CHAPTER X 



WOODBURN FARM ^ALEXANDER BRODHEAD 



The Centennial Anniversary of the acquisition of 

 Woodburn Farm by the Alexander family was cele- 

 brated in 1892. The family is of Scottish origin and 

 Robert Aitcheson Alexander founded the breeding 

 stud in 1 85 1. Lexington was his premier running 

 stallion, and his blood obtained prominence in some 

 of the most distinguished trotters of America. Alex- 

 ander's Abdallah, Pilot Jr., Edwin Forrest, and Nor- 

 man were the foundation trotting stallions, and they 

 were succeeded by Woodford Mambrino, bought as 

 a yearling; Harold, bought as a yearling; Belmont, 

 and Lord Russell. In August, 1865, Mr. Alexander, 

 who had suffered by the Civil War, advertised " on 

 account of the unsettled condition of Kentucky," a 

 large number of thoroughbred and trotting horses 

 for sale. 



Among the animals enumerated were Lexing- 

 ton, Scythian, Australian, Pilot Jr. and Edwin 

 Forrest. Later he changed his mind, and Woodburn 

 became one of the greatest horse breeding establish- 

 ments of the country. Mr. Alexander was a thought- 

 ful, unobtrusive man, and I received many valuable 

 suggestions from him in what might be called my 



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