The Helena independent., 1892-01-13
PLANS FOR PALO Al TO.
Gov. Stanford's Great Breeding Es-
tablishment TO Be an Endur-
Ing Institution.
Land and Horses Will Fall to
the Leland Stanford, Jr,
University.
Who're ths Great Powers Of the Horse
Lto-NIr, stanferd's Studies In
Horss Anatomy.

Whore the Great Powers Of the Horse
Lio-Mr. stanford's Studies In
Horse Anatomy.
II have 10 planned that, long after shall
have crumbled into dust, and am become,
perhaps. . faint reninisceneo among men.
the breeding establishments founded by.ms
at Palo Alto shall endure
The speaker was Senator Leland Stan
ford, the most successful and extensive
breeder in the world Of ths light harness
horse. who had been questioned ns to the
future OF Palo Alto.
"Palo Alto proper" he continued. com
prises 5000 aorea Of land. which, when
properly irrigated, is capable of producing
great results. Eventually the land, TO-
gether with the entire breeding stud, will
be handed over te the trustees Of the Lee
land Stanford, Jr., university, to be car
ried on on the lines already laid down by
me, with such modification, Of course, as
the science Of breeding shall from time to
time suggest. The president Of the uni
versity and some Of the professors are al
ready showing an extraordinary interest in
tho breeding problem.
"When began breeding blooded horses
! commenced studying the anatomy of the
horss, until at the end could take the
skeleton apart and put II together with the
accuracy that distinguishes skilled watch
maker who deals with the mechanism of q
timepiece. In my studies of the anatomy
OF the horse soon discovered where his
greatest powers were, tho use he made of
his muscles and the secret why one horse
was capable Of greater speed than
como other horse. As / studied and pom
dersd and exporimented as the years went
BY became impressed with the fact that
extreme speed came from three things. viz:
breeding, physical conformation and will
power, OF what il more properly called
nerve force. 10 begin with, il did not take
me long to appreciate the fact that plug
blood did not produce speed, hence as soon
as was able to pull myself together and
fairly get my bearings began to lay deep
the foundations Of my breading stud on an
oriental basis, and am every year elimi-
mating from my establishment. az fast as
circumstances will permit, all traces OF cold
blood wherever it has creDt IN in the far
past.
ouo ~ AAuop INV W pACcuALCu OAu0 GALL
not extremely critical in the selections of
thoroughbred mares. Ilong since realized
that there never was really great horse that
did not have dam that also possessed
great qualities. Our fathers, unfortunately
for the breed of American horses, argued
differently, They held that the sire was.
everything. the dam scarcely anything Of
value except to bear and suckle the foal.
Now, early recognized the fallncy Of the
nrnnoEitinr and dnjnfr PHO Alto
cnpiea the high rank it does ~ q breeding
establishment. In gelectingn thoroughbred
breeding mare judge largely BY the shape
Of the head and the expression Of the ese.
II the head does not suit me, although the
conformation and breeding be perfect, 1
pass her by. for although horse does not
trot with his head, yet unless he has Il
proper head hold he cannot trot."
At this point in his remarks the senator's
face was illuminated with a smile which re-
sulted in a hearty laugh.
rs it true that one year ago Arion was
offered for sale at 81, 2,50O?"
mo, that isa mistake He was offered
for the sum of $4,000 by one of my men.
The intended purchaser was one of our
railroad men. The way it was YVES this:
day, saw the colt move, liked him, and Of
fered $4,000 for him, $500 down and the
balance on time. / did not care to part
with the colt any way, and demurred at the
terms and finally told my mon that he was
not for sale. ! shall keep him and expect
him to lower his record next year. Whils
it is hard to anticipate so fur in advance
should not be surprised if next summer,
after brief season in the stud, he otted
in 2:08s4, or in that immediate noghbor-
hood. He is large, good-natured colt.
extremely powerful, goes we'll within hlm-
self in all his speed trials. and in his fin
ishes impresses one wish his reserve force.
In disposition and physical conformation
he resembles his sire, Electioneer. have
three-year-old colt which think we'll Of,
md with which I expected to lower tho
thrse-year-old stallion record. 212, but just
as we wero ready to send him for it he was
seized with distemper and was thrown out
of training.
"Isell Bird, th wonderful yearling with
record of 2:2614a, has proved a disappoint-
ment. We wste prepared to expect still
greater things of her. but could not get her
to going again. The truth is, she is n high
strung, nervous thing, very capricious and,
while speedy. has to bo very carefully han
died If satisfactory results are to be antic-
patsd. 1t has been presumed that because
Palo Alto wears the stallion crown that we
are now going to let up on him and relegate
previous to leaving for Washington had
him carefully examined and found that the
seat of his lameness is in his right foot,
the result of contracted heel. With
proper 6nOoln& ana foatOrAttOn or futl frog
pressure am satisfied that he will in tho
intervening months fully recover. Next
summer after a brief season in the stud.
he will be sent to lower tho record of 2:O891,
and am satisfed that only 2:06 will stop
him If he has four we'll feet on which to
stand. Why, if he can trot a milo in 2:0S34
with only three we'll feet, what ought he to
accom- piish with four good ones?''
what about Sunol? What Was the
cause Of her lameness last summer?"
II never could discover the cause of her
lameness On account of her lameness we
had to work her very carefully; in fact,
never did get her in shape for her best ef-
fort which is equal to about 2:05 or 2:O6.
It has been said that Sunol is u delicate
mare, that she has f.ail constitution,
little vitality. aud host of othsr draw
backs. This is all nonsense. Sho is
powerful animal when you come to exam
inc her, wonderfully musclod, great wide
msryolous strength. 1t is her greyhound
build that lmpresseH superficial observers
with the idea that she is delicate"
us it true that her dam could show speed
Mt the trot?''
eyes. In fact, all my thoroughbred
mares could trot. Why, do you know, it
was tho speed shown by Dame Winnie, the
dam of Palo Alto, at the trot that led MO to
buy hor. My man Covey saw a boy
ride her by his hotel when
in Kentucky one day while
he (Covey) was standing ON the piazza. She
showed suoh speed at tho trot that he called
after him, and after looking her over and