The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-03

How did set my love for trotteNs~
said Mr.. Bonner, in reply to a question.
well, ] suppose il was inherited. My
| grandfather used to keep pack of hounds,
and was a famous rider across the country,
and 1t is probably the influence of the blood
In my veins that comes from him that
makes me like a fast horse, and that has
always made it a pleasure for me to ride
| behind one and to own the best that money
can procure. l was born in the north of
Ireland, although my parents were from
Scott, nd, being convenanters of the old
| school, and of course it seems strange that
a man who was bred a Presbyterian Of the
strlctest sort for generations back should
have such fancy for fast horsefleSh, But
you know never allow my love fer horses
to interfere with what l consider to be my
| duties as Christian and good citizen.
do not believe in trOtting horses for money.
That is gambling, and | do not countenance
gambling in any form, but l do believe
that the man who breeds fast horse and
one that is a high type of the family
is public benefactor. We want
the best horses we can get Just as we
want the best cattle and the most improved
forms OF machinery, and there is, therefore,
no reason why any man who has taste in
that direction should not own fast trotters
as we'll as fine cattle or improved breeds of
sheep
How did you come to buy Maud S, 2" he
was asked
1T was in this way An old friend of
mine who was intimately acquainted with
Mr. w. Fl. Vanderbilt, came to my office
and told me in few words that Mr. Van
derbllt had been lmportnned to sell Maud ).
by various parties and had been offered by
one man 100000 for her. but that he was
not disposed to transfer her to any one who
would trot her in public races. The man
who made the offer of 100000 was George
n. Stone, of Cincinnati, from whom the
mare was purchased for S21 900 by Mr..
Vanderbilt when she was years old, and
who, after that time had the management
OF her so long as she remained Mr.. Wander
bits property and was not in his private
stable. / was very much surprised that
Mr. Vanderbilt desired to part with Maud
! ). at any price. but after the reason which
induced him to do so had been given, which
was that he was tired of being importuned
| to match her against other horses, | felt
that he had paid me great compliment in
Offering the mare to me, especially as my
friend told me that Mr.. Vanderbilt had
| instructed him to say that could have the
mare at my own price. asked him what
he meant by my own price and
| price that l had paid for another
horse, or Whereabouts, meaning Rarus 1t
was then agreed that in case | wanted the
mare, which, of course, did, she was to
become my property on payment of $4,000,
and | sent my brother David to Saratoga
to conclude the negotiations with Mr.. Van
derbilt. They were very soon over, and
the mare was transferred to my stable. |
am proud of owning her, believing, as do,
that she is the fastest trotter the world has
ever seen. When Maud S. came to my
stable Mr.. Vanderbilt sent with her the
colored groom, Grant, that has taken care
of her for so many years, and Mr.. Phelps,
the superintendent of his stable, saying that
| could have one or both of them as / de-
sired. | have kept the groom, as he is
a faithful fellow and entirely devoted to
the mare. For five years Maud S. had been
lame and was lame when she came into my
possession. Improper shoeing caused this
difficulty. Of course | was aware that she
had been troubled some with lamenesS, and
| want to say here that Mr. Vanderbilt was
particular that every known fact In regard
to the mare and her condition should be
fully communicated to me before had taken
her. But | knew that the lameness and
weakness was one that could be remeded
by proper leveling of her feet, and that
much good was done during the short time
that | owned her befo she trotted at Lex
ington is shown by the fact that she went
faster there than ever before, and finished
the mile with greater resolution than had
been her custom. She is now as sound as a
new milled dollarn
"You have spent great deal of money
on horsesr'
Yes" was the reply, considerably over
$500, 600"
Then the speaker took up a pencil and
jotted down these facts about the horses he
has owned and what they cost him. This
list only includes the names and prices of
the most prominent of his purchases. The
Purchase:
Boston team. 1000 Russella ..S 5000
Lantern and mate 5000 Elsie VENEER. 1000
Flatbush Maid. . $500 Edwin Forrest. 5000
Peerless zee. ..... $500 Joe Elliott. ..... 10000
Lady Woodruff 5000 Maud Macey. -. 10 900