CHAPTEE IX. 



ALEXANDER'S ABDALLAH. 



Pedigree and early history — His speed potency — Sprague's Hambletonian 

 one of his best ones — Sprague's Hambletonian sire of Governor 

 Sprague — Abdallah in motion. 



IT has for years been a disputed question among horsemen 

 as to which of the sons of Esydyke's Hambletonian was 

 the most potent factor and deserving of the most credit in es- 

 tablishing the American trotter. Of course if we go by the 

 records, Electioneer leads all others ; but if we go by age and 

 opportunity, giving him full credit, I am disposed to favor Ab- 

 dallah (15) foaled in 1852, got by Hambletonian (10) — at the 

 age of two years — bred by L. J. Sutton of "Warwick, 1ST. Y., 

 and sold to Major Edsall, a hotel-keeper of Goshen, Orange 

 County, 1ST. Y., and by him sold to Messrs. Love and Miller of 

 Cynthiana, Ky., in February, 1859, for $2,500. He was taken 

 to Kentucky and his name changed from Edsall's Hambletonian 

 to Love's Abdallah. 



"When the war came on, Mr. Love was afraid of losing his 

 horse and proposed selling him to Lord Robert A. Alexander, 

 proprietor of "Woodburn Farm, believing him safe in the 

 hands of a British subject. Mr. Alexander at first declined to 

 purchase, but finally made Love an offer for him provided he 

 could be made to trot in 2.35 with a month's handling — 2.42 

 being his record. James Monroe, who was then working for 

 Mr. Alexander, took the horse and in two weeks' handling he-' 

 trotted a full mile in 2.304, and the deal was completed, Mr. 

 Alexander paying $2,500 in cash and another good horse. His 

 name was then changed to Alexander's Abdallah. The histo- 

 ry of his being stolen by the guerrillas, re-captured by Union 

 troops, and ridden to death at the age of thirteen years is 



familiar to all. 



(90) 



