Correspondence (outgoing)

Office of Leland Stanford San Francisco, Cal, Dec [?] 3 1891

Robert Bonner Esq My dear Sir, Sunol left for the Earl Monday evening November 30th in charge of Mr. Marvin. The day she left I had her walked around and she showed no indication, that I could perceive, of lameness. Had this lameness not made its appearance so that we could have given her the work to bring out her best powers, I am sure that I could have sent her to you with a record of 2.06 if not better. I do not think she was ever in the best possible condition when she obtained her records. For extreme speed horses need to be most thoroughly prepared. Each year Sunol's best time was made in her

last trial of the season. It was my judgement when my horses went from home this year that they were none of them in condition to do their best, and the result proved that they were not, for they all did better in their last than in their first trials. I do not think that the utmost possibilities for their age have been reached by any horses not even by Arion. He would have been better prepared if he had had more work, perhaps you will remember that each time he trotted he did better than on his previous trial. But as a 2 year old he had a better preparation than Sunol at the same age. I am not repared to say what Sunol might have done as a 2 year old but I believe that with a thorough preparation she would have done a great deal better than she did

Let me say a word about Arion. For his size I think he is a perfect horse as ever I saw, and his disposition is of the very best. We have the finest lot of yearlings this year ever raised at Palo Alto. I wish I could have an opportunity of showing them to you. There is a very decided improvement in quality over the stock you saw when you were here. Hoping that Sunol will arrive in good condition, I remain Very truly Yours Leland Stanford

P.S. I send you today an interview on the money question which perhaps may interest you.