Connecticut western news., 1872-07-12
AGREAT CHALLENGE.
Goldsmith M0id Challagee DexteH OmA Zoe Elliott.

EDITOR SPIRIT OF THE TnzRs.-Dear Sir: In view of the alleged trial of MT. Bonners trotting horse, Joe Elliott, of a mile, over the Mystic Park Course, at Boston on Fri day last, in 2.15 l-2. and of the repeatedly alleged performance by his horse Dexter of mile in 2.1s. both going in harness, l hereby challenge Joe Elliott or Dexter one or both, to trot the mare Goldsmith Maid race of mile heats, in harness, best three in five, over the Prospect Park Course, or any other of the regular courses of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania or New York, for from $5,0OO to $60, ,0OO a side, with weights up, and subject to all the rules requisite to a regular performance. am aware that Mir. Bonner has hereto fore declined to meet the great horses of the country with any of his stable in reg ular race, even for charitable objects, on the implied ground that racing for money or for prlzes is derogatory prac- tice but as years have elapsed since any of his stable have been chsllanged, and as the turf has since then (under the exeep- tionable management of the gentlemen who preside over the associated courses) acquired an irreproachable moral standing, venture to hope he no longer adheres to that posi- ton.
 I therefore challange Mr. Bonner as above, leaving him either to accept or to make his old reply, if he thinks such re- ply becoming to one who is constantly ''as- sisting" by his presence at the current pro- fessional performances of the New York trotting turf. take the liberty of making these observations because 1t is well known that MT. Bonner's recent parade of the al- legged performance of Dexter and Joe Elli- ott is intended to reflect upon the well-won fame of Goldsmith Maid, and, therefore, warrants me in some latitude of explana- ton. I make no accusation against the well known merits of Dexter, nor do I choose even to question the alleged time of Joe Elliott at Mystic Park but believe that Goldsmith Maid can easily beat either of them at 8 regular race, and at the same time improve her own record.
 Imay be allowed therefore, to say that I see no reason why Mir. Bonner, if he wants a superior reputation for his horses over the horses of any body else, should not be re- required to trot them elsewhere than what may be literally termed "upon paper"
 In order that there may be absolutely no excuse for his further evasion of such 8 trial, l will now further propose that if Mir. Bonner still objects to trot for prize or charitable object or for money, that he shall meet the Maid, with Dexter, or Joe Elliott, in such match as have indicated, for the sake of fairly and regularly deci- ding the first honors of the American trot- ting horse. My object is, in brief to get Mir. Bonner and his horses, for once, before judges who are as much in the interest of the public as his own. If this latter fair and just, and think unexceptionable proposal, shall be accepted, would suggest that the entlre public be invited to be present at the trial, by merely nominal fee of admission so as to cover the expenses of the track, the sur plus, if any, 10 be donated by the managers of the track to some county charity.
 It is only necessary for me to add that the engagements of Goldsmith Maid require that the trot hereby proposed should take place by the goth of August, and l there fore suggest that day. This challenge to remain open for one week from Saturday, the 9th inst. Yours, &c.,,
 BUpD DoBLR.
 New York, July 8.