General Butler and Dexter
date: label: Date made
content: n.d.
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Color print of two trotting horses (General Butler and Dexter) pulling wagons on a race course. Three judges are in a stand behind them.
label: Description
content: A color print of two horses at a finish line which is observed by three judges in a booth. The sign reads “2m. 456 ¼” The jockeys are sitting in four wheeled trotters and pull on the reins. They wear short jackets, caps, and narrow pants. The horses’ trotting harnesses are light. An open countryside is in the background.
label: Description
content: Dexter was foaled in Walden, Orange County, New York in 1858 by Jonathan Hawkins. His sire was Hambletonian and his dam was Clara. Dexter had four white stockings, which was traditionally considered unlucky in a racing horse, but it was superstition he proved to be worthless. In 1862 he was sold for $400 to George B. Alley, who broke him into racing. In 1863 he was sent to Hiram Woodruff and showed 2:42 pulling a wagon. George Trussel paid $14,000 for him in 1866 and placed him in the hands of Budd Doble. Dexter followed Flora Temple as the world’s premier trotter, dominating races between 1864 and 1867. His fastest time was 2:17 1/2, recorded in Buffalo on August 14, 1867. Following this record, he was purchased by Robert Bonner for $35,000. His versatility made him very desired, as Dexter could trot under saddle, in harness, and hitched to a wagon. Dexter’s main rival was Ethan Allen, and on June 21, 1867 on Long Island he raced Ethan Allen and his mate, Charlotte, F. Dexter lost the race but his performance was still considered impressive since he raced the pair alone. Dexter died in 1888 at thirty years old and was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame as an “Immortal” in 1956,
label: Description
content: General Butler was foaled around 1855, sired by Smith Burr. He raced Dexter on October 27, 1865 and lost his record of fastest time for two miles hitched to a wagon. His fastest time under saddle was 2:21 in 1863.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: World
label: depicted
content: United States: New York, Long Island
topic: label: Subject
content: Horses
label: related event
content: Horse Race between General Butler and Dexter
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Art
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content: Peters Prints
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content: Domestic Furnishings
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content: Horses
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.3567
label: catalog number
content: 60.3567
objectType: label: Object Name
content: lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: image: 18 1/8 in x 21 1/8 in; 46.0375 cm x 53.6575 cm