The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-30
AMONG KENTUCKY TR0TTERS
WHERE FAST HORSEs ARE BRED AND
FASTER ONES ARE LOOhED ron.

davsvills nike. ono warm afternoon near the
lat of June. after a visit to the racing stock
FIRMS OF Mr.. NJ. II. Sanford and Major II. q.
Thomas | saw n group of men seated on logs.
under the shade trees " Gen. W. T. Withers's
Farlnwn tro,ting stock farm. Turning into
the place | was greeted In pleasant manner
nv the General. and introduced to half dozen
Kentucky colonies. one doctor. and n Mr.. J. L.
Riddle. the latter gentleman having como from
Ohio to invest In Kentucky trottcrs. He had |
juat completed purchase. and the group we're
talking horse.
Tho prices paid by the Bonners. vandcrbilts. |
Harpers Alleys. Hnrkcrs Kalukauns and |
other gentlemen who handle roynl purses for |
fast trotters. has given wonderful stimulus OF
late years to raising stock In Kentucky TINT
thcy hope may yet beat the world. They believe
10 some extent that hy minglng the stout blood
Of the race horse with the most fashionable and
propotcnt trottlng strains this desirable result
may be obtained. That there is n stable fOundn-
ton for this belief IL proved 10y the fact that
many Of their youngsters have shown remark
nble ncetness and endurance. and give promise
that when they are maiuTed they will be able TO
trot from daylight TO dark Nearly every trot-
ting stable of note in the East now contains
representatives from tho blue grass region AZ
Gen. withcrs's place is typical Of other stock
FIRMS OF the kind. though not ms beautiful rs
some visited. Il brief description may be Of in
tcrest. The General. who is tall, slim, and
gray bearded. resembling u Presbyterian dea-
con more than a Kentucky horse breeder. in
vited me to accompany him on an inspection Of
his stock and farm.
Fairlawn. which adioins Lexington. consists
OF 1853 acres. with comfortable residence and
ordinary stables. The General has a farm nd
joining OF about 500 acres and an estate near
vcksburg OF COCO acres.
The first horse brought out was Almoni.
great sire OF trolters. Almont is n dark bay
with black points. 10 hands "a inches high.
He is n son OF Alpxandor's Abdallah. sire OF
Goldsmith Maid. The General traces him back
to imp. Diomcd Almont has sired over twenty
winners OF public trots. and is now only Is
years old Three Of his get have records as
four-year-ods from 225'. to 1921. Almont is
Of a compact. well-knt form throughout. in nno
condition. and ready to trot any day. The Dea-
con Tor General. should say never starts any
Of his horses in public races. Almont is Mt tho
head of his stud.
rich brown stallion, l5h hands fooled in 1888.
He has trutted In 2:26. and is claimed Ms the
highest brod stallion OF the Clay family.
Although grands re oftrotters far down in the
twenties he Is still a snowy horse. keeping Wis
itors Rt n respectful distance from his hopts.
Almont Mambrino. n dark bay. fOalsd ia 1871.
full brother to Almont CHIEF. with Almont
Prince, ends the line OF kings Of tine stock.
The General has more than seventy-nve
brood mares. nearly all Of the highest breeding:
twenty two-yrar-od tiles, and twenty-one
yearllngs There are two four year Old stall
lions three three year odds. twelve two year
olds. and TWENTY-FIVE ycnrling. Thev are all
In good form, and substantial representatives.
OF their sires. Seventeen weaving colts, TWEEN
ty-two Allies and three geldings completed tho
There is my half-miie track. =" said the Gen
eral, as we passed from the stables to the
pastures. " am the only man in Kentucky
who can sit In his study and overlook his track.
tell you j make the boys careful. They dont
know but I'm there all the time"
General informed that
had a rise OF one loot in mile Tor hall the dis.
@nde ana nm rGH9 inl me o.nsr ha tba muscles
Just then a commoton in one Of the pasture
lots attracted our attention. The General looked
eagerly for n momrat. then he exclaimed:
Good graciousl there's that wo,year-old
hlly among the yearling colts; she'll inlure
some Of them"
Then the General ran for the field and after
I'm run up and drive her down. and you let
her out Of the gate AMI keep the colts from fol-
ma he ran up the field. They soon came down
like squad OF flying infantry toward The gate.
with the illy ia the lead, Taxing position on
one side TO cut of the colts, they all saw me and
sServed across the held and up again. the nlly
and blessed. and ran. waving his hat. with no
effect. Then he said; You keep them apart
Of the colts In the head. there may be good
Here WIS nice position for fat correspond.
ent. The My WAS going ior tho upp 'Henl OF
the lot again. with ona colt dangerously close
TO her hoofs and The, others in bunch behind.
Alter n hot chase. ! fortunately succeeded IN
getting the nlly 20 the opening and cutting OIL
the colts. Tho nNy went out OF the pasture RS
the General and boys came up. too late TO see
suppose we 20 into the house and partake
OF a little refrpshment." sail the General.
Entering his study. the General closed the
door and opened the wndows overlook ing the
track. A refreshing breeze rustled through the
shrubbery coming in through the open win
dows.
the book case, bringing forth green-t tinted de-
ennter. a sugar bowl. and two cutglass gobleis
il would partnke OF a whiskey punch smoth-
cred in leo and sweetened with sugar.
made no serious objections. -, o-,
that no distrTTer MATS, more than one lot OF
real pure, lrst-class whiskey in YEAR,
" It is n fact however" continued the Gen
eral THE grain must be perfect. the mash il
maculste and the disiillation regular. Thi
lpncing his right hand on the neck OF the greer
decanterl is whiskey distilled under these con
dtions. l have u Standing order with dis
tller OF famous whiskeys that when he sirike
such condition OF things to send me barre
Many Kentuck lans pride themselves on thei
the scientific manner OF making punch; IN
General was connoisseur OF the article. nn'
an adeut N mixing the ingredients ne CON
sumcd fifteen minutes In turning the ambe
liquid from the green decanter and TRANSFERRING
1t into two royal Kentucky punches ,,-,..
| will here say parenthetically that during
visit OF nearly two weeks through exciting
races. failed TO see single respectfully az
pearing Kentuckian under tho influence @
lqnOr. -,
quarter OF an hour, the General eXpatiatng o.
the origin Of noted trOtting families. He con
tends that nearly all have descended from thes
four sources; /, The English thoroughbre
Mamhrino traced back to the barley Arabian
q Young Bashaw. son OF Grand Bashaw
Justin Morgan, founder OF the Morgan tamil
Of trotters. 1. Old Pilot. Dnvy Crockett. 5
Lawrence Columbus. Royal George. and othe
Canadians. M
Tho General is training Ammonia, bay 1ll
three years old. by Almont. dam by Kin
brough S Abdallah She has been purchased b
lending Boston clergyman. an Englishma
by birth. Ammonia is a large pattern OF Cold
smith Maid IN form. o,,
Starcttc and Brightness. three year old hllie
well matched. bright chestnuts stylish. an
strong on their feet have been selected here b
leading Boston editor for road team.
Gen. Withers says that Col. Judd. while pul
chasing trottors for the King Of the Sandwc
Islands remHrRed. after looking over the ran
lawn beauties that he would go no iurthe
Some cynical horse dealers around LeN'ngto
say that many OF the sleek young animals
Fdirlawn are destined t. tako great deal
dust on their road through life. But there IS
llttlo jealousy In all well-reguated industries