The herald., 1894-06-17
MANY HORSES WITH RECORDS.
A Model Los Angeles Breeding
Farm.
Edgemont Stock Farm and Its
Group Of Trotters.
An Idea of tho Value OF This Climate
for Raising Fast Horses.
How The Horses Are
Trained.

better adapted to the raising Of fine
horses than Southern California, and in
time the blue grass region of Kentucky,
noted for years back for it's fine racing
stock, will be second as q breeding
state. Los Angeles county has q num-
Der OF noted breeding farms. and some
of the finest racing stock now on the
turf had their origin in this section.
Out about Ell Monte, in the beautiful
San Gabriel valley, some IL miles from
Los Angeles, no less than half dozen
wealthy owners have fine ranches where
thoroughbreds, with long pedigrees, are
being bred. Each OF these places have
their own racetracks and are in all re-
spects equipped as we'll, if not better.
than regular racing association
grounds. Among the best appointed of
these ranches, and whore some of the
best stock ia TO be found, ie Edgemont
stock farm, the property OF @. w. r.
Ford. 1t is situated close to the little
station of Savanna, on the Southern Pa
cific railroad. The ranch consists OF rs
acres of level land, all but few acres
of which, such as are needed for build
ings, paddocks and the like, being given
up to the growing OF alfalfa.
AS the visitor draws along the pretty
country road, he ia struck with the
beauty of Edgemont and the rare taste
displayed in all the surroundings, iu-
GLIDING the pretty villa used by the
owner, the cottages used for employees,
and by the large and commanding barn.
A wealth OF flowers adorns the front of
the house and form tower which ia
not excelled even in the city. Every
where is an air OF comfort and luxury.
1t is bit OF country life taken from the
ideal and shows better than any other
illustration how attractive a country
home can be made to appear in this
part of the state. Mr.. and Mrs. Ford
spend much time at this beautiful place
and in some respects prefer it to their
elegant home on Bellevue avenue. Mr..
Ford is particularly fond of horses and
at Edgemont has given free rein to his
DEERE to produce some stock which will
show the true merits of California eli
mate coupled with judgment In the
proper mode OF breeding.
He has now upwards of 30 head OF
horses, counting yearling colts, upon the
ranch, many of which have fine records.
Take for instance the stallion Redondo
who possesses a record of better than
2:23 and valued at $4,000, Then there
is Lucy R., mare, with a record OF
2:18L and valued at $1,000. The list
does not stop with these two by any
means but they are spoken OF to indicate
the quality of the stock used for breed
ing purposes.
Redondo is one OF the finest animals
on the coast and will chow q record this
year, If nothing befalls him. that will do
his owners and trainer much credit. He
was foaled in 1888 near his present
home. His sire is STEAMBOAT with a re-
cord of 2:0715, and his dam is Dido with
record of 2:231a. He is beautiful
rich bay in color, and stands 16 hands
high. Some of his admirers think that
he will yet rival ths great Stamboul in
point of speed. AT any rate it is safe TO
say that he is quite as handsome in
every way as his illustrious sire.
Lucy R., one OF the finest mares of
the group was foaled in 1886; is 16
hands high. and an extremely hand
some bay mare At 2 years of age q
Boston man offered $1,000 for half
interest in her. She has gone in race
with such horses as Mckinley and
Glendine, and il the writer is not mis-
taken. the present season, judging from
the way she jogs on half-mile track, at
present, will see some records lowered.
The barn where these and other ami
mails are kept is 75x85 feet in size, two
stories high, the upper portion being
used for hay, etc. Large box stalls &C
commodate the horses, each by them
selves, 40 that as much comfort and ease
can be taken as possible while not at
M -
the trainer and he has four men under
him at work constantly with the horses.
He works about % or % OF them each
dsy-that ia to say, that many horses
are hitched to the suiky and driven
about the half.mile track for few
times. OF this number quite few are
yearling colts. Mr.. Ford is man who
believes in applying scientific principles
to matters OF this kind and to treat
them from an intelligent standpoint.
By handling horse it is soon discovered
what points are lacking. These very es-
sentials 80 lacking in one are no doubt
possessed to an abnormal degree in some
other animal. By taking the two re-
suits and developing them the very
highest perfection is attained.
This year there will be about 10 Of
these horses put upon the circuit. In
the 2.year-old' colt stakes, for Los An
geles county. two of their string will be
entered under nominations, and in the
yearling stakes they have three which
have been nominated. In the 3-year old
stakes one will enter.
The yearling colts OF this group are
the most forward and likely youngsters
the writer has ever seen. They are fine
limbed, rangy and extremely intelli-
gent.
There are several stables in addition
to the big barn where the horses are
kept. but it is all divided 80 as to make
it most convenient for handling the
stock. Mir. Ford believes in having
everything on a system, and it is q re-
markedly good system, too. To conduct
the tarm requires head farmer aud
three or four assistants. The alfalfa,
which grows very luxuriantly, is cut
every two months, or six times year,
and the feed thus obtained is most nu-
trltious and healthful to the high step
per. Much of the land now raising
alfalfa was year or more ago qui te
valueless, owing to the superabundanee
of water just under the surface. To
overcome this Mr.. Ford undertook
systematic course of drainage
and had the whole tract which showed
the effect of water thoroughly under
drained. 1t required six carloads OF lum-
Der to do it properly, but the result has
shown the wisdom of the investment, for
it now remains dry at all times and yet
has moisture to grow alfalfa most luxu-
riantly.