1887 Catalogue of Trotting and Thoroughbred Stock, the Property Of
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Glass ST 3 5?^ Book .5^^ PRESENTED BV i,^.:-:^^Z i*^' M-- [im w MM'^t m% I 1 ^ 'Vl 1887 CATALOGUE OF Trotting AND Thoroughbred Stock THE PROPERTY OF LELAND STANFORD, PALO ALTO, Santa. Clara Countv. California. SAN KRANCISCO: Kreeder and Sportsman Piblishing Co., Printers. 1887. SF3 53 INTRODUCTORY. Although it has not been the practice heretofore to publish an introdiic- tion to the catalogiaes of Palo Alto horses, the compiler for this year has deemed it proper to make a few prefatory remarks; not by presenting elaborate tables with extended comments, nor by minutely rehearsing performances of the animals incorporated in the list and those of their kindred which have gained distinction. It would be assuredly supererogatory to do more than call attention to what has been done by Palo Alto bred hprsew, and those by Palo Alto stallions bred by others, as they are too well known to need repetition. Sufficient in this respect to note that the success of this stiid since it was organized, is unparalleled in the history of the breeding of trotting horses. In the early days of trotting very little attention was given to " blood," which in this sense is synonymous with breeding. Little was known of the ancestry of many celebrities of the olden time, and few owners or drivers thought it had any bearing on the qi;estion. While it was recognized that the get of some sires were better adapted for fast harness work, the supposition was that the really fast trotter was a sort of an accident, and no attempt was made to systematize the breeding of trotters until long after the sport had become popular. Therefore, trotting pedigrees which run back half a century are somewhat shadowy, unless there are thoroughbred crosses; and, in every instance when the pedigree could be clearly established, some of that blood can be found. But it has been a point with many writers on trotting blood, to question that portion of a genealogical tree which embraced racing strains, and pedigrees which were accepted at the time the horses were alive, have been discarded on the gi-ound that some old man, an octogenarian perhaps, had a shadowj' recollection that it was different. In order that this catalogue should compare with general impressions, some of these "corrected" pedigrees have been adopted; not with the intention of endorsing, but as a matter which has little bearing on the siibject. It is better to look at what is close at hand, than sj)eculate on the right or wrong of the records of fifty years ago. When the disputed crosses comprise one thirty-second, one sixty-fourth, perhaps a still less amount of the whole blood, it is scarcely worth while to make it a bone of contention. Then again, these same writers, when "unknown" aj^ijears, jump to the conclusion tliat, it miast be a "cold" strain. This is not warranted, especially m California pedigrees. Among the large number of mares brought here during the great excitement of forty-nine and the early fifties, there were unquestionably many of them of good breeding. Broiight from countries where the thoroughbred predominated, from sections where the most popular strains of trotting blood of that era were valued, jt is altogether likely that the favorite horses of their owners would accompany them. Then, too, with a journey before them of thousands of miles, over a country which did not furnish supplies of any kind save grass, and in places little of that, men who had the means to choose, would select the very best, and therefore, when a pedigree runs back to an "emigrant" mare, it is a fair inference that in that case "unknown" is more likely to mean good blood than that of a " scrub." While in this catalogue are embraced all of the most popular strains of the East, there are two .families with numerous representatives, which belong to California exclusively, and of these it may be proper to give a short sketch. These are Belmonts and St. Clairs. Fortunately the blood of Belmont is as well attested as that of Lexington, without the smallest opportunity for the usual quibbling. By American Boy from imported Prunella by Comus, bred by Garret Williamson of Ohio, and brought to this coast when quite young by Mr. Williamson's sons, his descendants figure on the turf, track and road, and many race- horses, trotters and jDacers owe to him the main portion of their blood. The youngest Belmonts are now twenty-one years, and therefore sons and daughters are rare, although there are a number of granddaughters at Palo Alto, most of them being by Langford and Don Victor. The St. Clairs labor under the disadvantage of the founder of the family being in the "unknown" class, so far as pedigree is concerned, though by the best possible of all tests, public performances, they are not only known but renowned wherever fast trotters are admired. It is useless to sjieculate on the breeding of St. Clair, though reasoning from analogy it must have been "high." Among all the St. Clairs ever seen on the track or road, with one exception, there was the highest quality exhibited. Lady St. Clair, who had the fastest five miles on. record, had the form and finish of a thoroughbred, and every one of the St. Clair mares, and even the grand- daughters, at Palo Alto, closely approximate the same model. Stallions of inferior breeding do not beget such animals, and M'hile the veil which obscures the actual blood of St. Clair is impenetrable, the form, finish, spirit and capabilities of his descendants are better certificates of merit than the genealogy extending to the royal mares, if lacking these charac- teristics. Then Avhen to these are united the most wonderful aptitude to acquire the fast trotting gait, -when in the second generation they have con- quered and occupy the highest place in three instances, in this case the unknown must be acknowledged, so far as actual merit goes, to be potent. Lady St. Clair, Mayfly and Mayflower were daughters. The former paced five miles in 12:54^4, and likewise showed a trotting gait that gave j)romise of great speed if cultivated. Mayfly trotted nearly twenty years ago in 2:30%, at that time about the topnotch in California, and Mayflower, encnm- bered with fore shoes which weighed nearly two pounds each, and with rolls of shot almost as jjonderons, on each front pastern, made a mile in 2:30%. This was also done in the early days of trotting on this coast which gives it greater significance. After years of constant labor hauling heavy loads, and undergoing such abuse as would have broken the heart of most horses, Occident, in 1S73, trotted a mile in 2:16i'4. He was the first horse to drop below 2:17, and the first of the grandsons or granddaiighters of St. Clair to gain distinction. The above-named were bred, as may be termed, Haphazard. Nothing is known of the blood of their dams, that of Occident to all appearance hav- ing a dash of native blood, while in all probability the dams of Mayfly and Mayflower were the progeny of •' American " mares. But when the blood of St. Clair was blended with that of Electioneer, and due attention was paid to development, there followed startling results. In 1880, Fred Crocker, then two years old, trotted a mile in 2:25^4, and the next year Wildflower, two years, trotted in 2:21, and Boiiita, two years, in 2:24%. Wildflower became incapacitated from a severe attack of distemper, so severe that great portions of flesh were eaten away, ears curtailed and a hole corroded through the membrance which separates the nostrils. Bonita, at four years, obtained a record of 2:18|'4 and "trained on" as is proved by her trotting last year in 2:18%. But by far the greatest performance, excepting the 2:21 of Wildflower, was that of Manzanita, and few will question that it can be classed with the best when age is taken into consideration. When four years old she not only trotted in 2:16, but also defeated the best of her age, among them the great Patron. It is not the intention to present illustra- tions which have not been made h\ public, or the value of this blood could be shown in a much stronger light. And this sketch, etching would be a better name, is drawn in order to give those at a distance a little insight into the merits of the St. Clairs; and the summarj' shows: The fastest five miles either pacing or trotting, the fastest record wp to 1874, the fastest and second fastest two-year-old record, the fastest four-year-old, and three of the blood with records below 2:19. It is manifestly beyond a ]-easonable limit to enter into an analysis of the various strains of blood which are recorded in this catalogue. Besides the stallions there is a galaxy of mares such as never were congregated on one stud farm before. In fact, the compiler takes it upon himself to say that, it would be a difficult matter to equal them if the searcher had un- limited money at his command and the whole world to select from outside of Palo Alto. Neither is there any necessity for dilating on the blood further than to call attention to the gi-eat variety, and the number of what is now called "gilt-edged" trotting pedigrees.