14 



(SEE FRONTISPIECE.) 



EXTER was bred by Mr. Jonathan Hawkins, 

 of Orange County, New York. He was foaled 

 in 1858, and bought, when four years old, 

 by Mr. George B. Alley, for $400. Although 

 a fine colt, he had been held in disfavor because of his four 

 white legs and blaze in the face. At that time he was 

 practically unbroken, and had never had a feed of oats in 

 his life. Mr. Alley had him broken in harness, and drove 

 him a little, but Dexter was very high-strung and nervous. 

 Two accidents happened one when he was in a sleigh and 

 the other to a wagon. He ran away both times. In the 

 fall of his five-year-old season, the young horse was sent to 

 Hiram Woodruff, and after a very short time he went in 2:42 

 to wagon. The following week he was tried a mile in harness, 

 and trotted in 2:31f. He then fell lame behind, from kick- 

 ing in his stall, as was supposed. He was turned out, and 

 taken up again on the 1st of December, after which Mr. Alley 

 drove him and Baby Belle together in double harness. 



On the 4th of May, 1864, when six years old, Dexter 

 made his first trot. It was on the Fashion Course, where 

 he beat Stonewall Jackson, of New York, General Grant 

 and Lady Collins. Two days after he beat Lady Collins 

 on the Union Course. On the 13th of May he beat 

 Doty's mare to wagon on the Union Course. On the 

 18th, at the Fashion Course, he beat Shark and Lady 

 Shannon, and jogged out the third heat in 2:30. On 

 the 3d of June he trotted mile heats to wagon, at the 

 Fashion, against Shark and Hambletonian. It was five to 

 one on Dexter. There was a great deal too much scoring. 

 Dexter got mad, broke at the word, and hit his knee in 

 the heat, which made Hiram mad too, and he drew him. 

 After the swelling of his knee was reduced, the horse was 

 turned out for two months. He was then taken up and 

 driven by Mr. Alley until October 1st, when he was sent 

 to Hiram Woodruff again. He gave him two weeks' work, 

 when he trotted in 2:29. He had three weeks' more 

 work, and then, on a damp, cloudy day in November, he 

 went a mile trial on the Union Course, Mr. Alley and 

 M. Sheppard F. Knapp timing him. At the end of it, 

 when Hiram brought Dexter back to the stand, he threw 

 up his hands and exclaimed, " Oh ! what a horse !" The 

 time was 2:23}, and that on the Union Course on that 

 day was about as good as 2:20 on the fastest courses we 

 have now. So much for the King among horses in his 

 first season on the course. On June 2, 1865, Dexter 

 beat General Butler in harness, on the Fashion Course, 

 and trotted the third heat in 2:24J. On the preceding 

 day, Lady Thome had trotted in 2:24J on the Union, 

 and these two were now matched for the Union Course, 

 to trot Friday, June 9th. On that day there was a great 



storm, and the race was postponed. They trotted on the 

 following Monday, and the mare won in four heats, the best 

 of which was 2:24. This was the only time Lady Thorn 

 ever beat him ; he was then young and " in his green and 

 salad days." Afterwards, she never had much chance 

 with him. June 26, Dexter defeated Stonewall Jackson, of 

 Hartford, three-mile heats, to saddle, Stonewall winning 

 the first heat in 8:02 J, and Dexter the last two and the 

 race, in 8:05 8:09J. He next beat General Butler, 

 under saddle, in a match for $2,000, in straight heats, and 

 then defeated the black horse and George Wilkes, in har- 

 ness, in the same easy manner. He was then backed to trot 

 against time, and beat 2:19. Five thousand to one thousand 

 was staked against him, but he won easily in the first trial, 

 in 2:18}, although he lost ground by a break. In a week 

 he met General Butler on the same course, the Fashion, 

 in a match, to wagons, mile heats. Dexter won as he 

 pleased in 2:27} 2:29. The next week, on the 27th of 

 October, the horses met again, two-mile heats, to wagons. 

 Butler had made the best two-mile heat to wagon that had 

 ever been trotted, 4:56}, when he went against George 

 M. Patchen. Nevertheless, one hundred to forty was now 

 laid upon Dexter. Butler led for a mile, with a few spurts 

 of running. Then Dexter went in front, and won in 

 5:00:]. Ten to one on Dexter. Butler got off four lengths 

 ahead, and Hiram did not know that the word had been 

 given until at the turn Mr. Crocheron told him to go along. 

 At the half-mile Dexter reached Butler's wheel. On the lower 

 turn he passed him, and the black horse broke. Dexter went 

 on with powerful stroke and commanding style, and jogged 

 out in 4:56} This was Dexter 's second season on the turf, 

 and it remains to this day altogether without a parallel 



In April, the California stallion, George M. Patchen, Jr., 

 made his maiden race on this side, and beat Commodore 

 Vanderbilt with ease. In May, Mr. Crocheron opened a 

 purse of $2000. Dexter, the California stallion, General 

 Butler and Commodore Vanderbilt entered. They trotted 

 on the 15th of June. Dexter won in three heats, with 

 consummate ease. On July 2d General Butler and Van- 

 derbilt appeared against him. It was the last time that 

 Hiram drove Dexter, and this day Eoff drove Butler. 

 Dexter had been lame, and was still lame. Butler won 

 the first and second heats in 2:28 2:27. Dexter second in 

 both. Ten to one on Butler. I went with Mr. Alley to 

 Hiraui. He said : " With any other horse but Dexter, in 

 his condition, and two heats gone, the race would be over ; 

 but his spirit is so high, and his game so unflinching, that 

 there is still a chance to win." The third heat was a despe- 

 rate one, and Dexter won it in 2:27}. The fourth heat was 

 very close between Dexter and Butler all the way, but the 



