RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



at Fleetwood Park in 2.15^. The great chestnut 

 was not given a chance to reproduce herself until 

 it was too late, and all attempts at fertilization failed. 

 After Mr. Bonner's death she was sent to Shults- 

 hurst to be bred to Axworthy, and, while on a visit 

 to that famous farm, was fatally stricken. The af- 

 fection of Mr. Vanderbilt for the mare was real, 

 and he kept her on the turf to please the public, al- 

 though by so doing he subjected himself to annoy- 

 ance. I quote from a letter written October 10, 

 1883, to a gentleman who was on the best of terms 

 with Mr. Vanderbilt, and who brought it to my office : 



^ mare (Maud S.) is splendid. The man 



Grant wanted to get back to his wife, and I sent the 

 mare with him as I meant to winter her there ( Ches- 

 ter Park). I have given her in charge to Stone 

 and not to Bair. He says that she will trot in 2.08 

 next spring before July i. There has not been any 

 doubt about her trotting in that time last spring, in 

 my mind, but Bair got the big head and thought 

 that he could do as he pleased; of course I had to 

 disabuse him. He is a good second man, but runs 

 away with himself when he gets the lead. The mare, 

 as they all say, is finer than they ever saw her. Dan 

 Mace thinks he can drive her and Aldine in 2.11, 

 but there she is to speak for herself. If nothing 

 happens to her, I think she will trot very fast next 

 spring and make a record that you and I will take 

 some years to see wiped out. 



" Yours truly, 

 " W. H. VANDERBILT." 



