The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-15
HORSE NOTES.

MAY BIRD-MR. BoNNER's STABLE AHEAD AT
ALL DISTANCES TO ROAD WAGON.
From the TURF Field and Farm Dec. IL
The BLACK marc May Bird, by George Wilkes, by
Rysdyk's HambletonIan, has become a member OF Mr..
Ropert Bonner's celebrated stable. She has boon
the turf OF years and justly has been
garded as OF the gamest animals that Irottnd
down the octolatera line She has not always gone
TO the front when she able get there nevcrthe
less she has OF the hard contested
ever witnessed in tho country. Her record 22l In
harness. 2:l94 TO saddle, IS not the iuI measure
OF her speed. Weight does not anchor her. On Sat-
urday, November Is, at season OF the year when
fast time OF the Question in tho cold climate of
tho New England States, she a wagon race at
Mystic Park, Boston, and made record OF 2:24k u.
Yesterday q gentleman said TO us:--"lt Is rumored
that Mr. Bonner has purchased Nay Bird as mate
Tor Music, with the view OF making q double team
winch will eclipse the 2:23 performance OF MIR. W. Il.
VanderbilI's team Small Hopes and Lady Mac, NJ
Fleetwood Park.n We replied Ut tho time that we
knew nothing OF sale OF May Bird but felt salts
fed IRON what we had seen with our own eyes that IL
was not necessary Tor Mr. Bonner 10 purchase Mr..
Walkers mare to mako team which would pull y
road wagon In 223; that he could. with John Taylor
Music, Moisey, Astoria, Wellesley Boy, Eric, Poca
teams which would 60 from wire wire In mo better
tnan that recorded by small Hopes and Lady Mac.
Al later hour met Mr.. Bonner and inquiry
learned IRON MIN that he had purchased May Bird
for $4,000. but not for the purpose Of entering
into rivalry with Mr.. Vanderbilt HIS motive was the
same winch recently induced him TO add Centennial,
Keen jim. Lucy Cuyef and others 10 his collection.
He explained that his contest had been with tho late
Commodore aud that no did not propose 10 keep up
the struggle himself now that the Commodore
his grave Whatever rivalry existed must be carried
on ny the second generation. The Inference drew
from his remarks that his son Alley would drive
his horses against the time made by the son OF
dead Commodorc. He also gave us permission 10
make public TACT that had known for nearly two
months During Mr. Bonner's absence In Kentucky,
III the last days OF September, We visited lis farm,
In
gentlemen ana assisted IN judging contest
between Music and John Taylor, tho former
driven by Mr. Alley Bonner. The finish was very
close between the two. We ncld watch on Music IN
2:lSl, all present the considered
iormancc OF John Taylor equally as good. rhis was
rapid mile for AN amateur drivcr on threo- quarter
track Tue day SATURDAY. On the following
Wednesday, October 8, Music and John Taylor were
hooked double Tor the hrst time In their iivcs and
Mr. Alley Bonner drove them a iul mile 10 road
wagon on tnree-quarter track In 2:23 which is a
much better performance than mile the Same time
on a mile track. Alter this John Taylor laid up
with shoe boil from which he is now July recov
cred THIS briei statement OF facts should be sum
Gent convince everybody that was not necessary
Tor MT Robert Bonner 10 purchase May Bird In order
to beat The great doube-team performance OF Mr. W.
the wagon team supremacy will bc watched
with no little interest by the people OF New
may interesting to state that is universally con-
ceucd that Mr. Robert Bonner himself has made the
fastest time 70 road wagon at all distances, from
gentieman-namely, Startle. aquarter Of mile, TO
road wagon, IN s2h seconds; Dexter, hali-mile TO
road wagon, :061s; Dexter, mile, to road wagon in
2:2iA, and Lady Palmer and Fiatoush Maid, Two
miles, to read wagon, IN 5:O1h. Not one OF these
achievements as the annals Of the track piany show
has ever been equscd BY way oi conclusion, we add
that Is Mr.. Bonncrs OPINION that two horses can
be harncsscd together to beat 2:lS
The National association Turf Congress will be held
at the Filth Avenue Hotel, In this city, in February
next
The Louisville Jockey Club has four stakes open.
when will close January l. The Alexander stakes IL
Tor two-year-od colts, and II Is hanile dash The
Louisville LADIES' stakes Is Tor twoyearod hllics
and 1t also Is haf-me dash. The Tobacco Stake Is
Tor threcycar ods THAI have not appeared In public
PRIOR 1878, and It's conditions are 500 entrance, half
forfeit. mile heats The Louisville Cup is a handicap
tor all aaes and quarter miles, and the Tonnes
Stake Is Tor two-ycar oids, three quarters OF a
mile. All these stakes will be run ut tho meeting
which commences May Il and closes May 20 The
breeders and OF these colts hould not overlook
the TACT that the stakes close on the LIST prox
We learn from California that Ar. W. T. Barnes
Purchased a nee ycariug colt by MISUNDERSTANDING,
by Lexington, Of Henry Walch, lew days since TOT
ST. 800 The colt Is represented as perfectly formed
ana looks like raccnorso all over There are u
great many line boroughbrcd colts in California at tho
time, and the stakes for Two aud threoyear-
olds next year Will be Will nllcd.