The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-11-14
American Horses.

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ed there. In New York, however, the
greatest attention is paid to the bus
mess. The single county of Orange has
over one hundred breeding establish
ments, some of which are very extensive
Charles Backman's for instance, includes
six hundred acres, where are collected
upward of one hundred and fifty horses,
of all ages, many of the finest trotting
lineage. In the rear of the immense
stables of this equine village and yards,
is exercising ground, and mile track for
training the young animals. The whole
business is as completely equipped as a
commercial establishment in large city,
and the owner calculates with almost
equal certainty upon the profits of his en-
terprise. Millions of dollars are also in
vested on the farms along the Hudson
river, in the breeding of trotting horses
There are similar breeding establishments
in Iowa and Western States. For the
last thirty to forty years, the value of
trotting horses has increased even faster
than their number aud speed, the rate
being at least 100 per cent. every decade
In 1858, Flora Temple was sold for $S,
900; in 1862, the California Damsel for
Sll 900 in 1866, Young Pocahontas for
$4,000 and in 1867, Dexter, who iu
that year surpassed all previous speed
trotting a mile in 2 minutes III seconds
sold for S33, 900. 1t is now no usual
thing for fast trotting horses and fine
stock horses Of the best trotting blood to
sell from ten to twenty thousand dollars.
This shows the immense popularity of the
American breed of trottng horses, and
the amount Of wealth they represent
The founder of this breed seems to have
been Messenger, whose lineage is tracable
back to some of the Arabian blood in
England. He was imported into New
York in 1898, aud was of superb form
and extraordinary power and spirit. His
form, with the remarkable vitality and
endurance of his race, has endowed his
progcny-which has been persistently
used and trained to trotting-with extra
ordinary courage and endurance So
great has been the impress of this won
derful stamina and splendid form upon
American horses that his value to the
country may be estimated at millions of
dollars. His stock has been bred in and
in to an unprecedented degree, without
any Of the disastrous effects generally
feared from in.breeding. This success
has led many to think that where sire and
dam are affected with no disease, in breed
ing may be resorted to with safety, the
only effect being to intensity in the pro-
geny the characteristics common to both
parents.
In this connection, a few words in re-
ference to very remarkable auction sale
of horses which took place in July last at
Tattersall's, London, will not be out of
place. The animals offered belonged to
the stock of the late Mr.. Blcnkiron, of
Middle Park, near London, who was one
of the most scientific and successful stock
raiscrs in the world. Many of the nobil-
ity and the most noted horse breeders
and fanciers of Europe were present.
At the appearance of Blair Atho), the
finest stallion in the world, the cry of
"Hats of" was raised, and the whole as
semblage uncovered in honor of horse.
The sale of this tallion was the great
event of the entire auction, aud the bid
ding was of nation against nation. Start
ed at 4 900 guuieas, the offers rose, until,
on the bid of the New Stud Company
Blair Athol was knocked down at II 500
guineas, or the monstrous sum in Ameri.
can currency, of S65,625. This was the
largest sum ever paid for horse, and by
the side of it the prices paid here in
America for such horses as Dexter, how
ever much criticised, sink into insignii
cance. The famous Gladia;eur, the
triumph of the French turf, was sold to
a private buyer at $4,000. Mandrake,
who bought $40 500, comes to America.
The twelve stations realized altogether
SlS2,2S0, an average Of $l5,l9O each,
while the entire stud, comprising, besides
these, 1913 mares with foals and 63 colts,
brought the astounding and unprecident
ed sum of l02,3TO guineas, or $3.50, ,440
over a half million Of dollars in four
days sale.
The enormous prices which these ami
mails brought are simply an index, says
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