, 1879-08-17

ALWAYS been to own the fastest trotters in tn
+ world, and few years ago, when til
horses that had beaten 2:20 could be counte
upon ones fingers, there were none Vho coul
dispute bis claims to supremacy in this line. q
late, however, 2:20 horses hare become as com
mon almost rs $50 ones, and, since the per
formances OF Rarus in 1S17 it has been uniyer
sally conceded that to him belonged the honor
so long and proudly worn by Goldsmith Maid.
Mr.. Bonner was also beaten in the matter O
double teams as we'll as single drivers, ant
beaten, too, in quarter where he least expect
! ed to see victorious rival. Many years ago the
proprietorot the Ledger placed himself at the
head of doube-team drivers by the perform,
ances OF his celebrated pair Of mares, Lady
Of May, 1852, this team was driven
by their owner mile in 2:26, and
three days later two miles IN 5:014 the sec
ond quarter of the last mile be ny uone in 50 Sec
| onds, ,-a2:D gait. Although these performances
we're not OF nature that entitled them to stand
| as record against the animals making them,
! they we're accepted unhesitatingly by the gen
eral pnblic and stood for fifteen years unbeaten
and unchal'crged. In 1877 the well-known San
brought upon the Oakland track for the pur~
pose OF seeing how fast mile could be made in
double harness. Orrip Hfckok drove, and in the
third heat sent them from wire to wire in 2:26]<{,
which still stands as the best recorded double
team time.
Then came hlr. ~. H. Vanderbilt, who. at
Fleetwood Park in the fall of 1877, drove Small
Hopes and Lady Mac mile IN 2:23, the timing
being done by competent and responsible par
ties: This eclipsed anything ever done IN the
double-team line, aud although not of record
the performance was so widely advertised that
it Is to day well kuown by everybody who takes
an interest in trotting. 1t naturally "riled"
Mr.. Bonner to sec the son OF the old Commo-
fyrifh ,unor1 70 hoSh hal a.,
was almost invariably successfully complishing
in few months far more than others h2q
been able to do in years, aud it soon
began to be rumored around thnt he was
getting together team that would beat 2:20
The season of 1878 came and went, but Mr..
Bonnes's 2:20 team was still q thing Of the
future. Then be bought Edwin Forrest, and
was going to beat the best recorded time in
taraess with him. Not long ago the New York
Star contained an interview With Mr. Bonner, 10
which it was stated that he had driven one OF
bis teams 10 2:223 over bis three.quarter mile
track near TarrYtown. y. j. This brought to
mind the fact that all Of the notable PERFORM
anees OF Bonner's horses after they became bis
lie. having been fed on this kind Of
stofies SO long, began to weary Of them.
They we're not SURPRISED, however, when
about two weeks ago it was announced
q mile in 2:15l4 over air. Bonner's track. A
few days later came the news that the same
horse had troited a mile in harness in iu2:1-over |
Mr. Bonner's track. !
Hav.ng now beaten the best double-team time,
The best wagon time, and the best harness time !
On that track Of his, Mr.. Bonner is probably sat-
SIZED. But the most remarkable feature OF the |
performances OF the Bonner horses |
8 that they take place over track presumably !
slow, and under circumstances which pre-
rent their becoming o matter OF record. |
It is urged by the friends Of Mr.. /
Bonner that he has an intense dislike +
o notoriety and decp-seated objections
0 displaying his horses in public This may be
gould seem that instead Of shrinking from no.
orietY Mr. Rouuer persistcntly courts it. It is |
lot ut all probable that rhe New York papers
'ou1d be continually publishing laudatory no
aadc anv strenuous objections thereto. The
LEGGED wonderful trott:ng OF the Bonner stable
all doue On private track, and II SO DISPOSED !
he owner of the premises might teep the
of it to himself.
But whether or not ME. Bonner owns horses
1arcan defeat the world will never be known
, long as he refuses to make their perform
uces authentic This be can easily do, and
ill remain eDshrouded in the mantle Of mod
stv with which he Is said to have clo:lled him.
1T from early youth. ANY contest for purse.
remium, stake, or wager, on any course, and |
the presence oi judge or Judges, constitutes | ,
public race Mr.. Bonner nay, therefore, be- !
,,me bis own judge, timer, starter, etc, pro-
0eu he Will secure auQfNET party 10 put uU
Wiling to be trofted for. 4 cup will do as
ell IS anything else: Then, in regard to the
ack, the National Rules expressly state that
time made at fairs and on any !
ack, whether short or not, shall constitute
II, the same as # made over track that Was :
Il neasurement.''
The public has had enough Of this private :
ack trotting where 20 record is obtained, and =
already pretty we'll disgustcd with it. IT Ed | :
n Forrest can do mile in 2:11 or thereabouts, | Y
! &l,o lob nj in . that ]
II make it au hlentic and a record.