The sun., 1909-02-21
An Exhibition CT Fine Trotters for His
BeDef1t After the War

GOSHEN, y. Y, Feb 2o.--~Talking- Of
seeing a string of great trotters inaction,
sGid a veteran Orange county trotting
horse trainer and trader. 4 don't believe
there ever was such a string got together
as greeted Gen. Grant in the fall OF 1865,
and doubt If there is another person
living except myself who was speotator.
Gen. Grant vas on his first visit tn
New York. The war had just fairly
ended. Every ore wes eager 10 do honor
TO the hero Of the day His love OF fine
horsetiesh WIS weh known. ard Robert
Bonner conceived the idoa Of psFading
before the General the kings end queens
of the trotters of that day. whose fgsne
is still great and ever will be. George
Wilkes was Bonners chief aid in getting
up the Gitair. ..,,
This review Of imperial horsef1esh was
held on the half mile track of the Msn-
haitian Island Association, on old Harlem
lane, an association and thoroughfare
unknown 10 the present generation and
now a memory even To but few. -
AT about 8 o'clock in the afternoon
Robert Bonner drove on the grounds with
Gen. Grant, holding the reins behind his
royal peir, Peerless and lantern. The
cheering was loud and hong. A chair was
provided for the General and he stood up
on it so as 10 get n better view OF the
horses movements over the heads of the
crowd, for there we're no seats or grand
stand. Gen. Grant wore an old slouoh
army hat, and big cigar, but think
uniighted. was in his mouth.
There was no race OF speed oompeti-
tion arranged for. That u.usuai coliec-
ton Of fast and famous horses was there
simply 20 trot on the track for the edih-
cation OF the great war hero and 10 be
examined by him, Their speed was not
limited in any way. though. Each horse
was there TO he urged TO go its best and
fastest, so that the General might have the
opportunity Of seeing the flower Of the
American trotting turf.
Robert Bonner sent his team Peerless
and Lantern over the course about az
fast. 1 guess as they ever went bafone. II
not a little faster. Then jim MeMeun
came on with the then queen Of the. pro-
fessional trotters Flora Temple. J. de-
clare the little mare got almost as many
cheers as Gen. Grant had. for she GER
tainly did spin her best before the dis
tingliished guest Of honor: ,t.-,
ELLA Sherwood q star of that day, but
out OF the memory Of everybody now on
earth. | guess ex cept me, was handled by
the then king of drivers Hiram Wood
run. John Crooks came on then with
George Wilkes. the greatest OF Hsmble-
toniars sons. then owned by Eph Sim
mons. think. and fresh from great VIC
tories on the course.
"He was hooked 20 a road wagon, and
took with ease a mile in time that some OF
the cracks Of to-day would have TO hustle
to beat 10 pneumatic tired air weight
sulkies and all the aids TO speed that go
with the uotting rig OF the present day.
All Of the horses that appeared that after
noon went 10 road wagons and skeleton
gagons, except Dexter and Toronto Chief.
ney were under saddle. 60. r'
John Murphy rode both OF those famous
horses Dexter, always an ugly cns'
toner didn't seem &c appreciate that the
eyes OF greatness were on him tnat day
for he tried his best 20 cut up an d be
stubborn. but Johnny Murphy knew him,
and by and by induced him TO be good.
Then, I think there was a mile trotted. |
think %.
sThe grand horse Gen. Butler was in
the review, handled by Grif Thomas. Dan
Pffer held the ribbons over Rattlesnake
and also over Lady Clifton. Dan Mace
was there with the horse Commodore
Vanderbilt, and thcro were several others
big in that day but unknown now and
whose names ] don't reclH, u was
great day. and nobody enjoyed IT more
than Gen. Grant, ..,,