XLIII. 



The King of the Trotters, Dexter. Description and breeding of him. His 

 Purchase by Mr. George Alley. His History prior to his coming to me. 

 His First and Second Trials. Dexter's First Race. He beats Stonewall 

 Jackson, Lady Collins, and Gen. Grant. Dexter and Doty's Mare. 

 Dexter, Shark, and Lady Shannon. Dexter, Shark, and Hambletonian. 

 Dexter hits himself, and is drawn. Evil of much Scoring. Dexter's Trial 

 in November, 2m. 23s. 



AT one time it was my intention to have said nothing 

 about any horse that was still upon the turf ; and, if 

 I had carried that resolution out, it would have shut out any 

 remarks concerning the prime favorite of my latter day, 

 Dexter : hut so many gentlemen have urged, and, indeed, 

 demanded, that I should give a sketch of ^ so famous a horse, 

 that I finally determined to comply. Dexter is a hrown 

 gelding, very rich in color, with four white legs, and a blaze 

 in the face. He is fifteen hands and an inch high, and is 

 what we call " a big-little one." He is long for his inches, 

 deep through the heart, and very powerful in the stifles, 

 loins, and quarters. He has a good head, neck, and eye, 

 capital oblique shoulders, and good legs and feet. There is 

 all over him a very resolute and workmanlike look, and his 

 quality does not at all belie it. This horse was bred by Mr. 

 Jonathan Hawkins of Montgomery, Orange County, N.Y. 

 He was got by Hambletonian out of a little black mare 

 by American Star, and she was out of Shark's dam. The 

 pedigree of the latter is not known ; but this much is certain, 

 that she was a good road-mare, of great bottom, and with 

 a very sound, tough constitution. She lived to be very old. 

 At one time a story was got up to the effect that Dexter 



