The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-02-01

| Pocahontas is assuredly the handsomest
trotter, and one of the most symmetrical,
graceful and perfectly formed horses in this
country. Standing about fifteen hands, a
dark rich bay with a small, fine head, proud
arched nostril, brilliant eye, her ears wide
apart, her tail sweeping the ground for at
least foot, and luxuriant as fox's brush,
she is splendid picture of equine develop
ment. Her appearance in public is always
the signal for enthusiastic admiration among
connossenrs and Commodore Vanderbilt
once said to Mr.. Bonner that sit was worth
one hundred dollars day to look at her. y
| This beauty trotted in 2.23 when only six
years old, but has made even better time
since in Mr.. Bonner's hands.
| The auburn horse is sorrel, with four
white feet and white face he is not .pe-
cially handsome nag to look at, but, as a
sporting butcher said, he is "a nasty thing
to GO He has, however, never been fairly
tried in public, Mr.. Bonner having bought
him Immediately after bis first appearance
on the turf, on the strength Of Hiram Wood
| run > Teiiiuih, ludt he was INT iaStcot ho' DC
he ever Drove
Last but greatest, so far as speed is CON
cerned comes the famous Dexter. This
champion Of the trotting turf of America IS
sturdy, short barrelled. dark brown horse,
with four white feet, a white nose and streak,
a large, though well formed head, rather
wicked eye and a flowing tail. There is
nothing particularly attractive about the APP
Eearance of Dexter; he is to the gaze OF
the ordidary lookeron very ordinary
''chunck of horse" as the .Jerseymen say
but then he has made mile in 2.l7} in har-
ness, and 9 Is to saddle feats which are so
far. unequaled in the turf annals of the
world.
| This completes the list of "stars' that
now occupy Mr.. Bonner's stables. No such
array of remarkable horses, nor any APP
proach to it, was ever before gathered to.
gether under the ownership Of Il private gen.
lleman in any country. And when it is re-
mcmbered that Mr.. Bonner has purchased
these horses for his own pleasure, that he
! does not permit them to be driven for any
| wager under any circumstances, nor will he
drive them himself for any such wager, the
existence of such stud becomes the more
extraordinary.
A curious circumstance, by-the-by, will
| be noticed in connection with these horses
| II will be observed that Lautren, Lady Pal
mer, The Auburn and Dexter are each
marked by two or four white feet and white
nose. These horses are or have been ayow
| cdly the sovercigns, so TO speak, Of the turf,
| in their several degrees. Yet there is an old
quatran, familiar to turimcu, which says
-Four white feet,
And enc white nose:
Gut oil his head
| And fling him to tho crows"
Dexter, the fastest trotter; Lexington, the
fastest runner; aud pocahontas, Senior, the
fastest PAGER in the world, have or had -four
white feet and one white nose"
| So much for old saws
sHoElNG AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT.
| The proper shoeing Of horses is Il matter
of great Importance in all cases; but in
those of delicate hoofcd, high bloodcd trot
tiers it becomes a vital question both for
speed and comfort. Mr.. Bonner is so par
ticular about the manner in which his horses
are shod, that he always superintends the
operation himself, remaining in the shop
during the fitting and mailing Of the Shoes
both Of which details, he not only directs,
but even assists in, personally.
| AS the perfect fairness of the shoe is ne
cessary to even and comfortable stepping
Mr.. Bonner has procured smooth and flat
block Of marble, upon whose surface he
places every shoe before it is nailed to the
horses hoof, and if the iron does not lie
| plumb on the stone it is hammered and filed
until thoroughly level surface is obtained.
He has also a theory about fastening the
shoe. He makes the smith hammer al
ternately on each side, stroke for stroke,
nail by nail, left and right, so that the tight
ening Of the shoe to the hoof is gradual and
equal on bob sides. lie also has the shanks
of the shoe stretched very little wider than
the hoof; and by his system of driving the
nails, the foot is brought ont to the shoe,
and the frog and heel are expanded in the
operation. The result is highly conducive
| to the soundness and toughness of the hoof
and the freedom and irmness of step in the
animal.
Mr.. Bonner horses are driven solely by
himself. Occasionally trusted man drives
one or a span under Mr.. Bonner's eye, but
he never allows his grooms to take his horses
out for exercise into the public streets or
roads, unless he is present himself. The
only exercise they have, besides that which
Mr.. Bonner gives them in his regularly daily
drives, is the monotonous "walk around"
as the minsrels would call it, on the stable
path, under the boy before mentioned.
The food of these famous steeds is the
same as that of the most ordinary horse. -
Oats are the staple Of diet, with occasional
"mashes," aud now and then little corn
| or carrots, in proper season. The vehicles
| used by Mr.. Bonner are simple, and of the
ordinary road form and though lightly and
and well made, without any attempt what
ever at ornamental display. Some are with
and others without top, some double and
others single; but all equally plain aud
| neat, The harnesses are in keeping with