RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



tor Stanford had full control of the racing qualities 

 of Sunol, I published a challenge, after consultation, 

 July 1 8, 1890, that Sunol would trot Belle Hamlin 

 for $10,000 a side, and the whole of the gate re- 

 ceipts. The personal note in reply was dated Buf- 

 falo, July 21, 1890: 



"My DEAR MR. BUSBEY: Herewith I mail you 

 my answer to the Sunol challenge, which speaks for 

 itself. You know I don't want, say forty or fifty 

 years hence, when I am laid away, to have some 

 horseman come along and give my tombstone a kick 

 and say, ' Here lies an old fool.' The article sent 

 me, taken from an Indiana paper, I had never seen 

 or heard of; in fact I did not know there was such 

 a paper. I have never claimed I could beat Sunol 

 with Belle Hamlin, but, on the contrary, have told 

 all my friends I expected she would beat Belle, which 

 I think, if it were not too expensive, I could well 

 stand, as you know the large interests I have in her 

 kindred blood, and the faster mile she makes the 

 better it will suit. 



" Yours very truly, 



" C. J. HAMLIN." 



The letter, which was sent for publication, also 

 bore the date of July 21, and was as follows: 



" In reply to the challenge which appeared in 

 your last issue, offering to match Sunol against Belle 

 Hamlin for $10,000 a side, $5000 forfeit, the win- 

 ner to take the entire stake and gate receipts, I re- 

 spectfully decline to accept, as, in my judgment, the 

 chances are in favor of Sunol's beating Belle Ham- 



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