Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-10-29
Troffinr Horse ..D1rfer. ;,

The shortest time in which hors
can trot one mile has been the subiec
of many trials, and for aught that no,
appears we are nearly as far from
solution as when "two-forty" time wa
made in 1924, and remained for tel
years unsurpassed. 1t was not unit
1889 that mile was trotted by an,
horse in less than two minutes ant
thirty seconds. Then Dutchman trot
ted in two minutes and twentv-eigh
seconds From this time twenty year
passed before the mile was made il
two minutes and twenty seconds
Flora Temple going over the course
at halamazoU, TO harness, in 2 min
utes 1873 seconds. This astonished the
world and all lovers of the horse, as il
i"d'eatAd nnsiiiveimrrnuAn,.nt. eitbe,
In the horse. IN our managemant ol
him, or in both. This time of The
beautiful mare, often called the Queen
of the Turf has never been beaten, ex-
cept by the noble horse Dexter, and
until 1865 Flora may be said TO have
been without a rival. That year
Dexter trotted on Long Island, under
saddle, in min. 1Sl sec, the next
year at Buffalo, in 2 min, Is sec. In
1867 he trotted against Ethan Allen
assisted by running mate, the latter
winning in three heats, Ethan trotting
in 2 m. Is sec, 2 m. l6 sec, and 2 m
10 sec, and Dexter unaided, in 2 m.
IL sec, 2 m. Is sec, and 2 m. 21 sec.
Thus this wonderful horse surpassed
his best previous time. Alone, Ethan
Allen never approached Fiora's time.
After this, the same year, Dexter
trotted at Boston, in Pm. 10 sec,
and subsequently against time at Buff
falo, winning 81 900 by beating his
Boston time. The winning of this
trot, in which he accomplished the
mile in 2 m. Ia sec, was the occa.
sion Of his sale to his present owner,
Mr.. Robert Bonner. 1t is worthy
also OF notice that the Buffalo track
was 27 feet over mile long. The
sporting public witnessed the retire
ment Of this horse, whose unpreceden-
ted power and speed gave such prom
Use of a brilliant career, with great
regret In Mr.. Bonner's hands be
has had the best of care, and though
horsemen were prepared TO hear of
great speed when his powers should
again be tested, yet the announcement
of his having trotted a mile in 2 m.
II sec, taxed the oredulity Of almost
every one. However, the fact is es-
tablished by good evidence, and his
sanguine trainer promises even better
results before long. This trial Of
speed was made to crafty two well
known turfmen who happened TO be
present while he was trotted by his
trainer A running horse was made
to join him during the astonishing
performance, TO excite his ambition,
and to induce him TO do his best.
Dexter is gelding, and was foaled
in Orange county, n Y. in 1856; his
dam is half sister to Mr.. Bonners
famous gray mare, Peerless, and has
in her veins some OF the choicest Eng
lish blood. His sire was Ry-dyk's
Hambletonian, in whom flows the IA
nous Messenger blood. His color is
brown, and his height Is hands II
inches, He was first trotted at seven
years old, fact which has great sig
nificanoo, and which we doubt not
will tend TO keep colts and fillies of
tender years off the rack, and check
at least one marked barbarity of the
race course American Agriculfurist