The morning call., 1892-04-03

fat on their luXuriapt growth. Mr.. Tomp-
kinS unfortunately was away from the
ranch. but IN the head trainer, Jack Grooms,
one OF the best known horsemen in the
State, the reporter found an attentive ana
enthusiastic cicerone. both able and willing
to 90 The bonors Of the charming place.
Mr. Grooms leading the way, the visitor
was naturally enough, taken at once 10 the
Great Mogul Of the place. who, with beft-
ting ceremony. was introduced as tine
king OF the ranch" His ROYAL Highness is
named I'll Benton, and he looked every
inch king as he came gracinusly forward
TO meet bis guests when the sliding-dOor o I
bis roomy apartment was opened.
ith one exception" said Mr.. Grooms
Il consider this the best-bred horse in the
State" Whether FL Benton concurred in
this opinion be did not say. but If looks go
for anything he considered the trainers
opinion no more than just. Certainly if
there is an equine aristocracY lie represents
Ia creme de la creme thereof. A son of the
great Electioneer, his dam is Nellie Benton,
the speedy daughter Of General Benton
ana Norma. This gives him the deseryedy
famous Eleetioneer- Benton and Eectoneer-
Norman crosses, from which have sprung
SO many great trotters. A spIendidly built
animal is FL Benton. years old, beau
tful dark bay in color, with coat like
satin. good-bodied, clean limbed, well
einnscled, deep-cheSted. He is a worthy
scion OF the great trotting families he rep
reseDts. and there seems little room for
doubt but that he will one day fulfill his
trainers most sanguine expectation for him.
Another promising young son of Elec-
tioneer OF whom Mr.. Tompkins is the for
tunate possess0r is Glen Fortune, who traces
his descent from Shanghai Mary, the great
mare, who is called "the foundation stone
OF the Electioneer family" not only through
his famous sire but through his dam, Glenne.
Messenger mare. herself a grand
daughter of Shanghai Mary. Glen Fortune
Is years DID, but neither he nor Ell Benton
has ever been given a record, though Mr.
Grooms finds him, like his brother, full of
promise for speed. he Will be fitted for the
track this summer.
Jester d is another of the fine individuals
to be seen at Souther farm. He is large
animal. with fine lines and speedy con-
formation, red chestnut horse, son of Al
mont, that great sire of speed. The re-
porter was also introduced to Figaro, a
Iragnihcently showing son of Whipple's
mamOletonian, his dam being Emblem, by
Iattler. Figaro has been unfortunately
handled IN the past and his enormous
welght, lJJO pounds. has preclnded his TAX
Ing any OF the exercise customary In prepar-
Ing Ter the track. He has shown a trial I'm
2:32I2, and Mr. GrOoms is confident that if he
can reduce Ills superfluous weight Figaro
may yet make record to be proud of To
accomplsh TINS end the horse is receiving
exercise IN Inc tank every day, with such
good results that his trainer believes he will
soon have that 1900 pounds reduced 10 hoo
or 1150 at which weight the irotter will be
fit to go on the track, for which he has
never heretofore been able to stand the
preparation. Besides his own horses. with
all Of whom the reporter had not time to he.
come acquainted, Mr.. Tompkins has mum
Der of fine animals ON the place owned by
San Francisco and Oakland parties. Sid
wood, son OF Sidney, owned by Edison
Adams, is one of these. This yOungster,
who has but recently gone into training.
has already paced a quarter In 81 seconds,
and shows up very promisiDgly. DR.. Pardee
has also in Mr. Tom pkins' care seal brown
three yearo-ld son of Director, from whom
the trainer expects great things. LII this
village dwell, also, large number of
equine ladies, high-born danes, every one
OF them, to whom the visitor was duly pre-
scented.
Worthy OF mention among these aristo-
cratic matrons we're Carrie r. by Antinous,