Betty's Critters - & History Views

    The shooting of Aaron Thomas Bowden was the third shooting death on Chincoteague.  The first was in March 1878, when Joseph J. English, owner of the Atlantic Hotel shot a guest for non-payment of his bill.  The second was in June 1885, when Tom Freeman shot 13-year-old Jennie Hill.    The first local newspaper report regarding the death of Aaron Thomas Bowden, followed by newspaper accounts from other cities, by publishing dates: From  The Peninsula Enterprise  newspaper, edition of Saturday, 8 September 1894, on page 3, column 2, under the heading "Neighborhood Notes:"      "Chincoteague.    Mr. A. T. Bowden was shot in his bed through a window, near which he was sleeping last Saturday night, and died in a few hours thereafter.  At the coroner's inquest held over the dead body, Irving Sturgis testified, that he and twelve other young men had been up the Island in search of members of what is known here as th...

   Aaron Thomas Bowden (who was also known as "Ary" or "Airy" and "Tom"), was the third of nine children born to Parker Bowden, Jr. and Mariah C. Birch; his grandparents were Reverend Parker Bowden, Mary Anna Russell, Thomas H. Birch, and Mary Crippen Conner.  He was born on 19 June 1861; and was a waterman, and, mostly, an oysterman; he was also in the US Life Saving Service for a time.   At the age of 21, on 2 January 1883, he married Mary Catherine Chandler on Chincoteague.    Mary Catherine Chandler was the fifth and last child of Captain Joshua L. Chandler (he whose solitary grave is located at the old north Main turn-table) and Catherine Mary Lynch.  Her grandparents were William James Chandler, Ellen Parker, Joseph Jewell Lynch, and Mary W. Tubbs, all born and raised in Baltimore Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware.    Altogether Tom Bowden and his wife had 8 children, the last daughter being born 8 months after Tom's death, and the ...

 Arcangelo, the gray/roan ridgling son of Arrogate won the 1 and 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes in 2:29.23 today.  In doing so, he made history for his trainer, Jena M. Antonucci.  His win made Ms. Antonucci the first female trainer to win the Belmont Stakes.  This was the 15th time that Javier Castellano had been in the irons for the Belmont Stakes, and this was his first win, too.  Not to mention a dead heat for 4th place, making 2 superfecta payouts...  A day of firsts. Arcangelo wins the 155th Belmont Stakes   National Treasure, the front-running winner of the Preakness, led the way for much of the race.  The first quarter was run in 23.63 seconds; the half in 47.69; and 3/4s in 1:12.56; then the others came running.  Arcangelo was the best, winning by 1 and 1/2 lengths over Forte, who was a nose in front of Tapit Trice.  three-quarters of a length behind Tapit Trice, Angel of Empire and Hit Show were a dead heat for 4th place.   ...

 In her first start since winning the Kentucky Oaks, Pretty Mischievous faced a stretch-long side-by-side duel with Florida-bred Dorth Vader, to win by a head.  The light bay daughter of Into Mischief took home a paycheck of $275,000 after winning the 1 1/6 mile race at Belmont Park in 1:43.33. Pretty Mischievous (left) wins the Acorn by a head over Dorth Vader   Pretty Mischievous was in front by a head over Dorth Vader; four lengths behind was Occult, who was a 1/2 length in front of Munny's Gold.   The complete order of finish, with purse money earned follows: 1.   Pretty Mischievous    $275,000 2.   Dorth Vader    $100,000 3.   Occult    $60,000 4.   Munny's Gold    $30,000 5.   Accede     $20,000 6.   Randomized    $5,000 7.   Frosty O Toole    $5,000 8.   Goodgirl Badhabits    $5,000   As ...

 Nine 3-year-old colts will face each other (if there are no scratches) in the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, 10 June 2023.  Each colt will carry 126 pounds once around the 1 and 1/2 mile oval of "Big Sandy," which is also known as the Graveyard of Champions after several champion horses were defeated there by relative unknowns (ie: Onion beat Secretariat).  The 3-year-olds will be making the longest race in their life, and probably for their entire racing career.  The race is a full mile and a half (12 furlongs), and has a purse of $1,500,000.  Post time is scheduled for 6:50 EDT (4:50 MDT). Forte is the early betting favorite for the Belmont   Mage, who won the Kentucky Derby and finished third in the Preakness, is not running in the Belmont.  Of the nine horses in Saturday's field, 3 ran in the Derby and 2 ran in the Preakness.  None of them ran in both of the first legs of the Triple Crown.  Angel of Empire finished 3rd ...

 The Acorn Stakes for three-year-old fillies - the match for the colts' Belmont Stakes - will be run on Friday, 9 June, this year.  A field of 8 fillies (if there are no scratches) will race for a $500,000 purse, covering a distance of 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) on the main track.  Belmont Park's main track is a 1 and 1/2 mile oval, so the Acorn is a 1-turn race over the track known as "Big Sandy."  The post time for Friday's race is 5:14 EDT (or 3:14 MDT) in Elmont Park, New York.  This race is a handicap, with weights assigned so that the entire field should have a nose on the finish line at the same time.  Six of the eight fillies will carry 118 pounds, one carries 120, and the winner of the Kentucky Oaks has been assigned the high weight of 123. Pretty Mischievous after winning the Kentucky Oaks   All of the fillies are bay in color; 5 were bred in Kentucky, and 3 in Florida - Dorth Vader, Frosty O Toole and Munnys Gold.  The 8 fillies repres...