Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-01
FRIENDS OF HORSES.
Those Who Have Bred and
Loved the Equine.
Statesmen, Generals, and Leading
Men Of Affairs, All Interested.
The Trotter and the Thoroughbred and
Their Owners.


sport of the sovereign people. But. out
side of his ability to race the trottef
on account of his intrinsic qualities as
the greatest road-horse in the world
has always been popular favorite. and
his breeding has long been prominent
recreation of our leading men OF af-
fairs. From purely sentimental point
of view, the late Robert Bonner was
probably the greatest friend the trotter
ever had. He never raced a horse, as
he was a strict Presbyterian. but he
| loved a good horse, and price never
stopped him. He was a buyer of cham
pions, and in the course of his life his
purchases footed up to over $500, 600
AS Mr.. Bonner never sold his favorites
and was not a, professional breeder, his
great influence and example cannot be
! overestimated. He bought Pocahontas
for 200, Maud s., 2OSA, for the same
sum. He paid Sal 900 for Sunol, 2.O8A
and $35, 900 for Dexter, 2.17A. Rarus,
213l, cost him $36, 900. OF the twelve
champions Of the trotting turf since the
days of Dexter, Mr.. Bonner owned the
above four, and they all died at his
Tarrytown farm, with exception of
ooHol, VIM was oOid dltOi 'NoeAi
to John H. Shuts. Mr.. Bonner, more
than any other man. created the fash
ion among the leading men Of New
York of buying the best horses on the
trotting turf for road purposes, thus
showing that the bred has a grand
, sphere of usefulness, and is not merely
racing machine.
Robert Bonner's long career as a
roadite extended through two genera
tions, and he, therefore, often met both
Commodore Vanderbilt and his son
William H.. who were both great ad-
mirers of the trotter and devoted
roadites. Their principal recreation
was an afternoon drive up Harlem
Lane to Jerome avenue or to Fleetwood
Park and. like Mr.. Bonner. they had
no limit on the price, provided the
horses had the speed and quality. Com
nlodore Vanderbilt had such famous
horses in his stables as Rockingham,
Small Hopes, LOchinvar, and others as
speedy. William H. Vanderbilt owned
Maud S. and sold her to Mr.. Bonner, as
he did not wish the queen of the trOt-
ting-turf to be hippodromed. Mr.. Van
derbilt was probably the greatest
amateur reinsman of his day. He
drove Maud S. and Aldine from his
stable to Fleetwood Park on June IA,
1888. to an ordinary road-wagon. After
a slight rest he drove the team mile
in 2.151a. When it is remembered that
Mr. Vanderbilt weighed 200 pounds,
that the mares We're not in training,
and that the professional record to a
skeleton-wagon is 2.12A, this wonderful
mile will rank as one Of the greatest
achievements Of the trotting-turf.
General Grant was very fond Of fast
drive, and often accompanied Mr.. Bon
ner and Commodore Vanderbilt on
their afternoon trips, when the famous
"sealskin brigade" was in all it's glory.
Probably no man ever studied the
American trotter more closely or loved
rim better than the late Senator Leland
Stanford. who was also CALIFORNIA;
most famous governor. He poured out
his money lavishly on his Palo Alto
farm. and made it the greatest breed
ing establishment of the continent,
and also one of the show places Of the
world. He bought from the late
Charles Backman of Stony Ford, N. Y,
the stallion ElectiOneer, then unknown
to fame, and placed him at the head Of
his stud, where he became the greatest
sire of the age, his offspring at various
times having all the principal cham
pionships to their credit, including the
two-year-old championship of Arion,
2.10X, in 1891, which, after the lapse of
eleven years, still remains untouched,
though the worlds championship dur
| ing that period of time has dropped
from 2.OSA to 2.O2A.
At his own expense he commissioned
J. 3. d. Stillman, A. NJ, to write a
book on the Horse in Notion" illus
trated by hundreds of instantaneous
photographs. which was a revelation to
the Oldest horsemen, and produced a
revolution in pictures of horses in ac-
ton. 1t cOnclusively demonstrated
that all pictures up to that date were
untrue to nature and contrary to the
facts. 1t has been stated that each
volume in that edition cost the senator
500. Senator Stanford was fortunate
in one respect; many wealthy men fas-
cinated by the breeding problem have
spent fortunes in striving for ideals
which they never lived to realize. He
lived to see the full fruition of his high
| cst uopOS, tiiC VI L "io <hAe>
coupled with the great university which
now owns it will live forever.
In the Senate of the United States
with Leland Stanford was the late Sen
ator Stockbridge of Michigan. who
with his partner, S. Brown, founded
the Kalamazoo Stock Farm. Mr.
Stockbridge was one of the most gener,
Gus and genial of men, and a most de-
voted admirer and friend of the trOtter
At his great Michigan farm he had sucl
sires as Bell Boy, Ambassador. Crane
Sentinel. and Warlock, and a superb
brood band to match. Senator
Bailey of Texas, is another Statesman
whose principal recreation is breeding
the trotter.
In Montana the late Marcus Dial!
had one of the greatest breeding -estab
lishments on the continent, and die
Just too soon to see the magnificen
realization of his great judgment an
highest hopes. Congressman Josepl
Sibley made his Prospect Hill Stocl
Farm famous, and his catalogues. il
Illustrated in Schreber's best half-tones
were veritable gems of art. Ex-GoN
Miriam of Minnesota, has Away
been a prominent horseman and wa
the first president of the America
Trotting association.
Ex-Secretary of the Navy, Gen. Ben