McFERRAN, WITHERS, AND WILSON 



trials to give a record, as Bostick really did not want 

 the horse handicapped with a 2.30 record. He now 

 has no interest whatever in the stallion, but, when 

 here some six weeks ago, told me of the performance, 

 and, in justice to Almont, I wrote down to get the 

 certificates." 



The first prominent trotter by Bostick's Almont 

 was Annie W., 2.20. From the loins of this stallion 

 came nineteen trotters, three pacers, fourteen sires, 

 and seventeen dams. I quote from a letter, written 

 to me by General Withers, July 5, 1884: 



" Almont died from an attack of spasmodic colic 

 on the morning of July 4, about nine o'clock. He 

 looked better and was in better order when he was 

 attacked than ever before at this season of the year 

 since I owned him. On the morning of July 3 he 

 was turned out by his groom before sunrise to take 

 his regular exercise, as the weather was warm, and 

 when taken up he was perspiring freely. A bucket 

 of cold water, fresh from the cistern, was given him 

 while in this heated condition, and this, no doubt, 

 brought on the attack of colic. The usual rule was 

 to water and feed him early in the morning and not 

 turn him out for exercise until about eight o'clock. 

 He died in about twenty-four hours after he was at- 

 tacked. The pecuniary loss is great, but this does 

 not concern me. I and all my family were greatly 

 attached to Almont, and his sudden and untimely 

 death excited our sympathies. He was buried in 

 front of his stable by the side of his former stable 

 companion, C. M. Clay Jr., and his stall has been 

 draped in mourning." 



307 



