Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-28
A8LITTLE HORSE TALK
Views Of Bonner, c. ]. Hamlin and
Col. Bruce on the Trotter.
A GLORIOUS FUTURE BEFORE IT.
Reasons Why Thoroughbred Blood Improves
the Trotter.
TROTTING FASTER NOW THAN EVER
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH

WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH
Mr.. David Bonner is one of the bestlpost-
ed men on trotting horses In the country.
He has made study of them for more than
20 years. He can tell the record and pedl-
gree of any prominent trotter without mo-
ment's hesitation, and can, to use his own
words, talk horse all day long" He is the
ex-President of the Gentlemen's Driving
Club of New York, is a frequent judge at
home shows of trotting stock, and owns
few very good trotters. He chatted pleas
antly about the future Of the trotting horse
recently and drew glowing pictures. He
said:
The future of the trotting horse is bound
to be great. The interest taken is increas-
ing more and more, especially in the West
and Southwest. There was time when
New York State was the center for the trot-
ting horse. But for the reason that our
roads are so poor and hard the interest
has decreased considerably. 1t has re-
vived somewhat of late years, and if we
could succeed in obtaining a drive
way in Central Park it would en-
hance the value of the trotter here
considerably. We hope to get that drive
soon. The aim of all breeders is to pro-
duce the world beater, Breeders in this
State have given a great deal of attention to
this for some time, and now Kentucky and
California have fallen into line. Kentucky
is now one of the greatest trotting horse
States. The reason of breeders wanting to
produce the world beater is because the
horse making the best time is worth so much
more, and if they can produce one or two
fast horses the value of all their stock is in
creased a great deal. It is only for the past
20 years that attention has been given to
this subject, and only perhaps for ten years
that any success has been shown. Dexter
was not the result of any thought as 70 what
strain would mingle and produce speed, but
the majority of other fast ones have been.
COULDN'T STAY.
'Years ago the horses were just as fast as
they are now for short distance, but they
could not stay any distance and could not
repeat, am a great admirer of the
Hambletonian and American Starr cross,
and think they have produced the best
trotters of to-day. Some time ago 1 was
talking to a breeder about finely bred
horses. He laughed at the idea of making
such study, and said that he wanted the
horse that would make the best showing in
three heats. I replied that the horse I
would pick as being finely bred would come
very near being his fastest. I have always
been an admirer an Hambletonian, and
knew Mr.. Rysdyk very well. He accepted
advice gave him about the horse and
made him great success. I was first
attracted to Hambletonian because he was
by Add ullah. George Wilkes was the first
horse to give Hambletonian a reputation
outside his county"
"What strains do you like best to produce
| the fastest trotters?"
"Hambletonian, American Star, Nam
brino Chief and Pilot, Jr. A combination
of these strains is sure to produce speed,
For instance, Maud S is by ambletonian
horse, and her dam is by Pilot, Jr. She is
the greatest mare yet produced. Jay-Eye-
See has record second to that of Maud s..
He is by a son of Hambletonian and his
dam was Star mare. Phallas, the greatest
stallion seen on track, was by Dictator, by
Pilot, Jr., and his dam was q Mambrino
Chief mare. Some claim that little Clav
blood mixed with these strains is valuable.
This is proved by Electioneer, one of the
greatest sires of young stock"
"About thoroughbred blood in the trotter,
Mr.. Bonner?"
VALUE OF THOROUGHBRED BLOOD.
ga great deal of discussion has been 60
ing on among trotting horse owners and
breeders as to the value of thoroughbred
! blood in the trotter By the watch, the two
| greatest performers up to date, Maud S and
Jay-Eye-See-Maud S 2:OSA and Jay-Eye-
See 2:10-are nearly related to the thorough
bred. The grandams of each were thorough
bred mares. The animal to beat the present
record must, in my opinion, have as much
thoroughbred blood as Maud S. Horses
must have the thoroughbred blood to ena-
BILE them to continue the speed for mile.
| The horses of 20 years ago were unable to
continue their speed for lack of thorough
bred blood. Those who are opposed to the
thoroughbred blood in the trotter forget
that Rysdyk's Hambletonian was the
grandson of the thoroughbred horse Nam
brino.
'Do you believe in working and training
yearlings and 2-year-old horses as some
owners:do?"
"I do not. There is an old saying that
Early maturity means early decay 1
don't think hard work should be given to a
horse until it is four or five years old. No
yearling record beater has ever developed
into great horse. The great campaigners
among trotters came slowly and developed
speed when near maturity. Dexter did very
little until he was years old. Goldsmith
Maid trotted first at the age of years.
She made her fastest time when she was II
years old and repeated at the age of 10.
Maud S trotted in 2:17Z when years old
and has gradually cut down her time since
then. Now and then we find an exceptional
case of youngster that was trained before
the bones, sinews and muscles have de-
veloped, doing fair work afterward, but not
often"
what prospect is there of Maud SIS time
being beaten?''
81 don't see anything that approaches
her time near enough to cause any alarm for
the Queen being deposed. Guy trctted the
fastest mile last year-2:12. After getting
down to that time it is very hard to knock
off quarter of second When Maud s
was owned by Mr.. Vanderbilt she trotted at
Cleveland in 2:09A. The next year she
trotted in 2:091 for Mr.. Robert Bonner, and
the following year. in 2OSA. She was
foaled in 1874 and this year is 10 years old.
She is very good just now, and may do
some very good work in the coming sea-
son."
MR.. HAMLTN LIKES BEAUTY.
Mr.. G. J. Hamlin, of Buffalo, owns one OF
the largest farms for trotting horses in the
country. 1t is called the Village Farm, and
on it are about 600 horses, among them be-
ing Mambrino Chief, said to be the hand
( somest horse in the world, Almont, Jr.,
Hereward and several other good ones. Mr..
Hamlin says his ambition is to produce the
handsomest horse in the world. He said:
II believe that breeders should take into
consideration beauty as well as speed and
stamina when they are studying the breed
ing problem. They would produce horses
| that would bring much hattar ,,r;oae tho