RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



and twenty-four of his daughters are producers of 

 standard speed. 



A man of splendid type was Richard West, and 

 he numbered among his friends some of the most in- 

 fluential gentlemen of the country. His well-trained 

 negro servant, when guests of prominence took seats 

 on the cool piazza of Edge Hill, softly stole down 

 to the moist bed where mint grew, and when he re- 

 appeared it was with a silver bowl filled with cracked 

 ice and a cup of lump sugar, which he placed on a 

 little table within reach. Then a rosier glow was in 

 the atmosphere, and the hours were far from heavy. 



One of the brood mares owned by Colonel West 

 was Dolly, dam of Thorndale, Director, and On- 

 ward. Other mares that found shelter in his stables 

 were Lula, May Queen, and Midnight, dam of 

 Jay-eye-see. Almont was at the head of his stud 

 until he sold him to General W. T. Withers, and then 

 he leased Dictator from Mr. Durkee. 



I recall an autumn morning at Edge Hill when 

 Colonel West showed the New York party, which 

 had traveled to Kentucky in a private car, three 

 horses which subsequently attracted no little pub- 

 lic attention. One was Santa Claus, who then 

 was known as Count Kilrush. John W. Conley 

 bought him, took him to California, and sold him to 

 P. A. Finnegan, and later the stallion came East 

 in the stable of Orrin A. Hickok, and created quite 

 a stir, trotting to a record of 2.17^. Lucy Cuyler, 

 a bay mare, foaled in 1874, was the second one 

 speeded on the track, and she aroused genuine en- 



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