Arizona daily citizen., 1901-05-06
HORSES CEMETERY.
Where the Bones of Famous Rae
sTs Rest In California.
GrOuMa That Is Regarded as sacred
Dy AoFssmeA - Record Break
Ang TRottsrs of Palo Alto
Farm.

In the center of the ring, where
the famous trotters of the Palo Alto
stock farm are walked after exer-
else and before stabling is a small
strip of land about the length Of an
ordinary city block. and half as wide,
where lie inferred several of the rec
ord-breaking horses Of the farm,
and which Is doubtless the most
curious cemetery in the world, says
the San Francisco Examiner.
No huge or massive gate marks the
entrance to this hallowed ground, but
on entering that section of the farm
where the valuable brood mares, stall
lions and fillies are stabbed, ones
attention is imr1ediately attracted to
the very center Of the place by a
group of wide-spreading oaks, that
cast their shade over q stanch me-
mortal shaft.
On reaching the spot, you are I'm
mediateiy impressed by the little row
OF mounds that rise on either side OF
the monument; in an instant you
realize that you are walking on
sacred ground. and as you read the
epitaphs On the headboards you feel
like dofing your cap out of respect
to the dead animals that, during
their lifetime, smashed records ga
lore and pushed California to the
front as q stock-raising state. To
the employees about the farm this
graveyard is sacred, and when one
of the attendants comes to tell you
about the wonderful unrecorded
deeds of the horses he scarcely
speaks above whisper. for fear Of
disturbing the dead In their final
sleep.
The founding Of the cemetery came
about in 1883, when several horses of
the farm met their death by fire.
Among the number was the Inflated
champion yeariing filly, Norlaine
(2.3lh), by Norval (2:14N). son of
Electioneer; dam, the great Elaine
(2:20). who held the worlds record
as three and four-year old, she be-
ing half-sister OF EIectioneer. As
Horlaine was q champion and much
thought of at Palo Alto, the most
beautiful spot on the farm was Sc
leeted for her burial place. As time
rolled on her resting plot created for
all time the memorial burying ground
for the famous horses that die at
the Palo Alto farm. One by one new
graves appeared, and the attention
of Mrs. Stanford was attracted by
the mounds, and on inquiry she
learned that it was the burial place
of the horses that had made Palc
Alto great.
At that time there was nothing to
show what horses were buried there,
and, noticing this, Mrs. Stanford re-
marked that such noted horses should
have tablets placed ON their graves,
showing their names, dates OF birth,
death, and records, and Immediately
issued such instructions. The interest
taken in this led the lady. TO have a
erected TO the memory of
the great Electioneer, 12s. the son of
BY Rysdyk's Hambletonian. Dam,
Green Mountain Maid, &H
The inscription ON the monument of
reads:
ITO the memory df Electioneer, f2s.
Foaled May. 1868. Died December 3,
1890. By Rysdyk's Hambletonian
Dam, Green Mountain Maid. History
Of the world contains the na1nes of
none 50 great in numberof performer
and champions sired By him In the
Golden state"
Electioneer, though dead since 1890,
still has to his credit the largest num-
ber of $3.50 trotters accredited TO any
sire.
To-day the family Of Electioneer
holds the worlds records.
Twelve graves have been laid out in
this odd cemetery. The first is re-
served for the grand old mare. Beauti-
full Bells, the greatest Of brood mares,
who is now 30 years old, but hale and
hearty old lady.
Graves Nos. II and 10 are still va
can't, awaiting the coming of the dams
Of Arion and Sunol and Manette and
Waxana.
Each year, after the winter frosts
ire over, tender flowers and hothouse
shrubs are planted on the graves, and |
throughout the season the graves are |
sept fresher and greener than many |
Of the resting places of human beings. |
There Is no neglect of these graves Of |
n "a v~.n