho on the rail, seabiscuit charging outside, loho, seabiscuit, at the wire its seabiscuit by a neck. I'd guess the photo is a promotion for the original Seabiscuit movie. Isn't Shirley Temple in the crowd somewhere?

September 9, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Mister Earl said...

This was actually an early attempt to chemically compare what came out of a horse's rear end to what came out of the City Council's mouths.

September 9, 2009 at 10:34 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)