The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-10
The Horses Of Now York.

The New York correspondent of tit
Troy Times gossips thus about the ia
nous horses OF New York:
The snowy turnouts in the Contra
Park keep up Il spirited competition, and
the Park has done much to create the
present rage for fine horses. Every fam
lily that Is ambitious Of distinction mus
make show in the dashing array o.
eQuipages, and our fast young mon car
hardly pass q half hours chat without in
Producing the ieats Of their ponies.
Charles Astor Bristed has said that twenty
years ago there were but three really fine
teams in tic city, but Ut present you car
count them up until the list becomes
wearisome. Since 1850 the price (if moi
the vNlue) of fine horses has increased
GOuriOld, or as q merchant would say, 40C
per cent. In 1858 Flora Temple was sold
and such was the popularity Of this a.
nous marc that she brought what was
then considered the enormous sum o.
$4,000, but that looks small now. Just
sec how the figures advance. In 1885,
California Damsel brought $1,000. In
1864 Bonner astonished the void by pay.
ing $l3,500 for tho Auburn horse. BuI
his subsequent prices were OF still more
astonishing character. In 1865 he paid
$25 900 for Young PocNlontas, and the
next year he was glad 10 become the
owner OF Dexter, even at the round price
OF $4,000. Mr.. Bonner had then oVel
SEQ 600 invested in six animals, whose
uncertain value may be shown by the fGCI
that the Auburn horse died after I'm ILL.,
ness of few days, while Flora Temple
was disabled by an accident.
The prices just mentioned haVenO rGla'
ton 10 precise value. When rich mer
compete for anything, whether It be for d
book, or a picture, or horse, the value o.
money Is not rCckOnGd. Possession Is
their object, and this must be obtained al
whatever price may he required. 1t docs
not make any difference 10 Bonner wha,
he pays for q horse. lie simply gives 0
piece Of paper bearing figures, signed
with his name, with tho addition OF can
celled revenue stamp This isa very easy
way 10 get horse, and whether tho figure
be $33, 900 or more Is not the slightest
Importance, 50 long as the animal be Sc
cured. Indeed, the owner Of Dexter made
q mistake In not asking q higher price.
Commodore Vanderbilt was DESTROYS Of
making the same purchase, and the figures
might have been $50, 600, instead OF $685..
900. Well, it would not have required
more ink, after all. From $3S,0O0 Il
100000 may seem a large step, and yet
the latter price Is demanded for the Ia
nous Hambletonian, whose colts arc now
among the best trotters in the country.
The rivalry between Bonner and Com
modore Vanderbilt has been the chic
cause Of the present enormous prices
They have contested the distinction o
owning the ileeteSt animals in the world
and have been ready 10 bid against each
other to any extent. Thus far Bonner haI
been successful, and the reason probably
Is because the Commodore did not dream
that any man had the nerve to distance
his figures. In this he was mistaken, ant
his mistake cost him tho envied pre-emi
nence. lie did not know Bonner. Thu
latter indeed has been a constant puzzle t
the world, and has proven himself in lit
erature what Vanderbilt is in Wall street
though the Commodore can beat hin
swearing. Bonner has the finest stud o
fast horses on record.