The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-21
THE TROTTING HORSE DEXTER.

From Wilkes Spirit, AugttSl7.
This famous horse by Hambletonian out of
the black Star mare, bred by Jonathan Hawkins,
sold when colt to Mr.. George Alley, trained
and driven for some seasons by the late Hiram
Woodruff, and more recently by Budd Doble,
has become the property OF Mr. Bonner, and
will shortly pass into the unriYalled stable IN
which Lantern, the FlaJbush Maid, Lady Palmer,
Peerless, Young Pocahontas, and the Auburn
Horse already abide. AS Dexter is about to
retire from the turf, IL is unnecessary for us to
do more than reiterate the opinions often ex-
pressed in these columns. We have long held
that, take him for all in all he was the most extra
ordinary trotter that ever appeared. His com
bnation Of rare qualities eXcelled all tohmer
experience; and we Are now convinced that
there is but one horse living, If there is one,
that can equal him in any one point The horse
to which we refer is the well-known Auburn
horse, also Mr.. Bonner's property. In regard to
these two horses, we had the well-copsidered
opinion of a truly great authority, the late
Hiram Woodruff, who was king among horse
men IN wisdom, experience, and sagacious in
tuition. He pronounced Dexter, when the little
horse was but upon the threshold of his grand
career, as sure to be the king of the world; and
when his own footsteps were fastening down
towards the cypress shades and the clods in the
valley, he declared that of all he had ever
driven, the Auburn Horse was the fastest. Re-
lying upon the former of these opinions and
giving way TO our own convictions, we
declared long ago 10 Mr.. Bonner that
greatest performances that appeared in
the annals OF the uotting turf. And we
now add that we have full faith in Hiram's
latest opinion, viz, that the Auburn Horse
was quite as fast, and upon straight work faster,
than Dexter himself. The chesnut has not had
the handling; he is comparatively raw. Yet,
he could so greatly impress every man that saw
him trot, and Hiram in particular, that they all
declared such rate was never seen save when
old POcahontas, the PAGER, dstanced Hero.
Now, if such things could be done In the green
tree, what could be done in the dry? But the
rare value OF Dexter lies in his completeness
his perfect possession OF all qualities, any one of
which is usually considered enough to make
horse famous. In another article, written in
regard to letter from an experienced turtman,
we have given our opinion OF Dexter. 1t was
written before we knew of his trot at Buffalo,
and that he had been purchased by Mr.. Bonner.
We confess, however, that we have had a
strong suspicion for some time that DeXter's
last race was nigh at hand. In view of all his
exploits-his saddle tIots, his two miles to
wagon, his thTee-nile heats in mud; his fifth
heat in harness, when lame and sore, in 2m.
24ls.; his travelling OF the country through and
through, and coming up as true as STEEL day
after day, to repeat his grand feats; his famous
struggle against Ethan Allen and running mate;
his 2m. los. on the halt mile track before rem
dered historic by the twenty miles of Captain
McGoWan; and his latest performance at Buffalo
[2l741--We are at a loss which to select as the
greatest. We praised him years ago to such an
extent that some called us crazy and now we
are like Colonel Give, who, being impeached
before the Commons of England for taking pre-
sents from the natives of India, said, "By =!
Mr.. Speaker, considering the vast treasures that
were at my disposal, stand to-day astounded
at my own moderation"
From 1te Turf, Field, and Farm,
The particulars of the sale of Dexter to Mr..
| Robert Bonner, of the New York Ledger, are
| given in our Buffalo correspondence. After
performing the greatest trotting feat on record,
| The little wonder was secured to add to the re-
| nown of the already famous stable in which the
| Auburn Horse, Pocahontas, Lantern, Peerless,
Lady Palmer, and Flatbush Maid are the shining
| lights. Dexter certainly is marvel, and in
| securing him Mr.. Bonner has secured q prize.
| He Ietires from the turf the hero of 2174-time
| without parallel in annals OF the trotting turf.
| His career has been one OF brilliant surprises
and it is quite probable that his memorable
record will never be eclipsed. No sooner
had we installed him as the hero of one
event than we are called upon to proclaim
him the hero of a still greater perform
ance. What Lexington is to the running
turf, Dexter is TO the trotting turf. The blind
hero OF Woodburn, alter defeating all rivals,
aid COMPRISING four miles into the brief space
OF seven minutes and nineteen and three-fourths
seconds, retired from the race course paragon
of endurance and speed the wonder and admi'
ration of the age. The gallant little son oil
Hambletonian, after revolutlonizlng time, rival
ling the performance of the matchless Flora
Temple, so long and justly regarded as the
Queen OF the trotting turf, ends his public
in blaze Of glory-Tetires into private life the
hero of the fastest race of the kind in the world
and the peerless star and marvel of the times
Dexter and LeXington-Whata glorious cOuplet
names whollyAmerican and names as imperisha
BILE as our national history AS the representative
of different branches OF the turf and different
strains of blood, they tower to the front, stanC
upon the apex of tame, each exemplifying hi
own renown, and both the paragons of thei
respective types, shedding lustre upon thu
country in which their triumphs were won
| Dexter is now in proper hands. His grea
power and wonderful speed are appropriated,
matched with the energy and enterprise OF tn
indefatigable Bonner. Both man and hors
move in the front ranks, and they correctly re
present the spirit of the age.