Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-07-25

ers and breeders of the horses named.
The writer Is personally acquainted with
all the individuals from whom informa-
ton has been obtared, and can vouch
for the reliability ard truthfulness of
what is here published.
Fer nearly twenty years horsemen all
over the country have heard from time
to time of certain horses called Bentons.
But their names never appeared in the
big breeding stable catalogue, nor very
often in the trotting summaries. When
Sallie Benton trotted to a record of 2:l7a
as a four-year-old, the attention of horse
men was fixed, and from that time to the
present the family has been growing in
popularity, until now they rank second
to none, in the estimation of trotting
men, as brood mare family. knowing
that they have always been a much
abused and neglected race of horses, and
that their breeding and history is but
little known, except locally. | thought a
short sketch of them would prove inter
esting to readers as a change from the
same old story about Hambletonian
Wilkes, etc.
In the summer of 1860 there was foaed
on the farm of Mr.. Stephen Wood of FL
lisburg, n. Y, a commonplace looking
thought that she would grow up to any
thing except a common work horse, or
perhaps a roadster. Therefore she was
sold for a nominal sum by Mr.. Wood.
and after passing through several hands
was finally purchased by the late Horace
Benton of Ellisburg, n. Y, for 1925.
Mr.. Benton gave her his own name,
calling her Lady Benton, and from this
mare has sprung all the Benton trotters.
Before going any farther, let us exam
inc the pedigree of this mare. She was
sired by Gray's Hambletonian, a horse
of which | know but little. Her first
dam was by Partridge's Butcher, by
Butcher, son of Duroc; second dam by
Bush's Messenger, son of imported Mes
senger. Gray's Hambletonian was sired
by Bishops Hambletonian, and out of a
mare by the same horse. Bishops Ham
bletonian was sired by imported Messen-
ger; dam by imported Shark Thus it
will be seen that viewed by the present
understanding of pedigrees she was bred
just about right for brood mare.
Lady Benton dropped her first foal in
1865. 1t was Il filly, and after changing
hands a few times went West and has
been lost trace of. In 1866 she was again
mated with Jim Scott. a short descrp-
ton of whom would not be out of place
here. jim Scott was foaled in 1858, the
property of Edward Scott of Ellisburg,
y. Y. At maturity Jim was strong,
stocky built horse, about l5f hands high,
with very slim tail. Nothing was done
with him until he was four years old or
over. | have been told that he could trot
very fast in the pasture at this time, but
was subsequently put to work and nearly
spoiled.
lie was sired by Rich's Hambletonian
horse of fair proportions, that could
trot in about three minutes; dam by
Stub Tail, son of Hungerford's Butcher
by Butcher, son of Duroc; second dam
: Old Peg, by Greenbush Hambletonian
: son of Mambrino.
Richs Hambletonian was sired by
Spaulding's Abdallah, the sire of the
dams of four , 80 trotters, by old Alb
, dallah; dam by imported Trustee; sec
ond dam by Abdallah. a writer in the
Kentucky Stock Farm short time since
expressed surprise at the remarkable
speed shown, and the power of transmits
| sion of the horses under discussion il
y this article. He also declared that he
was troubled to know from what partic
I ular strain or cross in the above pedi
grees this speed and power of transmits
sion came, but finally decided that il
must come from Bishops Hamblctonian
as he WAS the grandsire of the hors,
which got Princess (2:30), the dam o
Y Happy Medium.
That is all very well as far as it goes
f but there are also other speed lines il
e Lady Benton's pedigree which must b.
4 taken into consideration. Besides it mus
D.. be remembered that jim Scott, the stall
lion with whom this mare was so many
ta1 ea1 .Nfa I'D.
able natural speed, and was the sire o
Jim Smith g 400, Scott b. g :29!), Gar
field (below 400, and many others tina
could trot or pace fast, and all from diff
ferent mares. While | do not wish L
detract one iota from the glory of Lad,
Benton, | do wish to give the devil hi
due, and place the credit where it be
longs, for it is a fact that when mate,
with any other horse, however well bred
:. except jim Scott, the progeny was o
f little value. At the same time, had i
not been for Lady Benton there woult
have been no Benton trotters, no Sunols
S no Seers, no Little Nells, and many 9th
e ers of which | shall speak further on
f All there was about it, the blood of Lad,
Benton and Jim Scott ncked well. an,
their progeny are producing performer
l. that are astonishing the world, and tn
L emu Is not yet.
J. The eleventh day of Jnne, 1867, large
=, awkward-looking bay colt was found fol
lowing Lady Benton. He was nance
: Gen. Benton. He was described il
: Stanford's catalogue as a bay stallion
). sixteen hands high, with white near hinC
4 ankles. The history of Gen. BentOl
since entering the stud at Palo Att
! Stock Farm is well known, Tut it may b,
Y of interest to know something of hi
career previous to that time. Up t
nearly four years of age he knocked
around for himself, and enjoyed % TIL
lot which usually falls to the stock o
n average farmers. In the summer of 1872
o George Moody of Henderson, y. Y, saw
quite IA little of this colt, and came to thu
conclusion that he could learn to tro
L fast. lie therefore induced Mr.. Benton
S to allow him to handle the colt for speed
o At this time Gen. Benton showed quite
well when led to the halter, but whel
hitched he would drop his head, poke hi