The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-12-25
VALUABLE 8.
~eseo. Trottsrs Purchased at varioua
Times by Robert Bonner.

ais first investment through = friend.
| DR.. Samuel Hall. who paid 1915 for q
bay mare that could trot in about three
minutes. It had been the advice Of his
physician that riding would prove very
beneficial to this health, and, beginning
with his modest purchase, Mr.. Bonner
has continued. until to-day the amount
disbursed aggregate s over $4oo. o00. In
1859 Lantern and mate were pu released
for $4,000. and they were then con-
sidered tho fastest team in the country.
In 1860 Lady Palmer became his prop
crty at 8 $1,000, and a year later Flatbush
Maid was secured as . mate, the price
being s6, 500. The pair were afterward
driven by their owner two miles
over Prospect Park in sol 1-2. In
1864 he brought Pocahontas. by Ethan
Allen, paying for her $4,000. and she
afterward trotted q mile in 2:1S, al
though not as a technical record. A
veal later the Auburn horse was pur-
chased at $13. 600. and in 1867 the re-
nowned Dexter. with a record OF
2:18 IA. became hisproperty at $35, 900.
Then followed Bruno, at $4,000; Joe
Elliott, at $40, 900; Startle, Mt $50. 900.
Mambrino BERTHE, at &c. Lady
Stout, at S15, COO; Grafton, $3.50
WELLESLEY Boy, $4,000; Maud Macy,
SIC, 900; Edwin Forrest, SIG, 600, and
any number Of lesser lights. whose pur-
chase prices could be written with four
figures. until, in 1879. the great Rarus
was secured at $3.50 600, his record be-
ing 2:13 Ia, and he was then conceded
to be the king Of the turf. Mr.. Bon
ner's purchases had all proved good in-
vestments-that is, hadprovcd his good
judgment by their subsequent perform
ances. Dexter drew his owner a mile
to road-wagon in 2:21 S-4, it be ing one
of tho greatest performances ever re-
corded. Joe Elliott trotted a well authen-
ticated trial mile in 2:l5 1-2. Startle
has at least twice beaten 2:20. Grafton
has trotted a mile five seconds faster
than his record of 1929 IA, while Ed
ward Forrest has shown a mile over the
three-quarter-mile track at Mr.. Bon
ncr's farm in 2:l1 3-4, and Rarus has
''done the track" in PAL 1-2. After the
purchase of Rarus followed Convoy
i2:22 1-2), Daisy Darling, Nutbourne.
Escort, Halcyon, Keene Jim (2:l9 LAY
md Pickard (2:1S l-4), the prices rang
ing from $4,000 to 1900; but all were
overshadowed when in August, 1884,
the news was flashed over the civilized
world that William II. Vanderbilt had
sold Maud S. to Robert Bonner, the
consideration being $40. 900. The pur-
chase produced more sensation than any
previously contaminated by the noted
connoisseur in horsefesh, as It was cur
rent gossip that MI. Vanderb 1t had
been rendered 800, 900 for the queen of
the turf. 1t has been q fixed principle
with Mr.. Bonner never to allow any of
his horses to trot for money OF compete
in public contests, but after the pur-
of the reigning queen of the turf,
Sportsman suggested through its
editorial columns that Mr.. Bonner al
low Maud to trot at grand circuit meet
ings against her record, and rs he had
frequently asserted that no horse
owned by him should ever
where consideration
depended upon winning or losing,
The same article further suggested that
a suitable cup or souvenir be offered by
zach association, and then, should the
performance be a winning one, the
made would constitute a record.
This suggestion was at once acted upon.
and on November II, at Lexington.
KY. she was started against her
previous record Of 200 3-4, and won.
her record at 200 IA. In 1885
'he was again in fine form, and at
o.. July 80, she was again
successful, lowering her record to
':OS 3-4, which is the present mark,
md is one and thrce-quarter seconds .
than any other horse has ever
rotted mile in public. During the past
'eason the peerless mare was kept OF an '
'dge, her owner driving her o mile to :
! road wagon in 2:l4 IA, and she was :
ut any time to be poin ted and sent
tut to defend her throne should any !.
place 1t in danger, but !
OF a surprising nature occurred, '
md she has now been returned to her
city stable, and there for the !
resent at least shc will remain :
lmcrtcan Sportsman. .