Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-18
ROBERT BONNER's HORSES.
some Interesting Facts About the
Noble Animals


Robert Bonner is a name that arouses
the admiration and enthusiasm Of every
lover Of the light-harness horses in every
country where the trotter has gained
foothod. 1t Is to Robert Bonner that
the turfmcn of this country. Of all classes
and grades. are indebted for the estab-
Cishment Of market for horses Of Amer
lean breeding. 1t is safe TO say that
the trotter is distinctvely AN American
horse. and is the result Of years OF care
full study Of blood lines ana crosses. 1t
is 10 the genius and liberalty Of AR.
Bonner that much of the success Of the
American light-harness horse is due.
The following statement by Mr. Bonner
is an interesting one:
In July, 1856. when ! bought my first
trotting horse. there were only nineteen
horses. including the living and the dead,
that had trOtted mile I'm 2:30. Now
there are over thirteen thousand In the
list In the summer Of that year OS56)
l came near breaking down from over
work. My personal friend and family
physician, DR.. Samuel Hall, advised me
10 get a horse and take an hours eXer-
else every morning in the open air. lie
not merely gave me the advice. but he
actually purchased the horse for me; so
that, v ! have done anything TO stimu-
late the interest that nearly all Ameri-
cans now take in the trotting horse, the
credit is due i'm no small degree. 10 DR..
Hall The increase, when you think of
it, i'm one mans lifetime, from nineteen
to over thirteen thousand, seems to be
almost beyond belief
In the interest of the breeders Of
America. the writer has taken the liberty
to publish some extracts from the cata-
logue of Mr.. Bonners stock-farm at Tar
rytown. This catalogue is replete with
highly interesting object-lessons in the
breeding Of the trotter. The matrons at
the Tarrytown farm embody in Il or
pedigrees the blood lines that have pro-
duced the champions Of the past and
the present
When Mr.. Bonner began to establish
high prices of trotters. through the pur-
chase of Pocahontas. Joe Elliott, Startle
Dexter, Rarus, Maybird, Maud S., Sunol
and other famous IrOtters he aroused
the ambitions OF every intelligent Ameri-
can farmer to raise the champion trotter
by assuring them that a second chip of
the trotting record meant "a comfortable
fortune for the fortunate possessor Of the
horse capable of making a new record.
Moreover Mr. Bonners purchases caused
many VI INC loiSHlOnl iliNh VI biAehn 80
this country TO advocate the healthful
sport derived from driving fast horses.
Henry Ward Beecher, in letter 10 Mr.
Bonner described the celebrating effect
of a ride behind team Of fast trotters
IN such a delightful manner that Mr..
Bonner has reproduced It IN his catalogue.
Further on, Mr. Bonner says:
1t is generally known that. since
began the purchase of horses, / have
owned many Of the great record-break-
crs, including such celebrities as DeX-
ter Rarus. Maud S.. Sunol, and other
great horses too numerous 10 mention.
/ have expended about $4,000 I'm this
way. TO those friends who have criti-
cised me for having paid so much money
for horses l may be pardoned for say
ing that ! have siven away much
larger sum than that for religious and
benevolent purposes. While, as l have
stated, II is generally known that /