The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-27

JOckeys-Rcmarkabl List of Fast
Horses Which He Fought and
Raised-PfOneer Road Driving
In all his long business career in this
country the late Robert Bonner was rec
ognized as man of versatile genius, but
in rot one of the many things he did,
and did so well, did he fill so much of
the public eye and become so universally
known as when he took up the role of
h0rseman.
This happened forty years ago, when in
1853 his health began to suffer from the
continued strain of overwork.
You must take some outdoor exercise,
some daily relaxation" said his doctor
Can you drive horses; do you know
anything about horses?''
No replied Mr@Bonner II do not;
that is to say, know very little, but if
yon think a daily drive behind Il pair of
good trotters up the road will be beneficial
will soon learn ali that is needed
And with the intense earnes ness char
acteristic of the man he kept his word as
to learning the part, and soon became
not only one of the most expert, but one
CT the most unique and picturesque fig
ures among the horsemen of America
Mr.. Bonner was a Presbyterian of the
old school and pillar of the church. but
he from the first developed keen love
for the trotter, and In an interview about
twelve months ago. in which he defended
his large expenditures in trotting stock.
amounting to more than $500 600. he stat
cd that his contributions to the church
far exceeded that figure. He was a s.rong
personal friend of DR.. John Hall and
Henry Ward Beecher, and spent hours
In conversation with them, but the fol-
lowing day found him equally at home
and fully as enthusiastic discussing pedi-
grees and performances with Johnny
Murphy, Splan or Doble
lie seemed to have an equal facility
discussing a point of theological dogma
as he had in describing the anatomy of
the horses foot, of which he had mazda
an especial study. A regular attendant
at church, Mr.. Bonner was at the same
time keen follower of the trotting turf
taking deep interest in all the races he
witnessed, especially when the finishes
were close, and to him it was ALWAYS IN
regard TO heat or race winners, How are
they bred?"
Though he owned at times all of the
past Kings and queens Of the trotting turf
ne had conscientious scrupIes against rae
Ing them. AT most they only appeared AT
rare intervals for exhibition purposes.
without fee or reward Of any kind.
PIONEER IN ROAD DRIVING
From q horseman's standno,n+
however, Mr. Bonner stood forth
prominently as the pioneer Of ANA
teur road-driving as a healthful recrea.
ton. Long before the days of Commo-
dore Vanderbilt and the seaIskin brigade
and years before the civil war. Mr.
Bonner was driving his first pair. Ian.
tern ana Light up Third avenue, then a
plain road innocent of elevated railroads
and unshackled of the cable lines.
He believed and lived up to the belief
that the best horse that blood and train
Ing could produce for the trotting park
was not too good for a gentleman to
drive on the road. His theory was thai
If horse that could trot in three min.
utes was desirable, then a $50 horse
was even more SO, and it was this idea.
carried to its logical conclusion, that in
duced Mr.. Bonner to successfully buy
the champion kings and queens of the
harness turf.
For three or four years previous to his
purchase Of Dexter, Mr.. Bonner took his
daily spin behind Flatbush Maid and
Lady Palmer, two mares that he had
made a splendid road team of by SYM
pathetic treatment and studying their Pc
culiarities. This bond of sympathy be.
tween Mr.. Bonner and every horse that
he drove was a notable feature. Even
Dexter, the intractable, the horse that
was going to run away and kick every
thing to smithereens and 80 on, was SUBJ
dued by 1t.
1t was in 1867 when Dexter was pur.
chased for $4,000. The gelding had been
in Budd Doble's charge. Doble when he
heard of the sale said:
'Tll have him back again in three
weeks. Mr.. Bonner can't drive that
horse on the road"
But Mr. Bonner did drive Dexter, and
made most pleasant road horse Of him.
Six weeks after Doble's remark he went
to Mr.. Bonner and asked to borrow the
bride with which the latter was driv.
ing Dexter every fine afternoon in Cen
trail park Said Mr.. Bonner:
You can see the bride Mr. Doble.
and have it If you wish, but 1t is not
the bride or bit, it's what is behind all
that-a feeling of sympathy between the
horse and the man.
Some time later, in 1869, after Dexter
had lowered the trotting record to 2:17%.
Mr. Bonner offered 100000 for any trot.