Year: 1868

A1ew days ago tnat most remaTk2Dlt


horse. Dexter, of Mr.. BoHner's stable, ai


the Fashion Course, on Long Island, in


the presence of credible witnesses, trot.


ted mile in the unprecedented time OF


tico minutes and fourteen seconds, and OF


yesterday one quarter of mile in thirty


seconds, or at the rate of one mile in tlcO


minutes, equal to fast railway time.


1t is well known that Mr.. Bonner is


net q racing man, although he owns


several Of the fastest trotters in the


word. He buys and keeps them for his


amusement and satisfaction. In June


last be sent Dexter over to the Fashion


COu;se, to the stables of Mr.. VIM. III.


Doble, with instructions to Mr.. Doble


to a,ceItain what the hsrse was capa-


BILE If performing. Mr. Doble at once


put the animal in easy training, design


ing to work him down to a trim for


speed some time in the fall. No special


pains were taken, as there was ample


time to accomplish the training gradual.


ly, thus avoiding any possible charge of


crue. treatment. Twice each week he


was put on the track and logged


around five or six times. only occasion
ally being "speeded," and then merely
FOR o short distance, with no record OF
time, On other days all his work has
been done on the road, he being driven
daily, at a jog trot, from six TO eight
miles His feed has consisted OF from
ten to twelve quarts of grain daily, and
as mach hay as he would eat. His train
er remarked TO our reporter that he was
a good feeder on grain, but did not care
much for hay. This exercise and feed,
with the usual rubbing aud care in COW
ing, bedding, &c, has constituted his
training, the design being to work him
down a little more vigorously as the
season advanced and the weather be-
came more suitable to earnest exercise.


On Monday morning of last week
Dexter was taken out for his morning
exercise on the track. The previous
day and evening had been stormy, and
the track was in anything but a good
condition. Indeed, 1t was quite heavy,
and in places so wet along the pole as
to compel driving on the Oft, or outside.
The horse, under these disadvantages,
after being logged around once or twice,
was put TO his speed, and made the heat
in 2:26, with his hood OH. Several gen.
tlemen being present, expressed desire
to see him pressed little, and Mr.
Doble finally consented. The horse was
taken off to the stable, scraped, rubbed
off, and in twenty-five minutes was
again litched to his sulky and brought
on the track, with Budd Doble as dri-
YER. Arunning horse was also provided,
with rider, and stationed at the three
quarter pole to make the round with
the trotter.


Mr.. Turnbull, the well. known turf
man of this city, owner of the celebrat-
ed horse, "Vanderbilt," and Mr.. Conway
of Philadelphia, took the judges stand
to watch the performance and keep the
time. Everything being ready, Dexter
was slowly trotted around the track
once. The second time about he was
gradually worked up and pressed, until,
on approaching the three-quarter pole,
he was fairly flying. At this point the
horse joined in as an incite-
ment to the trotter. With this impetus,
added to natural ambition and the
steady, careful driving of Budd, the
wonderful animal came down to his
work in manner that surprised even
those that knew him best and had rea-
son to expect great things from him.
Coming down the home stretch his
speed was like locomotive with steam
crowded. The running horse was urged
to his utmost to keep mp with him. As
he passed the Judges stand, the time of
the first quarter was noted at thirty
three and half seconds, which had
been performed without particle of
urging. Away he flew again on the first
quarter, q simple word of encourage
ment from his driver only urging
him forward, while the rider of the
other horse was shouting and plying the
whip vigorously to keep up with this
most astonishing pace. At this rate the
quarter pole was passed in thirty-three
and half seconds. The next quarter, on
the back stretch, was made III thirty
three seconds, this part of the track be-
ing in better condition than the rest.
At this tremendous pace the animal
showed not the slightest inclination to
break; indeed, throughout he kept his
feet as steadily as if he knew of no other
gait than an ordinary trot. From the
half mile pole to the starting point at
the threc-q quarter pole he accomplished
in thirty-tour seconds, the track being
very heavy on the curve driving him to
the far side, making difference gilmore
than hundred feet in the distance TO
be travelled. He thus made the mile in
two, minutes and fourteen seconds-a
rate ofspeed altogether unapproachcd in
the annals of trotting.


After passing the three-quarter pole,
" hich completed his heat of one mile,
Dexter continued on to the judges
stand without any apparent abatcmcAt
of speed, and was not brought down
until he had nearly reached the quarter
pole. He was then taken to the stable,
exhibiting not the slightest symptoms
Of distress. He has ever since appeared
in his usual health, and with spirits only
heightened by the exciting and wonder
ful performance.


But even this most surprising achieve
meut is not the best of this remarkable
horse. Yesterday he was on the track,
taking his usual exercise, being leisure
ly driven around, occasionally put TO
speed for q short spirit, when he made
1uarter mile down the back stretch
in the almost incredible time of thirty
seconds, or at the rate Of one mile in t'cO
inmates. b.


Mr.. Doble says Dexter is now in no
trim for extraordinary speed. Nor is he
in a hurry to get him in such a trim.
But he says the animal has abilities that
have never been suspected, and this fall
he will make time that will as much
eclipse his late performance, as that
cell psed his performance at Buffalo last
summer, when he made his mile in 2:l7!,
beating Flora Temples famous 2:l9i at
Mich, which had previously
been the best time ever made by trot-
ting horse.


To Old Line Wings.


George d. Prentice says: If there be