2 26 The American Tborougbbred 



fortune, and was able to carry out his ideas on 

 a grand scale. 



He made his Kentucky farm, Woodburn, the 

 largest breeding estate in the world, not even 

 excepting that wealthy corporation, the Rawcliffe 

 Stud Company of England. In 1856 his colors, 

 blue and white, first appeared upon the turf. He 

 was unsuccessful for a time, but perseverance 

 secured to him the most formidable racing stud 

 in America. He established annual sales, in 

 which his yearling colts were sold at auction. 

 These sales at Woodburn were very popular. 

 At one of them, in the bright month of June, 

 you met gentlemen from all parts of the United 

 States and Canada. 



R. A. Alexander never married ; the thorough- 

 bred claimed his warmest love. Still, though 

 modest and unassuming, he was polished in so- 

 ciety. He died December i, 1867, aged forty- 

 eight years, simply of prostration. He never was 

 strong, and the cares of his great breeding estate 

 told upon the worn machinery. The fuel burned 

 out, the motive power was exhausted, and then 

 there was a tremble of the feebly revolving 

 wheel, followed by a silent clog. 



Mr. Alexander did more in his short life for 



