dexter
This famous son of Hambletonian and Clara, Dexter was foaled in 1858, and bred by Jonathan Hawkins of Walden in Orange County, New York. Dexter had run unbroken until 1862, when he was sold for $400 to George B. Alley who broke him as a roadster. In 1863 he was sent to Hiram Woodruff and showed 2:42 to wagon. Dexter's turf debut in 1864 was so successful that he was soon a household word throughout the country. George Trussel paid $14,000 for him in 1866 and placed him in the hands of Budd Doble, who drove him to his record of 2:17 1/4 at Buffalo the following year. Previous to this fast mile, Robert Bonner had bought him for $35,000 and used him as his favorite roadhorse. Dexter died in 1888, aged thirty years.
Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals