Mr. Hetzel sold his colt soon after to Sheriff Underhill, of Brooklyn, for $2,500. The writer sold his colt, the afternoon of his winning performance at a handsome price. Lady Howard passed to Governor Amsa Sprague, of Rhode Island. In fact, everyone of these colts by Hambletonian was soon sold at good prices, yet none were from trotting-bred mares and but one (Alexander's Abdallah) from a fast trotting mare.
It is particularly interesting to note the summary of the trotting stallions, as American Star and Harry Clay produced the dams of the record breakers of later years.
As illustrative of Hambletonian's great worth (earning capacity), the writer will mention an over-night visit at Mr. Rysdyk's home as early as 1865, the latter part of June. The next morning Mr. Rysdyk drove home behind Lady McClellan to a farm that he had recently purchased for the overflow of stock from his home farm. The new purchase was made from an up-to-date painstaking man, and good buildings and fencings, also fertile fields were in evidence; brood mares and foals and young stock were distributed about in the pastures. Mr. Rysdyk's son, William, had already commenced the hay making of the season's crop. Starting on the drive homeward Mr. Rysdyk inquired, "How do you like the Seely farm, my new purchase?" The writer could only reply in laudatory terms. "Well," said Mr. Rysdyk, "That farm cost me nearly twenty-two thousand dollars and Hambletonian earned the purchase price in three months." The record on file in the county clerk's office in Goshen, gives the seller as Charles B. Seely to Wm. M. Rysdyk. The deed calls for 218 98/100 acres, consideration $21,048, dated April 1, 1865. No world's records had been won by the get of Hambletonian at this time.
George Wilkes, under the name of Robert Eillingham, started in his first race on Long Island, August 1, 1861. He made a record of 2.22 at Providence in a race that he won October 18, 1868, making him the champion trotting stallion of the world. Jay Gould reduced this world's champion stallion record at Buffalo August 7, 1872, to 2.21-1/2. Dexter began trotting May 4, 1864 and at Buffalo, N. Y., on August 14, 1867, became the world's champion by trotting to a record of 2.17-1/4. George Wilkes, Jay Gould and Dexter were sons of Hambletonian, the last two from daughters of American Star.
Added to the marvelous performances of Hambletonian's immediate progeny, those of his sons began to come forward. The daughter of Edsall's Hambletonian (Alexander's Abdallah) Goldsmith Maid, began trotting September 7, 1865, at Goshen, N. Y., and at Mystic Park, Boston, September 2, 1874, reduced the world's record to 2.14.
St. Julian by Volunteer made a world's record of 2.11-1/4 at Hartford, Conn.
These performers attracted great attention and made a demand for the products of the breeding farms at remunerative prices, stock being purchased and taken to almost every section of the United States.
Therow Felter was keeping a summer resort at Greenwood Lake and bred a brown mare to Hambletonian April 22, 1855, the product being George Wilkes, who after his career on the turf, was placed in the stud in Kentucky.
Charles Backman established a breeding farm at Stony Ford about 1865. At this time the blood of American Star and Cassius M. Clay, Jr., particularly that of his son, Harry Clay, was very popular and Mr. Backman stocked his farm with many mares by these great sires. He sold to the Hon. Chas. Stanford, of California, Electioneer, a son of Hambletonian, whose dam was Green Mountain Maid, by Harry Clay; also a small band of brood mares. George Wilkes and Electioneer became great sires and in considering the relative merits of the two families, it is a debatable question which should be placed first. Mr. Backman's farm, Stony Ford, in the matter of brood acres and splendid equipment was unrivaled. The farm turned out race winning and record-breaking youngsters, splendid roadsters, horses celebrated as sires, also brood mares of a high order. Many of the first men of the country, including General U. S. Grant, enjoyed Mr. Backman's hospitality. Stony Ford Stock Farm passed to the ownership of Mr. J. Howard Ford, who, with Austral (winner of the blue ribbon in Madison Square Garden), a progenitor of beauty and extreme speed at the head of a band of choice brood mares, is breeding colts of rare quality.