CHARLES BACKMAN AND STONY FORD 



Storm, and the name was suggested from the fact 

 that the mare foaled while in the lot and in a terrible 

 storm." 



The oil portrait of Shanghai Mary still hangs in 

 the smoking-room at Stony Ford, and the form is 

 that of a mare far removed from the dull farm-horse 

 type. The nervous energy of Green Mountain Maid 

 did not come from her sire, Harry Clay, and the 

 only logical conclusion is that it was derived from 

 her dam. Although the blood of Shanghai Mary 

 is not known, it evidently was descended from some 

 champion of the running turf. This was Mr. Back- 

 man's firm belief, as well as of all other men who 

 had knowledge of type. It was in December, 1876, 

 that Leland Stanford paid Mr. Backman $41,200 

 for thirteen animals, two of which, Electioneer and 

 Elaine, were the children of Green Mountain Maid. 

 Both greatly distinguished themselves in reproductive 

 channels at Palo Alto Stock Farm. The brother of 

 Governor Stanford was one of the visiting party, 

 and he found fault with the conformation of Elec- 

 tioneer. Polite attempts to ignore the fault-finding 

 were made, but criticism was not silenced until the 

 Governor blandly said: 



" Never mind, Charles, the horse suits me. Don't 

 worry. I will soon pay a visit to your farm and buy 

 a carload of horses from you." 



If Governor Stanford had not exercised his own 

 judgment, what would have been the result of his 



75 



