The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-30

most valued friend in the brute creation
the horse
Palo Alto was the most valuable horse
In Senator Leland Stanfords stables at
the Palo Alto stock farm in California
1t Is said that Mr.. Stanford would not
have parted with him for 81, 10000 This
is doubtless a great exaggeratioD, but IN
all probability sl6J000 would not have
been any temptation TO Mr.. Stanford 10
part with Blectionesr's great son. Pslo
Alto was 10 years Of age he was not cam
paigDed until years old and as he retired
at the end Of the season with record Of
2.20H he was not generally considered
a. a probable phenomenon. The horse was
greatly troubled with lameness, however,
and developed 80 slowly that he was prac-
tically not heard from again until 1880,
when he won five races and reduced his
record to 2;i9H
Ia 1890 he won three out OF four races,
and trotted a mile Ia one race IN the remark
ably fast com petition time Of 2:13. But the
year 1891, when Palo Alto was years old,
was the greatest of bis life. That wonderful
trainer, Charles Marvin, had been patient
~ working the future king and getting
him into form to wrest from Allerton,
2:09L, the crown, and to make ex-king
Nelson's $40 mile look slow by comparison.
Horsemen generally believed that Palo
Alto had seen his best days. but Marvin
knew better and continued to Jog the
game old stallion day after day.
in October Marvin opened his record
smashing campaign at the Stockton kite
shaped track. From 3:1eH Palo Altos
record dropped to 2;11H, then to 21O, and
Fl lslly 10 2;O0lE on Nov. 3. The tIotting
world began TO rub its eyes and wonder
what was coming next. Marvin did not
keep any one long in suspense. He knew
what a brainy, game horse he had, and
Palo Alto seemed 20 realize just what was
expected Of HIN. On Nov II Marvin sent
the old racer flying around the kite track,
and without a cut Of the whip the noble
animal Numbered under the wire In 2:G9M
dethroning lowa's great horse Allerton,
and coming within half second Of 2:0SA
the worlds trotting record, held by Sunol,
the queen OF the turf Several watches
made the time 20S 2-5, but the judges de
cided upon 2:osX.
Since his great mile Palo Alto has been
at the head Of Senator Stanford's stud
succeeding Electioneer, the sire OF 1903
trotters that have covered a mile in 2:30 or
better. Palo Altos death was caused by
pleuropneumonia July q.
What great stallion viii succeed the
dead monarch on the trotting turf is
question that borsemen are now discuss
ing. Palo Altos death leaves G. W. Will
liams famous Allerton the swiftest trot-
ting stallion on the track today. His
enterprislng owner has already accom-.
plished wonders with him on the hide
pendence Qa.) Kite track. and ii is not at
all improbable that Allerton will do even
better than 2:09A this season.
The whirligig Of time that has given
the Maine stallion Nelson so checkered
and interesting a career may take another
spin and credit him with something better
than his 2l0 mile, made on a circular and
consequently slower track.
Then there is Axtell, PIP once the stable
companion of AlleTton. In October, 1888,
Axtell became king of stations by trotting
his famous 2.l2 mile at Terre Haute, Ind,
and the same day his owner, c. W. VIII
liams, sold him to a Chicago syndicate for
the sum of $105 900. Since then Axteli has
been resting upon his laurels, but IL is said
he will soon 90 at the worlds record again,
and when be does he will repay watching.
A young relative Of Palo Alto, Arion,
the swiftest 2-yearold stallion the world
has ever seen, may also succeed the dead
king. Although quite baby trotter yet,
Arion holds a record Of 9:l0A. He is one
of Electionesr's world beaters, and turf