The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-12-13
TROTTING FAST HORSES DOUBLE.
How the Record has Been Gradually Low.
ered-Robert Bonner's Opinions.

On May 10, 1862, Robert Bonner electrified the
trotting world by driving his team, Lady Palmer
and Flatbush Maid, mile in 2:26. Peoples eyes
opened wide with wonder, and when three days
later Mr.. Bonner drove the same team over the
same track two miles in 5:Ol4 they could not find
expression for their establishment. Five years
later Bruno and Brunette, team belonging to a
Mr.. Harker, driven by professional driver, made
the same mile to a road wagon in 2:254. The
most formidable rival Mr.. Bonner had for many
years was Commodore Vanderbilt, who paid lib
eral prices and bought good horses. Another one
was old Colonel Harper, who paid large prices but
did not wish it known. Once when he paid 49,
500 for horse he assured his friends that he had
drawn his check for 81, $50 for the horse; and so
he had,-in fact he had drawn two of them each
for that amount. When Commodore Vanderbilt
died he left his road horses to his son William H.
Among the number was Small Hopes, the free
booter Of American trotters. He had been ruled
off all association tracks, but considered to
have any amount of speed. William H. Wander
bilt then bought Lady Mac to mate with Small
Hopes, and in 1877 he drovethem miIein double
harness in 2:23. Then came Frank Works team
Dick Swiveller and Edward, who did their mile in
2:l64. In this way the fast time of twenty-five
years ago has been reduced until Maxey Cobb and
Meta Medium made record of 2:153, and those
who are best informed on trotting horses say that
the end is not yet.
That the season of 1885 has in store feats un-
thought of in this style of driving cannot be
doubted. The indications all point that way. 1t
is an open secret that Frank Work is looking
around for horse that will hook up with which
ever may prove to be the faster of his fast team
when driven double. Mr. Rockefeller with Ceora
and Independence, which have trotted in 2:161
together, will make a struggle for the crown. Mr..
Cohnfeld, the owner of the present champion team,
does not think they have yet reached their limit
but in another year will reduce their record from
one to two seconds over a good track. William
Fl. Vanderbilt has a good team in Aldine and
Early Rose and he believes them to be fast enough
to compete with anything that goes over the road,
but he seems to have withdrawn from the battle.
The fastest performance by double team is the
unrecorded mile made by Maud S. and Aldine on
Fleetwood Park track, June Is, 1888, when VIM.
II. Vanderbilt drove them a mile to a top road
wagon in 2:151. Robert Bonner said to Tribune
reporter in regard to the speed of horses in double
harness "There are many horses that can trot
faster double than they can single. In fact, any
frst-class horse can go nearly as fast that way
do not think it is beneficial to train horse that
way, however. To develop the greatest speed is
what 1 have been after for the past few years. 1
have not had my horses trained that way. / did
drive Rarus and Pickard however, mile over
Fleetwood track year ago with John Murphy
and myself in the wagon in 2:23. That is the
fastest mile trotted with two men in the wagon
Next year, after Maud S. has obtained the best
record possible, I shall harness her with my other
horses and show a fast mile that way. Her per-
Torrance with Aldine in 2:154 shows that Maud
S. is a perfect pole horse, and when harnessed
with Rarus they should trot in 2:10 together
known speed do not think is an extravagant
statement"