The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-31
HORSE NOTES.
DEATH OF THE rnorr1se MARE PRINCESS.

Tho bay marc Princess, foaled in 1S4s by Michael
Rcaker, dam unknown, died recently at the farm OF
Mr.. Robert Bonner, near Tarrytown, westchester
county. This was famous trottcr IN her prime,
and after her retirement from the track was valuable
brood marc She was bred In New Hampshire, and
when about five years old taken to Chicago by
d. A. Cage being then called Topsy. As the late HI
ram Woodruff we'll acquainted with the career OF
this mare wo copy from his book the following remi-
nisccnces Of hor while on the TURF
On the 10th Of June. 1859, Flora Temple met new
ana favorable competitor IN tho bay mare Princess
This had formerly been called Topsv, under
which she troted fast In the West She was then
tagcn TO California and became the property OF Mr.
Tcaklc a gentleman of line parts and enterprise and
high character She had bcen brought from the Pacific
s,Ie 10 New York by James Eon very able trainer
and driver and generally thought be as hardy and I'M
scrupulous as any man ~ our profession. rf'ncess
bincd with strength. do not know her pedigree;
have heard several different stories about IL; but she
showed blood and must have had good strain In her
Her temper not Of the best, aud, though she had
great gilt Of speed, she was not steady enough TO be
always reliable. Her bottom was great Before leav-
ing California 10 here she twice boat Glencoe
Chef ten miles, wagons, winning those races IN
29m. l0As and 2om. 1928. The hrst OF these races
Tor $4,000. Her best mile IN pubic had been
$3.50; but have heard that she went an amaz
ingly last mile 10 wagon IN trial with pacing
horse ana that trial induced Mr. Teakie to bring her
eastward again. Eoff was great master OF humbug
regard 10 this mare that flora's owner refused to
match her. An arrangement was then entered INTO
that they should lrot threc-me heats ana two-m,le
heats TO wagons tho Eclipse and divide the
gate money 1t was given out that they were matched
tor 500 sdc but the truth is thore was nothing at
stake between them They rotted tho threo-inile
heats the 10th oil june 1859, In the presence ol
great crowd. Eot had so worked upon the belief OF
many crcduous people that they actually laid Oh 30
q wagon which would have beaten Dulchman s time
under tho saddle ny two seconds and haiL TALL
man drove Flora ana non rrncoss b ueau NY
odds were upon the httlo marc who had won
such gallant race little more than fortnight pro-
vi0us from Ethan Allen II was hundred 70 twenty
i've ON her Before they started there came up thun-
dor shower which drenched thousands oil people 10 the
SKIN ana made the course slippery and bad In the
first Las Princess tho lead and kept for nearly
mile; but Flora got to her head few strides IRON
the score and they crossed u together ia x;sI tal
three lengths but At tho score again inc og marc only
led her length The time OF that mile was 2:4O1s.
Flora made little skip the turn and Princess was
three lengths ahead the quarter But now her time
was come. The little marc made such line rush that
sho was ut the oil Princess at the half pole
sho took the lead ana by tive lengths with great
case in 1854, amid great shouting: Ten 10 one
was now laid, and was Whispered ed ; ABOUT
Instituted the report himself for II was part OF his
tactics TO mako people believe that Princess could beat
Flora became his interest TO let her do So
In The second heat Flora took the leac The first mile
was 2371s, the second 1883 In the third mile Flora
TO come pack ana shs "s and
many beleved that Eon might then have passed her
and the boat II he had wanted to 40 So Flora was
IN q hobbc all tho way home, and broke three times
after she passed the drawgac but Princcss never got
TO her, and tho little marc won II IN 7oy%.
pulled Princess IN the last heat purpose to lose it.
But II EoT had mare that could have beaten Flora,
plausible. ana, / am inclined to think, u truthful
story 1t that Princess was as tired rs Flora was;
no had sent her ever SO little at the finish she
would have broken up and, as she Is bad breaker,
that would have lost It, Tho truth TO my mind Is that
Princess could beat Flora when the latter was at
herself aud Eoif OF all men IN America the man
who knew 1t best. Flora, however, was not at her
best that day. In week after tho race OF
cess tro,,ed two mile heats in harness.. The
betting opened 100 TO 20 Flora, but before they
started It even. Tallman drove Flora again, ana
IN scoring she seemed and wild. Princess, on the
other hand quite steady, and from all appearances
ner race 10 wagon had done her good. They went
turn she pulled snoo of and her quarter This gavo
Princess lead Tho latter trOtted the rst mile In 26
but there was no daylight between ner ana nora
very lust, and, making swift ana rcsoiute cart 10
close with Princess on tho backstretch, sho grabbed
OFF her other lore shoe and cut ner Quarter
badly, Princess the heat easily III 5:02 and
might no doubt have trotted 1t considerably faster II
she had been pressed in the second mile. II was 10
to on the California mare. Flora was little lame
when brought out Tor the second heat Princess TOOK
the lead. kept all tho way and won handy IN o:oo
and that Princess could boat her anywhere but
the truth that people forgot the wonderful constitu.
ton and como again qualities OF Flora, while, with all
her speed bottom and fine Of going Princess was
an uncertain and nothing like as reliable for q
created great sensation all the country, and
ust hero say that spite Of her defeat many stuck
to Flora aud contended that tho verdict obtained by
Princess would be reversed With heavy costs and dam
ages when there was new trial
These famous trotted several times after this
on Long Island and through the country while on a
hppodroming expedition, but Princess never after.
ward was able to beat Flora Temple single race
Princess was bred to Hambleonian after being taken
oil the turf and her FIRST ioal was Happy Medium now
owned by Robert Steel, Of Philadelphia. She had
other ioas, but they were never famous. Mr. Bonner
purchased Princess few years ago with the intention
Of breeding her Edward Everett but she never had
foa while he owned her. She died in her twenty ninth
year. Her old opponent and In her palmy days the
acknowledged queen Of the turf Flora Temple, is still
alive and we'll Chestnut Hills, near Philadelphia the