CHAPTER VI 



FLORA TEMPLE, i.IQf, AND DEXTER, ^.lyj 



The first 2.20 trotter was Flora Temple. She 

 was a bay mare of 14.2, foaled in 1845, i^ Oneida 

 County, New York, and sired by One Eyed 

 Kentucky Hunter, a chestnut horse with white 

 feet and face, by Kentucky Hunter; dam Madam 

 Temple by a spotted Arabian horse. The stump 

 of her tail was cut off when she was a suckling, 

 and the badge of abbreviation helped to identify 

 her on the turf. She had a quick, nervous gait, 

 but not much value was placed on her. When 

 four years old she was sold for $13. She passed 

 through several hands, getting the rudiments of 

 education in a livery stable. In June, 1850, she 

 made her appearance in Dutchess County, New 

 York, and was sold to Wellington Velie for 

 ^175. Mr. Velie was a shrewd horseman, and 

 he often pointed out to me the lane in which 

 he tried the speed of Flora Temple before sell- 

 ing her to George E. Perrin of New York City. 

 Her first appearance on the track was at Union 



46 



