50 The Trotting and, the Pacing Horse 



first time, and I came down here this afternoon 

 to see that other great wonder, Dexter, when he 

 trotted in the unprecedented time of 2.17^. You 

 know I like to own all the best things, and inas- 

 much as I could not buy the Falls, I thought I 

 would do the next best thing and buy Dexter. 

 He will go into my stable on the loth of next 

 month." 



General U. S. Grant, prior to his inauguration 

 as President of the United States, rode out with 

 Mr. Bonner behind Dexter, and soon after this 

 the crayon by Ehninger, " Taking the Reins," 

 attracted the attention of the nation. General 

 Grant expressed a desire during the ride to own 

 Dexter. Mr. Bonner favored me with a ride 

 behind the trotting king a few days after General 

 Grant had " taken the reins," and I was surprised 

 at his control over the high-spirited gelding. 

 Circumstances, with positive merit, made Dexter 

 one of the most famous horses that the world has 

 produced. His name was indeed a household 

 word. Dexter died April 21, 1888, at the age of 30. 



