THE HORSE. 735 



the Turf, who for months would not allow any one to approach her, making use of both heels 

 and teeth if it was attempted, rushed with a bound to her old friend, foi getting even her colt, 

 and rubbed her head upon his shoulders, her nose in his face, played with his whiskers, and 

 showed by her every action that her heart was full of joy to see him. Directly the colt came 

 up to them, and she seemed delighted when Charley placed his hand on the little fellow. 

 &quot;When Cochrane left the place she followed him to the gate, whinnying for him even after he 

 had passed out of her sight. This horse is only one of many examples that might be given 

 of what patience and kindness will accomplish with a high-tempered and spirited horse. 



Dexter was bred by Jonathan Hawkins, Esq., of Orange county, N. Y. He was foaled 

 in 1858, and purchased when four years old by Mr. George B. Alley for the sum of $400. 

 He was sired by Hambletonian, and, although a finely-formed animal, his four white stock 

 ings and blaze in the face had caused him to be held in disfavor; so that up to this time it is 

 stated that he was not only practically unbroken, but had never had a feed of oats in his life. 



In his early training, while in Mr. Alley s hands, two accidents happened, one while he 

 was attached to a sleigh, and the other to a wagon, resulting in each case in a runaway. 

 Fortunately, in his five-year-old season he was placed in the hands of Hiram Woodruff, and 

 after a short time went in 2:42 to a wagon. Dexter made his first trot on the 4th of May, 

 1864, and was consequently six years old at the time. In this effort his competitors were 

 beaten. 



He continued to improve his record until it was reduced to 2:17^, being repeatedly 

 matched with the best trotters of the country. After this achievement he was purchased by 

 Mr. Bonner and retired from the turf. Wallace s Monthly says of him : 



&quot; During his career of less than four seasons, Dexter won forty-nine races. The great 

 majority of them were mile heats, three in five, in harness. He also won at three-mile heats, 

 and at two-mile heats, in harness, and to wagon he was never defeated. He lost a race to 

 Shark through hitting himself. Lady Thorne defeated him once when he was not seasoned, 

 and was off, as well. He beat her five times in much better races. General Butler beat him 

 once in a poor race, under saddle, when he was off. Ethan Allen, with running mate, beat 

 him twice. Dexter made the best mile under saddle, the best mile in harness, and the best 

 mile to wagon that had been made. His two miles to wagon, second heat, was perhaps his 

 greatest performance.&quot; 



Rarus. Of the pedigree of this horse, which was for a brief period king of the turf, 

 there seems to be a mingling of fact and speculation. Mr. Conklin, who bred him, states that 

 his sire was a horse owned by him called Abdallah (the son of old Abdallah). Others trace 

 his pedigree to Rysdyk s Hambletonian, and those who knew the latter horse well see a 

 striking resemblance between him and that famous progenitor of a family of trotters. Mr. 

 Videto. one of his former owners, says he was &quot;marked like the old horse, gaited like him, 

 and formed like him, with the same sway back and white hind-feet.&quot; 



The investigations which have been made also establish the fact that the dam of Rarus 

 was by Telegraph, and that his grandam was a good mare that was known as a Black Hawk, 

 but farther than this nothing is known of her; from all of which it would seem that the pedi 

 gree of Rarus through Conklin s Abdallah is uncertain, and it should be written as unknown. 



But a horse that can beat the time of the famous Goldsmith Maid, and win a record of 

 2: 13^ as Rarus did, at Buffalo Park, is a kingly horse indeed, and deserving of all the more 

 credit for all his brilliant performances, if he does not inherit speed from his ancestors. 



He was a large, strong horse, of an exceedingly unpleasant disposition, and would fre 

 quently manifest his temper by both biting and kicking. He was used in the streets of New 

 York for some time, in a butcher s cart, but took a higher position when his real merits 

 became known and appreciated. 



