CHAPTER XX 



THE STAR FAMILY 



In 1837, at Pompton Plains, New Jersey, there 

 was born a chestnut colt of quality which has 

 played an important part in equine history. He 

 was named American Star after his sire, Stock- 

 holm's American Star, son of Duroc, the son of 

 imported Diomed, and as he was owned for many 

 years by Edmund Seely, of Orange County, New 

 York, he was given a prefix. The registered 

 number of Seely's American Star is 14. He 

 had speed at both the run and the trot, and was 

 one of the "do or die " kind. Mr. Berry remarked 

 that he had the "most bottom and best game 

 of any horse he ever saw." His feet were bad, 

 wiring in at the heel, and this defect was trans- 

 mitted. His dam was a broken-down stage mare, 

 and it has been claimed that she was a daughter 

 of Henry, who ran four-mile heats against Ameri- 

 can Eclipse. This claim was never established. 

 Mr. Battell has written much to show that Seely's 

 American Star was a descendant of Justin Mor- 



