, 1879-03-23
SPORTING.
THE TURF.

IA - L - 1AL
BONNER vs.. yASDERBILr.
On several occasions TIE TRIBUNE has alluded
to the rivalry existing between the two mos:
prominent and enthusiastic road-rilers in
America,-Mr. Robert Bonner anu Mr. William
Il. Vandcroilt,-and limited that sooner or later
there would be test between the stables Of the
two. In days gone by, when the now dead Com
modore was the head and front of the Wander
Dt bousc, he dabbled largely in fast horscaesh.
but never succeeded in getting hold Of any
thing that was the equal of Dexter, or other Of
Mr. Bcnner's purchases. Mountain Boy was
the best horse the old man ever owned, but, al
though last, he was not ]aster, two heats at
top-speed being generally sufficient to make
him quit badly IN the third. Since the Comno-
dore's death, his son William. H. has been seat
tering money with lavish hanu in an effort to
secure the best OF American trotting-horses, und
considering the short time that has elapsed
since he began purchasing has succeeded in q
remarkable degree.
At the time Of hfs fathers death, Small
hopes was the only really frst-class animal in
the old mans stable. What the sou wanted
was 10 sit behind the fastcst double team in
America, and, with this end in view, his agents
were Instructed to purchase mate for Small
Hopes. Chicago was first visited, and In the
winter Of l8T-'7S, at the Pacific Hotel, the pur
chase OF Little Fred, record 2:20, made at Buf-
falo the previous summer, was consummated.
The horse went East, was tried with Small
Hopes, but did not do we'll, and was subse-
Quently rcpurchased by his original owners, the
Higbie Bros, Of Canton, ILL., Then Lady Mac,
a Tennessee mare with record OF 2:23, was
bought. Her gait n,ld general conformation was
almost precisely like that Of Small Hopes. and
before Mr.. Vanderbilt had owned the team
two weeks he asronished 4 crowd Of spec
tators at Fleetwood Park one afternoon BY
driving them a mile in the unprecedented time,
for double team, OF 2:23. It was IN achieve
ment Of which he might well feel proud, and
having done something that set the turf world
agog he very wisely concluded to rest on his
laurels, and has since made no effort to beat the
time made by lis own team.
The enthusiasm with which this performance
of Small Hopes and Lady Mac was received
must have been somewhat unpleasant to Mr..
Bonner, who had long held the palm Of superb
ority among drivers Of double teams, and al
though nothing was said, he began quietly ma
turing plans to astonish the country with an ex-
hibition OF trotting in harness, to wagon, and BY
upon as the horse to beat the Maids 2:14, and
,rae ,Iocoo !, chor1ev Grcc,,e hands for
49,. t,,t H. ,,,,,t ,,,;.. -
lnal- pu' po9', oos 4e "e"+ a"41as' a.1u
not much has since pcen oonc Win
him. When Rarus went under the
wire in o:13l< Mt Buffalo Inst summer, another
rnor1 ,ros set for +bnsa nm ht;o,e nj own;n the
.., -, -,, 1,,.n,. r,1,.s.
morse VIII lue 'astest leSoio' Io"i" 1ol4es'
entered the Circuit at cleveland, anu at utaca
urh trrr3nrf.11 cnn+1 that GhnrIac
Green secured the refusal OF him at S16,O00, aud
on the following day paid over the money and
took the horse IN reality ne belonged To AR.
Bonner. but this TACT was not made public until
long after the SALE In the 1aii Green came
West with Forrest, and expected before the sea-
son closed to beat Rarus' record, and eveu John
Sulun feared that he would do it. as, at the Mil
waukee meeting in September, he said to
TRIBUNE man: t. There is only one horse that
l think can trot one nile as last as hafus, anu
that horse is Edwin Forrest" But luck was
not with Green, and Forrest was q OIL" Back
to New York hc went, nnd then it was announced
that he was the property of alr. Bonner.
Soon after this came the news that Green
next season. 10 the general public there was
nothing significant in this fact, but the knowing
broached, @ md s'alloSea'' that Mr.. Bonner had
q hand in the matter.
Their predictions have proved true, as during:
The TRIBUNE that Green is to have charge OF
q large number OF A1r. Bonner's horses during
the coming season, and that it is the intention
of the Ledger proprietor to make mighty effort
in tile direction Of beating the trottil,g records
at all ways Of going. The knowledge OF this
fact has evidently come to the Spirit, since in
the current number Of that paper there is an in
timation to the effect that mile BY double
team over Prospect Park should be made in
much faster time than at Fleetwood, where Mr..
I 4,+t al f1,a fropl in