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TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

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Webster Family Library of Veiennary Mectane

Cummiags School of Vetennary Medicine at

Tufts University

200 Westbofo Road

North Grafton, MA 01^6

THE
AMERICAN TROTTER

A Treatise on His Origin, History and Development

BY

S. W. PARLIN

Editor of American Horse Breeder

With a Preface by

PETER C. KELLOGG

Pubihhcd by

AMERICAN HORSE BREEDER PUBLISHING CO-

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
1905

03

oopyeight 1905
By American Hobsb Bbbbdbb Publishinq Go.

KiLBT Linotype Co.,
77 Kllbf Street, Boston, Mass.

CONTENTS

Chaptbe I.
THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

PAQHS.
Byerley Turk. — Darley Arabian. — Godolphln Arabian —
Bald Galloway. — ^Imported Messenger. — Imported
Wildair. — Imported Diomed. — Other Imported
Stallions 11-43

Chapter II.
THE EARLIEST TROTTERS.

Boston Blue. — Screwdriver. — Top Gallant. — Whale-
bone.— ^Dutchman. — ^Lady Suffolk, and Others 44-51

Chapter III.

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

Mambrino and Old Abdallah. — ^Rysdyk's Hambleton-
ian. — Electioneer. — George Wilkes. — Happy
Medium. — Alexander's Abdallah. — Volunteer. —
Harold.— Dictator.— Aberdeen.— Egbert. — Strath-
more. — Other Sons of Rysdyk's Hambleton-
ian 52-105

111.

COlSlTE^TS,

Chapter IV.

MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY.

PAGES.

Lady Thorn (2.18 1-4). — Herr's Mambrino Patchen. —
Woodford Mambrino. — Mambrino King. — Alma
Mater. — Princeps. — Pancoast. — Pisk's Mambrino
Chief Jr.— Clark Chief.— Ericsson 106-120

Chapter V.
THE CLAY FAMILY.

Henry Clay. — Cassius M. Clay. — Geo. M. Patchen
(2.23 1-2). — Neaves' Cassius M. Clay Jr. — The
Moor. — Sayre's Harry Clay (2.29). — Other Clay
Stallions 121-139

Chapter YI.
THE MORGAN FAMILY.

Justin Morgan. — Sherman Morgan. — Vermont Black
Hawk.— Ethan Allen (2.25 1-2).— Daniel Lambert.
—General Knox 140-192

Chapter VII.

EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

Seely's American Star. — The Champion Family. —
Scobey's Champion. — Gooding's Champion. —
Charley B. (2.25). — The Benton Family. — Alex-
ander's Norman. — Blackwood 74. — Swigert. —
The Royal George Family. — Thomas Jefferson
(2.23) 193-210

IV.

Chapter VIII.
TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERkS.

PAGES.

Pilot.—Pilot Jr.— Bayard (2.31 3-4).— Tattler (2.26).—
Daughters of Pilot Jr.- Nutwood (2.18-3-4).—
Midnight. — ^Waterwitch. — Tackey. — Wilson's Blue
Bull. — Whitehall. — Rhode Island. — Gov. Sprague
(2.20 1-2). — Blanco. — Tom Rolfe (2.33 1-2).—
Young Rolfe. — Pocahontas Boy. — Pocahontas
Sam 211-242

Chapter IX.

TWO PACING FAMILIES.

Narragansett Pacers. — The Hal Family. — Kittrell's
Tom Hal. — Gibson's Tom Hal Jr. — Brown Hal
(2.12 1-2) 24.3-251

Chapter X.
THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

Their Relative Value as Factors in Trotting Speed. —

Notable Examples 252-270

Chapter XI.
INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

Blood Lines of Noted Winners. — Top Gallant. — Screw-
driver.— Whalebone. — Dutchman. — Lady Suffolk.
— Flora Temple. — Dexter. — Goldsmith Maid. —
Rarus. — St. Julien. — Jay-Eye-See. — Maud S. —
Sunol.— Nancy Hanks.— Alix.— The Abbot.— Cres-
ceus.— Lou Dillon 271-290

V.

CONTENTS.

Chapter XII.

THE WINNING COMBINATION.

(Pages 291-298.)

Chapter XIII.

THE THOROUGHBRED ELEMENT.

(Pages 299-313.)

vi.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Portrait of the Author, Frontispiece. — Lx)u Dillon. — Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. — George Wilkes. — Electioneer. — AMx.
— Robert McGregor. — Cresceus. — Happy Medium. —
Nancy Hanks. — Mambrino Patchen. — Maud S. — Harold.
— ^Lady Thorn. — Gov. Sprague. — Sunol. — Daniel Lam-
bert. — Miss Russell. — Gen. Knox. — Dictator. — ^Bthan
Allen. — Palo Alto. — Brown Hal. — Hamburg.

vu.

PREFACE.

Letter from Hark Comstock.

Mr. 8. W, Parlin, Editor American Horse Breeder:

I am glad to learn that your historical letters on
the American trotter, which have appeared in the
American Horse Breeder, are to be published in book
form. You are now among the earliest of those who
remain living, as student of and writer upon the
trotting horse. With the exceptions of Joseph Cairn
Simpson and myself I recall no others, now using the
pen upon the subject of light harness race horse, who
were your contemporaries as writers upon that subject
prior to the Civil War, in which as citizen and sol-
dier you ably did your duty to the Union.

Before we began writing, D. C. Linsley and Henry
William Herbert (Frank Forrester) left good work in
book form. William T. Porter stamped his individ-
uality upon the old Spirit of the Times. I read all of
these but never knew them. George Wilkes to some
extent, but more particularly Charles J. Foster (Pri-
vateer), did great work as editors of the later Spirit.
The latter edited Hiram Woodruff's book. Dr. Ell-
wood Harvey contributed many thoughtful letters.
S. T. Harris wrote ably and brilliantly, and such cor-
respondents as "Larkin" (John L. Cassidy), "Sulky,"

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

"Long Islander" (Hon. David W. Jones), "Broad
Church" (Thomas Atchison), Joseph Cairn Simpson,
Thomas C. Patterson, Thomae B. Merry (Hidalgo),
"Ranger" (T. P. Ochiltree), "Potomac" (Alex. Pres-
ton), "Albion" (J. R. Hubbard), and others contrib-
uted great value and entertainment, and you and I
had now and then a word to say. I am not sure but
John H. Wallace occasionally contributed. He cer-
tainly wrote some before the war on matters pertain-
ing to his duties as secretary of an agricultural society
in Iowa, but it was not until later that he became
authoritative on matters of pedigree.

After the war the Turf^ Field and Farm was start-
ed. This brought into greater prominence its editor-
in-chief, Sanders D. Bruce, the compiler of the Ameri-
can thoroughbred stud book; his brother, Benj. G.
Bruce (Neptunus), who afterwards edited a sporting
journal in Kentucky; and assistant editor, Hamilton
Busbey. Much later, perhaps in 1876, Wilkes sold a
controlling interest in the Spirit of the Times to E.
A. Buck, who brought onto his staff Walter T. Chester
("Griffin"), who afterwards joined the Turf^ Field and
Farm, and published valuable stastistical works. An-
other writer on the Spirit staff at this time was W.
S.Vosburgh ("Vigilant"), the most graceful, instruc-
tive and entertaining writer on the thoroughbred since
Charles J. Foster, but little interested in the trotter.
He now holds the important office of official handicap-
per to the Jockey Club.

For two or three years prior to the sale of the
Spirit it was well edited by J. H. Sanders, founder
of that flourishing livestock journal. The Breeder^s

PREFACE.

GazettCy of Chicago. Rev. W. H. H. Murray wrote in
the later Spirit and left a book, The Perfect Horse,
Before this Cyrus Lukens had commenced to write. I
don't remember just when he began, but pretty far
back for so young a man. The Western horse papers
had meantime started in with vigor, supported by very
able pens. They brought forward "Yarrum," "Trot-
wood/' "Volunteer," "Veritas," H. T. White, editor of
John Splan's book; H. D. McKinney ("Mambrino"),
but these cannot all be classed among old timers.

Wallace started his monthly magazine in 1875,
into which he threw his aggressive personality and ulti-
mately drew about him a number of very able disciples
and preachers of his doctrines. Of these Leslie E.
McLeod was a particularly forceful writer, terse in ex-
pression and so like his chief in style that it was some-
times diflScult to discern which pen wrote the edi-
torial. He also edited Charles Marvin's book on The
Trotting Horse. Judge Halsey ("Iconoclast") sprung
from this school, though not from the office, and wrote
well from the standpoint of its dogmas. Similarly J.
W. Thompson of Maine compiled a book of pedigrees
of Maine-bred horses and conducted a paper, The
Maine Horse Breeders Monthly. Rev. T. A. Hendrick
("Aurelius") was another Wallacean advocate of abil-
ity. H. T. Helm was not of that school, but wrote
in the Monthly and afterwards left an excellent book.
W. H. Marrett (^Vision") wrote for the Monthly and
the Breeder.

Gurney C. Gue came to light in the Monthly office
and has served the trotter well as a journalist and
as a compiler of pedigrees, which I understand are to

3

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

appear in book form. He is now at the head of the
harness horse department of the 'New York Herald,
and that reminds me of noble old Jo. Elliott, sporting
editor of that great paper, ''years and years ago."
But I must not get down to the more recent writers.
They are numerous and able and not a few of them
are brilliant. Few subjects are as well supported to-
day by philosophical and literary talent as the trotting
horse. But I am not going to flatter the youngsters
up to their real deserts. Their vanity needs no stim-
ulation now. When they reach your years and mine,
and centuries look shorter to them, doubtless they
will be able to bear becomingly a reasonable degree
of praise; if it be bestowed upon them. Suffice it
that, when we "old boys'^ have dropped out, the forge
will not grow cold for want of strong young blood
at the bellows. You and I may call ourselves old
timers when it is remembered that we have both had
discussions through the press with nearly all of the
writers excepting the very earliest.

Now that I have paved the way I want to speak in
high praise of your career as a writer upon horse
topics, horse history and the philosophy of breeding.
Your contributions to the press have ever been tem-
pered with logical reasonableness and fortified with
a great degree of accuracy. Even in response to cap-
tious criticism you have always maintained an atti
tude of surprising courtesy, of which I wish I could
have been a closer imitator, and which I commend aa
an example to many younger members of the guild.
Satire, sarcasm and ridicule are not argument. They

PREFACE.

are the resort of the weak when standing upon un-
certain ground. I do not deny that they take with
the thoughtless and superficial. For that reason they
often do great harm and retard progress, but they do
not stop it. Ultimately the true merits of the ques
tion are recognized. When a man who aspires to a
reputation for philosophical argument, drops logic
and resorts to ridicule, it is a pretty sure sign that he
is beaten and knows it, but wants to conceal it. I
have never seen you driven into that corner.

I can scarcely have missed reading much that you
ever wrote. The channels of such literature prior to
the seventies were few. We writers subscribed to
them all, and we knew of each other, whether person-
ally acquainted or not. It must have been about 1876
that you dropped floating correspondence and assumed
a trotting horse corner in the American Cultivator of
Boston, published by our mutual friend, George B.
JameSj who in time was encouraged to establish the
American Horse Breeder. Thi?^ you have edited from
its commencement in about 1882. I do not think I
have missed a dozen numbers of either paper since you
became identified with them. There are many able
journals identified with the trotting horse which I
have read and which I continue to read with great
profit and satisfaction. It is no reflection upon any
of the others to say that, imbued as my mind has ever
been with the breeding subject as its paramount theme,
The Breeder, edited by you up to the significance of its
title, has for a long time been my favorite horse
journal.

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Perhaps one reason why your editorial pages have
held my interest is that in general we have been
in accord in our views upon the breeding subject.
Many younger writers are against us in that we place
so great a value upon blood that is far back in the
pedigrees of modern great horses. A view has been
exaggerated among them that handling and develop-
ment per se have changed the innate character of the
horses that are now successful on the tracks and
that the same treatment from generation to genera-
tion would have made them the same as they now are,
even if their ancestors a dozen removes back had all
been cart horses instead of some of them having been
thoroughbreds.

Never was there a greater fallacy. Handling points
out where the right qualities have descended by in-
heritance, and facilitates logical selection for breed-
ing purposes. If it does an atom more than that
in relation to heredity it at most does very little more,
and that little cannot be philosophically proved.
Starting with a race of milk-white cats, so established
as to breed true to that color, you may dye the kittens
jet black, and keep them dyed for twenty generations,
bred exclusively within the stock, and at the end of
that time not a kitten will be born black from their
jet-dyed parents. Doubtless a dark breed may be es-
tablished from a light breed by careful selection and
copulation, but not by manipulation. The inherent
element must be wrought upon ; not the acquired ones.
The breeder who thinks that Diomed, and pyramids of
his blood, count for nothing when found in a race
horse of today, whether runner or trotter, is simply

PREFACE.

throwing the laws of heredity to the winds. You can
take material from an ore-bed and make steel of it,
and you can take material from a clay-bed and make
brick of it, but you cannot, in a hundred years, take
unmixed that which came from the clay-bed and make
steel of it. Manipulation cannot make something out
of nothing nor create improved forms from a material
that does not first partake of the essential base upon
which those improved forms depend.

You can blend different substances and different
bloods, thus uniting separate bases and obtain a sur-
prising variety of results of composite nature, many
of them capable of uses and accomplishments far be-
yond the reach of any one separate element of its com-
position. While unmixed clay can never be manipu-
lated into steel, it may by blending with other ele-
ments be made the basis of another metal — aluminum.
Nevertheless, to do this, there must have existed in
each contributive element of the compound an innate
essential quality placed there by nature as a basic
contribution to the blend, that is greater than any of
its separate parts. Diomed may not have trotted
much in his own right, but he, or his equivalent, is as
essential an element in a race horse of either kind to-
day as he was to our runners of 60 to 100 years ago
when his blood, often inbred, swept everything before
it; nor has it yet ceased to assert its power, as fre-
quently pointed out by the best analytical authorities
on the breeding of the modern American thorough-
bred. If Diomed's essential quality has been trans-
mitted to the present time in the running field, is there
reason to doubt that his blood affects, according to its

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

nature, the trotter of today that possesses multipli-
cations of it?

It has always been a gratification to me in reading
your articles to recognize that you have ever duly
appreciated the physical quality of the thoroughbred
— his organism — as a valuable adjunct in raising the
trotting breed to its present standard. I rejoice with
you and those other writers who have never yielded to
the tirade against this view led by the late compiler of
the Trotting Register, His deep-seated prejudices
against the thoroughbred and in favor of what he
called ''pacing blood'' in my judgment totally disqual-
ified him as a candid and truthful renderer of pedi-
grees, during most of the time he was so employed.

I can foresee that your book will be of great value
in controverting many important instances falsely of
record, on account of this unfortunate bias of the for-
mer compiler of the Register, Your careful work in
searching and compiling evidence for the vindication
of the real, and the controversion of distorted, horse
history, has always commanded my respect and ad-
miration. Many a time I have laboriously gone back
through old files of The Breeder to re-read such mat-
ters from your pen. The convenience of having them
in book form will be a boon to

Yours fraternally,

PETER C. KELLOGG,
Otherwise ^^Hark Comstock.-'

New York, January, 1905.

The American Trotter

INTRODUCTION.

America surpasses all other nations of the world in
many respects, but probably in none other more than in
the quality of its light-harness horse. The trotters and
pacers bred and raised here excel in speed those pro-
duced in any other quarter of the globe. This is due to
several causes, prominent among which are our parlor
tracks, light-harnesses, so fashioned and adjusted as to
allow the greatest freedom of action, light, easy -running
sulkies, which are the best in the world; the skill of
American trainers of trotting horses, and farriers, both
of whom are superior to those of any other nation in
training and balancing the trotter. The chief cau«e of
the superiority of our trotters, however, is undoubtedly
due to the excellent foundation for a trotting family
that was laid in this country by the English running
horse, imported Messenger, and the methods followed
by American breeders. As all the record-breaking trot-
ters in this country during the past forty years have
been descendants of imported Messenger, it must be
interesting and profitable to the young student of the

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

trotting breeding problem to learn something of the
origin, history and character of the ancestors of that
wonderful animal.

During the first quarter of the last century the fastest
trotters in the world were produced in England. They
were known there as Norfolk trotters. They could at
that time trot one mile or one hundred miles in less
time than any of the trotters that had ever been pro-
duced in this or any other country. It is stated upon
good authority that a mare called Nonpareil trotted 100
miles in nine hours and fifty-seven seconds, pulling a
vehicle called a match cart. This performance occurred
at least ten years before the American mare Fanny
Jenks trotted 100 miles in nine hours, thirty-eight
minutes and three seconds. Early in the thirties a
stallion named Norfolk Phenomenon, bred and raised in
England, trotted two miles in five minutes and four
seconds. The best time ever made for two miles by a
trotter in America previous to 1840 was five minutes
and eleven seconds, which is seven seconds slower than
the time of Norfolk Phenomenon. Both Nonpareil and
Norfolk Phenomenon were by Fireaway, a Norfolk
trotter, that was a direct descendant of Blaze, by Flying
Childers. The dam of Norfolk Phenomenon also traced
directly to Blaze through her sire.

The following chapters were written previous to the
issue of the Year Book of 1904, and the records of
horses, produce of stallions and mares and kindred
statistics, were compiled with reference to the returns
of 1903.

10

Chapter I.
THE ENGLISH RAGE HORSE.

Byerley Turk. — Darley Arabian. — GodolpWn Arabian. — ^Bald
Galloway. — Imported Messenger. — Imported Wildair. —
Imported Diomed. — Other Imported Stallions.

Horse racing has been a popular sport for many
centuries. It was a favorite pastime with the Greeks
for at least 600 years before the Christian era. The
races in those early days were to chariots. It is a
matter of history, too, that the Romans raced horses
to chariots at least four hundred years before the birth
of Christ. It is uncertain when horse racing first
began in England. The English writer and practical
breeder of thoroughbred racing stock, William Day,
in his work entitled "The Horse, How to Breed
and Rear Him,^^ has the following to say on this sub-
ject:

As for racing in England, the earliest record of it that I
can light upon is that given by Strutt, in his "Sports and
Pastimes of the People of England." Racing, or something
like it, was set going during the reign of Athelstan (which
extended from 925 to his death in 941, A. D. — Ed). We know
further thaf this king (Athelstan) received as a present from
Germany several running horses, evidently race horses. • • •
Fitz Stephen, in his description of London, A. D. 1154, says:

11

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Smithfield is a field where every Friday there is a celebrated
rendezvous of fine horses brought hither to be sold. He then
speaks of racing and adds that here it was first known in
England. The strong and fleet apparently were only allowed
to contend, as the common horses were ordered out of the
way, apparently for the purpose of clearing the course.

I presume they raced in those days for honor and the jockey
rode for applause, as no mention is made for stipulated fees
or gratuities to the riders. But soon after the twelfth century
racing was more common, and then they ran for stakes —
forty pounds of "redy goldie." The distance is stated three
miles, and the scene in the Metropolis transferred from
Smithfield to Hyde Park.

It is evident from the above that horse racing for
money has been practiced for at least eight hundred
years, and that horses have been carefully bred there for
racing x>urposes even longer than that. No records
were kept, and no regular accounts preserved, showing
how the horses finished, or the time they made, for
nearly six hundred years, or until about 1721. It mat-
ters little to practical breeders of the present day where
the horses that first appeared in England originated,
or the date that they first became established there. It
is a matter of history that when the noted Roman war-
rior, Julius Caeaar, invaded that country about 54
years before the Christian era, horses strong enough
for cavalry purposes were quite numerous there, and
the quality was doubtless improved about that time by
crossing with the horses taken there by the Roman
army, and others sent there shortly afterwards by
Julius Caesar.

William Day remarks in his work quoted above that
at the beginning of the Christian era the horses of
that country were already mixed in blood with the

12

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

breed of four different nations, including Turks and
Arabians. The running horses from Germany, men-
tioned above, added another cross, which doubtless im-
proved the speed and racing qualities of the horse stock
of that country, for one equine historian has remarked
that: ^^The English horses after this appear to have
been prized on the continent." Several of the rulers of
England at different periods were evidently consid-
erably interested in turf sports and the improvement
of horse stock. It is stated that Edward III., who
occupied the throne from 1327 to 1377, imported fifty
Spanish horses during his reign. During the reign
of Henry VIII., who occupied the throne from 1510 to
1.547, by an act of Parliament, no "stallions above the
age of two years not being fifteen hands high were
permitted to be put on any forest, chase, moor, heath,
common or waste in 26 counties of England, and the
whole of North Wales," the object being to increase
the size, usefulness and value of the horse stock in his
kingdom.

James I., who reigned in England from 1603 to 1625,
is given the distinction, by English turf writers, of
being the first to try the experiment of introducing an
Arabian stallion into England for the purpose of im-
proving the horse stock. This horse was bought from
an Arabian merchant named Markham, and was known
as Markham^s Arabian. It is generally conceded by
equine historians that Markham's Arabian was a fail-
ure, both as a turf performer and a progenitor of such,
the effect of which was to create quite a strong preju-
dice against the Arabians.

Place's White Turk, that was taken to England not

13

THE AMERICA!!!! TROTTER.

long after Markham's Arabian, evidently proved quite
a valuable factor in the improvement of horse stock.
His name is found in the pedigrees of several animals
that became noted either as performers or as pro-
genitors of performers. James Rice, author of "His-
tory of the British Turf," says that at the time of the
reign of James I., "We had in England a native breed
of horses, stout but slow, of sterling merit, and of great
powers of endurance — great ^goodness,' as capacity of
staying was then termed; and these animals are the
stock from which the British race horse of more mod-
ern times has been derived, and from judicious crosses
of which with imported sires the finest breed of horses
the world ever saw has been produced."

It is generally conceded that Charles II., who held
the sceptre in England from 1660 to 1685, accomplished
more in improving the English race horse than any
person who preceded him. It is stated that he "sent
his Master of the horse abroad to purchase foreign mares
of the best and purest blood, as well as stallions. The
former were called, and are to this day known in the
Stud Book as Royal Mares, though it appears little
was then or is now known of their pedigree." The cel-
ebrated Eclipse and Highflyer were bred in the ma-
ternal line from some of these royal mares. Within a
few years from the time of the arrival of these royal
mares in England three stallions were taken there at
different times, that improved the speed and racing
qualities of the horse stock of that country greatly. In
fact, it is claimed that all the best race horses that have
been produced in England during the past two hundred
years have been descendants of one or the other of these

14

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

three stallions. Many of the most famous have com-
bined the blood of all three of them, and some of the
very best that were descendants of all three were also
considerably inbred to one or more of them. These
three noted stallions were Byerley Turk, Darley
Arabian and Godolphin Arabian.

The reliable English author, William Pick, states
that "Byerley Turk was Captain Byerley's charger in
Ireland in King William's wars (1689, etc.), and after-
wards proved a most excellent stallion." It is stated,
however, that but few well-bred mares were mated with
him. A few years later Darley Arabian was bought
by an English merchant named Darley, who was lo-
cated in the East. He was a member of a hunting
club, through which he became acquainted with dis-
tinguished sporting men among the native princes and
chiefs. This acquaintance enabled Mr. Darley to
secure one of the best of the Eastern horses, and he
immediately sent him to England, to be used for
stock purposes. His opportunities in the stud were
not much more favorable than those of Byerley Turk,
but he proved even more successful than the latter.
Godolphin Arabian was the last of the three, and
was in time the most successful of all as a progenitor
of race horses. Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and
Godolphin Arabian appear to bear the same relation
to the racing stock of England as do Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian, Mambrino Chief and Henry Clay to the trotting
stock of America.

According to the eminent English writer, J. H.
Walsh (Stonehenge), the breed of race horses, known
as thoroughbreds, was established about 1750. The

15

THE AMERICA!!^ TROTTER.

basis of this breed, as stated by that author, was as
follows :

(1) Native mares used for racing and bred from Spanish
and English strains, the former most probably descended
from the Barbs of Morocco.

(2) Markham's Arabian, imported in the time of James the
First, but proved to be good for nothing, and most probably
there is now not the slightest strain of his blood extant.

(3) Place's White Turk, extensively used, and to him most
of our best horses can be traced through Matchem.

(4) The three Turks, brought over from the siege of Vienna
in 1684.

(5) The Royal Mares imported by Charles the Second, who
sent his "Master of the Horse to the Levant" especially to
procure them. These are also mentioned in all the best
pedigrees.

At the time the thoroughbred breed was established,
the English had been racing horses for more than six
hundred years. There is no doubt that during these
six or more centuries breeders had constantly en-
deavored to improve the speed and staying qualities
of their horses, by carefully selecting their best and
most successful race mares, and mating them with
their fastest stallions, just as they have been doing
ever since the thoroughbred came into existence.

It is evident, too, from the number of foreign horses
that had been taken to England, beginning at the time
that those were landed there by the Roman Emperor,
when his troops occupied that territory some fifty
or more years before the Christian era, and at different
times up to A. D. 1700, that much if not most of what
was termed the native stock had become strongly im-
pregnated with the best of Eastern blood.

16

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

8ince the establishment of the General Stud Book,
which was published in England in 1793, the records
of racing there and the pedigrees of the winners have
been carefully kept. This General 8tud Book ''pro-
fessed to give the pedigree, with few exceptions, of
every animal of note that had appeared on the turf
from 1743, and many of an earlier date, with some
iiccount of foreign horses from which the present breed
of racers is derived.'' This work is believed to be the
oldest authenticated record of pedigrees of horses ever
published.

Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin
Arabian were so popular, and their influence in im-
proving the speed and racing qualities of the thorough-
bred stock so marked, that in less than one hundred
years from the time that the first of the three began
doing stud service in England, all the most successful
race winners in that country, with scarcely an excep-
tion, were descendants of one or the other of them, and,
as already remarked, in some of the best, like Herod
and Eclipse, the blood of two or more of them was
combined. No information concerning the ancestors
of these three famous horses is given in the General
Stud Book or in Pick's Turf Register. It is not known
that either of them was ever raced. It is generally
believed, however, that Byerley Turk was of the Turk-
ish or Morocco breed, and that the other two, though
called Arabians, were pure Barbs. It matters little at
this late day what their breeding may have been,
although it probably was of the best, for the character
of an animal, like that of a tree, is known by its
fruit. Judging by the influence which these three

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

stallions exerted upon the racing stock of England,
they must have been considerably superior to any that
had preceded them.

Darley Arabian. Godolphin Arabian is generally
credited with getting better stock than either of the
others. This was as might naturally be expected. He
had better opportunities than the others, for he was
a later importation. The best mares that were de-
scendants of the other two were undoubtedly mated
with him and his sons after his reputation was estab-
lished. From the evidence at hand it would seem that
Darley Arabian was entitled to fully as much credit
for improving the speed, courage and endurance of
the English thoroughbred as was Godolphin Arabian.
It is not claimed by any English author that Godolphin
Arabian ever got a faster horse than Flying Childers, a
horse that raced against the best and was never beaten.
Flying Childers was by Darley Arabian, and there was
no cross of either Byerley Turk or Godolphin Arabian
in his pedigree. Blaze, a son of Flying Childers, got
Sampson, one of the best as well as the largest and
strongest race horses of his day. Engineer, by Sampson,
was even more successful as a race horse than his sire,
at least he was campaigned much more extensively. He
was on the turf six years and was beaten only five
times. Neither Sampson nor Engineer inherited any
of the blood of either Byerley Turk or Godolphin
Arabian.

From a daughter of Cade, by Godolphin Arabian,
Engineer got Mambrino, an excellent race horse. He
was raced some for six seasons, and was beaten but
four times. Unlike his sire and grandsire, however,

18

TEE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

Mambrino never got a race horse that was equal to
himself. His progeny seemed to deteriorate, so far
as their racing ability was concerned. There are good
grounds for believing that he showed unusual inclina-
tion, for a running-bred horse, to stick to the trotting
gait, and also unusual speed ability at that gait for
a thoroughbred. The English author, Pick, is au-
thority for the statement that

"Mambrino was likewise sire of a great many excel-
lent Hunters — and it has been said that from his blood
the breed of horses for the coach was brought nearly
to perfection."

His son. Messenger, that was brought to America in
1888, imparted a stronger inclination to stick to the
trotting gait than any other running-bred horse that
has ever stood in America. His history is related
further on in this volume.

It has been claimed that owing to the unusual size,
substance and coarseness of Sampson, his dam could
not have been bred as represented in the General Stud
Book, but must have had a cart horse cross in her
pedigree. William Pick, author of "Pick's Turf Regis-
ter," was a very careful writer, and his work bears
evidence that he was not influenced by prejudice. Mr.
Pick states that the dam of Sampson was (Baboon's
dam) by Hip; second dam by Spark (son of the Honey-
comb Punch) ; third dam by Mr. Lister's Snake, and
fourth dam. Lord D'Arcy's Queen. Hip was by Cur-
wen Bay Barb, an Eastern horse, and a very valuable
sire. The dam of Hip was by Lister's Turk, another
Eastern horse. Lister's Snake, sire of the third dam of
Sampson, was also by Lister's Turk. John Lawrence,

19

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

an able but evidently prejudiced English writer on
horse matters, states that the groom who was sent with
the dam of Sampson when she was mated with Blaze, a
son of Flying Childers, the year before Sampson was
foaled, said she only looked to be three-quarters bred.
It is not always safe, however, to change a pedigree on
the strength of a groom's opinion of the pedigree when
that opinion is formed solely on the appearance of an
animal. Mr. Lawrence, though an able writer, was
sometimes mistaken. He contended that the sire of
Old Shales, the sire of Scott Shales, that was the
renowned ancestor of the Norfolk trotters and of the
Hackneys, was Blank, a son of Godolphin Arabian.
Other authorities contend that Old Shales was by
Blaze, the son of Flying Childers, that got Sampson.
A thorough investigation brought to light indisputable
evidence, which proved most conclusively that Mr. Law-
rence was wrong, and that Old Shales was by Blaze.
Even the late John H. Wallace, who for some time con-
tended that Lawrence was the most reliable of all
English writers, acknowledged that Mr. Lawrence was
wrong in this case, and that Old Shales was by Blaze,
son of Flying Childers, instead of Blank, by Godolphin
Arabian. As Mr. Lawrence erred in regard to the
breeding of Old Shales, it is probable that Mr. Pick
was right and Mr. Lawrence wrong concerning the
breeding of the dam of Sampson. It is not probable,
however, that Sampson was strictly thoroughbred.

English Eclipse was the most renowned race horse in
England in his day. He met the best horses of his
time, and defeated them so easily that finally no one
could be found to start a horse against him. He was

20

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE,

never beaten in a race. Eclipse may not have been so
coarse as Sampson, but he was certainly larger. Stone-
henge says of this wonderful horse, "Though Eclipse
was very low before (forward), yet he was 66 inches
high." Now 66 inches is 16.2 hands. Sampson, accord-
ing to Pick, was 15.2 hands. It is probable that 66
inches was the height of Eclipse over the hips. He
was considerably higher behind than forward. Stone-
henge, quoting from Percival, further says of Eclipse,
"he was a big horse in every sense of the word;
he was tall in stature, lengthy and capacious in body,
and large in his limbs,'' etc. Eclipse, like Sampson,
was a direct descendant in the paternal line of Darley
Arabian. His sire, Marske, was by Squirt, and Squirt
was by Bartlett's Childers, a son of Darley Arabian.
Bartlett's Childers, the great grandsire of Eclipse, was
full brother of Flying Childers, the grandsire of Samp-
son. It is not improbable that Sampson and Eclipse,
which had a common origin, inherited their size from
the same common ancestor.

In view of the development theory, it is interesting
to note what is said of the racing career of the an-
cestors of Eclipse in James Rice's "History of the
British Turf," published in 1879, from which we quote
as follows: "Bartlett's Childers, the sire of Squirt,
was never trained at all, and Snake, the sire of Squirt's
dam, was never trained." On the dam's side Eclipse's
own dam, Spiletta, only started in one race in her life,
and then was beaten, and her grandsire, Godolphin
Arabian, was said to have been purchased out of the
shafts of a water cart in Paris.

Notwithstanding the fact of his better opportunities.

21

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

it is not probable that any of the descendants of Godol-
phin Arabian did more to improve the racing stock of
England than did Flying Childers, Bartlett's Childers
and Eclipse, all of which were descendants of Darley
Arabian.

Byerley Turk. Byerley Turk seems to have gained
distinction chiefly through his son Jigg, and the latter
through one son, Croft's Partner, and several daughters
that produced excellent performers. The dam of
Croft's partner was by Curwen Bay Barb. Pick's
Turf Register says:

Partner was a horse of great strength, fine shape and
beauty. He was the best racer of his time at Newmarket.
He was allowed to be as fine a stallion as any ever bred
in this kingdom, and not inferior to any foreign one.

The most noted of Croft's Partner's get, as a sire,
was Tartar, described by Pick as "near 15 hands high,
of great power and strength, and allowed to be as fine
a horse as any in England." The most noted of the get
of Tartar was Herod, or King Herod, as he was some-
times called. Herod was quite successful as a race
horse, and made a great reputation as a perpetuator of
racing speed. The Turf Register devotes several pages
to Herod, from which we extract the following verbatim ;

King Herod was a remarkably fine horse, with uncommon
power, and allowed to be one of the best bred horses this
kingdom ever produced, and as a stallion inferior to none,
being sire of a larger number of racers, stallions and brood
mares than any other horse, either before or since his time.

The same authority states that in nineteen years
four hundred and ninety-seven of Herod's get won two
hundred and one thousand, five hundred and five
pounds and nine shillings. The dam of Herod was by

22

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

Blaze, the son of Flying Childers, that got Sampson,
already mentioned. Herod^s second dam was by
Bethell's Arabian, whose get were very highly valued.
His third dam was by Champion, a son of Harpur's
Arabian, and his fourth dam was by Darley Arabian,
the sire of Flying Childers, etc. It will be seen by the
above that the dam of Herod was inbred to Darley
Arabian.

GoDOLPHiN Arabian. Some will doubtless wonder
what all this has to do with the American trotter. It
will be shown in due time that the above descendants
of Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin
Arabian played a very important part in the produc-
tion of the best of our light harness performers.
Godolphin Arabian, that most writers claim did more
to improve the racing stock of England than either
Byerley Turk or Darley Arabian, like the two last
named, was of unknown origin. The best English
authors, however, are unanimous in the opinion that
he was a Barb. According to one tradition "Godol-
phin Arabian was presented by the Emperor of
Morocco to Louis XIV. as a fine Barb," but was so
lightly esteemed in Paris that he was used for drawing
a cart about the streets. He was bought by a Mr.
Coke, who took him to England, and gave him to a Mr.
Williams, proprietor of the St. James Coffee House,
by whom he was presented to Lord Godolphin, a suc-
cessful breeder of racing stock. He was used, for a
season or two, as a teaser to Hobgoblin. The latter
showed a great aversion to Lord Godolphin's valuable
race mare, Roxana, and she was mated with Godolphin
Arabian. The produce was Lath, and he proved one

23

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

of the best race horses of his day. When Lath was
one year old Roxana was again mated with Godolphin
Arabian, and the produce was a colt foal. Roxana
died when this colt was ten days old. The youngster
was brought up on cow's milk, and was named Cade.
He was raced three or four times, but was a failure as
a race horse. Regulus, by Godolphin Arabian, was a
first-class race horse, fully equal to Lath. Pick says
that

''Regulus at six years won eight Royal Plates and a
50 pound plate. He was never beaten and was much
superior to any other horse of his time.''

Cade, that started only three or four times, and
was unsuccessful as a race horse, proved the most suc-
cessful of all the sons of Godolphin Arabian as a per-
petuator of race-winning speed. James Rice, author
of "History of the British Turf," says that the greatest
names in the early stud books are undoubtedly Herod,
Matchem and Eclipse. Herod, as has already been
shown, was a direct descendant in the male line of
Byerley Turk, and through his dam he was inbred to
Darley Arabian. Matchem was by Cade, mentioned
above, and his dam was by Croft's Partner, a grandson
of Byerley Turk, that has already been described.
Eclipse was by Marske, a grandson of Blaze, by Darley
Arabian, and his dam, Spiletta, was by Regulus, a son
of Godolphin Arabian. The dam of Regulus was Grey
Robinson, a daughter of Bald Galloway.

Bald Galloway. This Bald Galloway was very
successful as a sire of race winners. He got some of
the most remarkable race horses of their day. One of

24

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

them was called Buckhunter, and also known as Car-
lisle Gelding, was on the turf thirteen seasons, begin-
ning in 1719, and ending in 1731. He was then
eighteen years old. He won seventeen plates after
he was fourteen years old, and broke a leg in 1731
in the second heat of a race, the first of
which he had won. He was so ungovernable that he
w^as castrated when young. The name of Bald Gallo-
way appears in the pedigree of quite a number of
famous race winners and successful sires. He got Rox-
ana, the dam of Lath and Cade, already mentioned.

Bald Galloway received considerable attention from
the late J. H. Wallace in his last work devoted to the
horse, entitled "The Horse of America." Mr. Wallace
finally disposes of him as follows :

The Bald Galloway was one of the most successful stallions
of his day, and yet he was nothing in the world but a good
representative of the old pacing Galloways of that portion
of Scotland called Galloway.

Mr. Wallace speaks in high terms in the above named
work of the English author, William Pick, and justly
so, for every one who has read Pick's Turf Register
must be impressed with the candor and absence of
prejudice of the writer in every sentence of the work.
On Page 10, Vol. I., of Pick's Turf Register, may be
found the following:

The Bald Galloway (sire of Buckhunter) was bred by
Captain Rider of Whittleberry Forest, Northamptonshire. He
was got by a Barb of Monsieur St. Victor of France, well
known to sportsmen by the name of the St. Victor Barb. His
dam was a mare of Captain Rider, goi by Mr. Fenwick's
Whynot (son of his Barb). His grandam was a Royal Mare,
etc.

Mr. Wallace was unable to find any trace of St.

25

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Victor Barb during his investigation in England, henoe
did not hesitate to declare him a myth. Had he care-
fully examined Mr. Pick's statement he would have
observed that this Barb which got Bald Galloway was
owned in France. If the French were as careful to
preserve their records of running stock as were the
English, he could probably have learned something
concerning St. Victor Barb had he gone to France and
searched the records there.

Some authors have confused Whynot, the sire of the
dam of Bald Galloway, with Lord Onslow's Whynot,
a son of Crab. Mr. Wallace very properly shows that
the dam of Bald Galloway could not have been by the
latter, because this Onslow's Whynot was foaled in
1744, while Bald Galloway was foaled as early as 1710
at latest, and probably earlier. But Pick states posi-
tively that the dam of Bald Galloway was Captain
Rider's mare, and that she was by Fenwick's Whynot
(son of his Barb). Whynot foaled in 1744, was bred
by Sir John Phillips and sold to Lord Onslow. He was
never owned by Mr. Fenwick, and his sire. Crab, was
not a Barb.

It was not Mr. Pick's fault that the dam of Bald
Galloway has, through mistake, been credited by some
authors to Onslow's Whynot. Whynot that got the
dam of Bald Galloway is not mentioned in Pick's
Register, except as shown in the above quotation. It
is highly probable that he, like St. Victor Barb, sire of
Galloway, was owned in France. It is known that
there were several Barbs in that country at different
times. Among them were Curwen Bay Barb and
Thoulouse Barb. Who this Mr. Fenwick was, and

26

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

what Barb got Whynot that sired the dam of Bald
Galloway, were probably known to Mr. Pick, or at least
to some reliable person from whom he got the facts.
Is it probable that the progressive breeders of England
at that day could have been induced to mate their
choicest mares with a representative of a pacing family
for the purpose or with the expectation that the
produce would prove winners at the running gait?
The idea seems too absurd to be seriously considered.
If Mr. Wallace got any information of that nature from
a source that he believed to be trustworthy, is it not
singular, to say the least, that he did not mention the
author of the information that caused him to transform
the breeding of Bald Galloway from pure Eastern
stock, as given by the careful, well-informed, unpreju-
diced equine historian. Pick, to a pacer from Galloway,
Scotland? It is customary when changing a pedigree
which has stood as that of Bald Galloway has, for
nearly two hundred years, to give at least part of the
evidence upon which the change is authorized. The
writer knows, from personal investigation, that the
dam of Vermont Black Hawk, that was represented by
the man who brought her to New Hampshire as a half-
bred mare, raised in New Brunswick, and that now
appears in Wallace's Trotting Register as a pacer, was
never known to pace a step in her life.

The name of this Bald Galloway appears several
times, remotely it is true, in the pedigrees of the most
noted light-harness performers in America, from old
Top Gallant to Lou Dillon, and Pocahontas to Dan
Patch, Pick's Turf Register, Vol. I., also mentions

27

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER,

a horse called Mixbury Galloway, that was got by Our-
wen Bay Barb. This Mixbury Galloway was on the
turf in 1725, and won several plates at York that
season, one of which was called the Galloway plate.
He was a small horse, only 13.2 hands high. It is not
known that he was in any way related to Bald
Galloway.

The horse, which is the central figure in the founda-
tion stock, and has played the most important part in
the American trotter so far as the inclination to stick
to the trotting gait is concerned, is imported Messen-
ger. None of his get so far as known were trotters of
note, probably because trotting sports were not in vogue
in their day. Wherever his descendants were located,
several of them at least planted seeds of trotting incli-
nation, which, when dropped in favorable soil, germi-
nated, grew, matured, and produced trotting fruit in
abundance. Since trotting became a popular sport in
this country, many horses have founded families of
trotters that have flourished for a time and then died,
or became absorbed by other more potent families, until
today there are really but four families generally recog-
nized as such. Two of those families were founded by
descendants of imported Messenger, a horse of which
we shall have more to say hereafter, and he was un-
doubtedly the most potent factor, or controlling ele-
ment, so far as the trotting inclination and gait is con-
cerned, in one of the others. These families are known
as the Hambletonian, Mambrino Chief, Clay and Mor-
gan. Among the other imported horses that have
contributed largely to the extreme speed and superior
racing qualities of the American trotter are Wildair,

28

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

Diomed, Morton's Traveller, Sour Grout, Bellfounder
(a Norfolk trotter), Trustee, Margrave, Glencoe. Con-
sternation, Bonnie Scotland, Knight of St. George, etc.
Imported Messenger. Imported Messenger was de-
scribed as a grey horse about 15.3 hands high, with
more substance than finish, but though a trifle coarse in
appearance for a thoroughbred, a quality that he in-
herited from his paternal ancestors, he showed some
most excellent points in his makeup. He had great
lung capacity, while his loins and quarters, the machin-
ery by means of which he was propelled, were as good
as the best. His legs, joints and feet were also above
criticism. He was a horse of unusual vigor, and pos-
sessed a very hardy constitution, which he transmitted
with remarkable uniformity. He was bred by John
Pratt in England and foaled in 1780. His sire was
Engineer, by Mambrino, a son of Sampson, by Blaze,
and he by Flying Ghilders. The latter was by Darley
Arabian, and was the fastest race horse in England in
his day.

The breeding of Messenger's dam, like that of
Sampson, has been questioned, but is given as follows :
By Turf, a son of Matchem, and he by Cade, a son of
Godolphin Arabian; second dam, sister of Figurante,
by Regulus, son of Godolphin Arabian; third dam by
Starling, a son of Bay Bolton, etc. He traces in the
paternal line directly to Darley Arabian through Mam-
brino, Engineer, Sampson, Blaze and Flying Ghilders.
His pedigree also shows three crosses of Godolphin
Arabian and five of Byerley Turk. Messenger may not
have been thoroughbred. He probably was not. He
was bred for a race horse, however, and although he

29

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

probably inherited a cold cross from some source not
far away, he was raced in England with moderate suc-
cess for several years. He was not as successful upon
the turf as either his sire, grandsire or great grandsire,
yet the Racing Calendar shows that he won in all
eight races, received two forfeits and lost six races.
He was brought to America in 1788, and as early as
May that season was advertised to stand for service
in Philadelphia, Pa. He was used in this country ex-
clusively for stock purposes, and stood at various
places in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
He died on Long Island, Jan. 28, 1808. He was liber-
ally patronized from the first, and probably left a more
numerous progeny than any horse of his day.

Only a very small proportion of Messenger's get were
distinguished as race winners. Most of them were
large, strong, useful horses, and highly prized as gen-
eral purpose animals. Most of the travel in those days
was by stage coach, and the get of Messenger were
very valuable for that use. Many of his sons were kept
for stock purposes, and his progeny soon became very
numerous throughout the Middle and some of the East-
ern States, particularly in Maine, where his son Win-
throp Messenger did stud service several years. Some
of Messenger's get showed excellent trotting action, and
this characteristic was more marked in the get of his
sons than in animals got by himself, and more in the
get of his grandsons than in that of his sons. He did
more in the way of perpetuating the inclination to
trot than all the other stallions that have ever been
brought to this country from England or any other
quarter of the globe.

30

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

Imported Wildair. We will let Messenger rest
awhile, and consider the qualities of some of the other
imported stallions, whose names will be found closely
linked and blood freely mingled with his, when the
record-breaking American trotter is reached. One of
these is Wildair, a bay horse, foaled in 1753, and got
by Cade, a son of Godolphin Arabian. The dam of
Wildair was by Steady, he was by the renowned Flying
Childers, and his dam. Miss Belvoire, was an inbred
Turk. Pick's "Turf Register" says that "Miss Belvoire
was allowed to be the best mare of her time that ran at
Newmarket, where she won the King's plate for mares."
The second dam of Wildair was by Croft's Partner,
already mentioned as the best grandson of Byerley
Turk, and one of the very best horses in England in his
day. His other ancestors, though well bred, were not
descendants of either Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian or
Godolphin Arabian.

Wildair was raced successfully in England as a four
and five-year-old. He won an excellent four-mile race
for horses of all ages, beating by more than a distance
the Duke of Cumberland's Dan, by Regulus. He was
bought and brought to this country by James Delancy
not far from 1765. He was so highly esteemed in Eng-
land that in 1773 he was bought by the English gentle-
man, Edward Leedes, Esq., and taken back to that
country, where he was kept for stock purposes. He got
several good racers in this country, one of which was
Slammerkin, the third dam of Messenger's son, Mam-
brino, that sired Abdallah. The blood of Wildair,
according to Joseph Battell, Esq., was also an element
in the dam of Justin Morgan, founder of the noted

31

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Morgan family of horses. Wildair was the only im-
ported stallion that the English breeders ever bought
in America and took back to that country for stock
purposes.

Imported Diomed. The next imported horse that
claims attention, on account of his blood mingling with
that of imported Messenger in many of the fastest
American trotters and pacers ever produced, is Dio-
med. He is described as a solid chestnut, with some
white on the heel of right hind foot; stood 15.3 hands,
had plenty of substance and great muscular power. He
was bred by Sir Charles Bunbury and foaled in 1777.
His sire, Florizel, was by the renowned Herod and
from a daughter of Cygnet, by Godolphin Arabian.
Diomed's dam was a sister of Juno, a direct descend-
ant in the paternal line of Alcock's Arabian. The sec-
ond dam of Diomed was by Blank, and he was by
Godolphin Arabian, from a daughter of Bartlett'a
Childers, a full brother of the renowned Flying Child-
ers. Diomed's third dam was by Flying Childers, the
fastest of the get of Darley Arabian, and the most re
nowned race horse in England in his day. An analy-
sis of the pedigree of Diomed shows that he inherited
seven crosses of Darley Arabian, six of Byerley Turk
and two of Godolphin Arabian.

Diomed began racing as a three-year-old. He gained
considerable distinction by winning the first Derby
ever run in England. There were six other starters in
this race. He also won four other good races that
season, and received several forfeits. He was raced
successfully as a four-year-old. He was on the turf

32

-t

.% =.

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

four seasons, but was not so successful the last two
seasons as the first two, although the last season out
he won an excellent race for four-mile heats after losing
the first to Lottery. Diomed went lame in his seven-
year-old form, and was retired from the turf. He was
kept for stock purposes in England until 1799, when
he was sold for fifty guineas, but was bought not long
afterward by Col. James Hoomes of Virginia for one
thousand guineas. He died the property of Colonel
Hoomes in 1808, being then thirty-one years old.

Though handicapped with an infirmity Diomed was
more successful in England as a sire and perpetuator
of race winning speed than was Mambrino, the sire of
imported Messenger. The eminent author, Frank
Forester (Henry William Herbert), a native of Eng-
land and quite familiar with the horse stock, both of
England and America, makes the following statement
concerning Diomed in his interesting work entitled
^^The Horse of xlmerica," Vol. 1, page 175.

Diomed, by Florizel; dam by Spectator, — See General Stud
Book, Page 193 — was a very distinguished racer in England,
the first winner of the Derby; and as a stallion, although
placed in competition with Highflyer, Sir Peter Teazle,
Rockingham, Pegasus, etc., was no less celebrated.

The above author then gives quite a lengthty list of
the animals that Diomed got in England, between 1786
and 1794, one of which he describes as follows :

Gray Diomed, one of the most celebrated horses that ever
ran in England, afterwards ran with such success in Russia,
that several of his stock were sent for from that empire.

The stallions mentioned above with which Diomed
was placed in competition were considered among the
most successful sires of racing stock in England in

33

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

their day. Highflyer was never beaten in a race, and
was got by the renowned Herod. Sir Peter Teazle,
generally called Sir Peter, was by Highflyer, and his
dam inherited the blood of Darley Arabian, through
both Flying Childers and Bartlett's Childers, also the
blood of Godolphin Arabian, through his son Regulus,
a horse that was never beaten in a race. Rockingham
was also by Highflyer, and from a daughter of Cade, by
Godolphin Arabian; next dam by Squirt, the son of
Blaze, by Flying Childers, that got Marske, sire of the
unbeaten English Eclipse, and Pegasus was a son of
the renowned Eclipse.

As already stated, Diomed was sold in England at
the ridiculously low price of fifty guineas. This low
price was due to the fact that the horse was unsound.
Colonel Hoomes evidently had great confidence in
Diomed's ability as a sire, however, for he paid one
thousand guineas for the son of Florizel in 1799, when
the horse was twenty-two years old, and had him
shipped to America. Col. Hoomes was a resident of
Virginia, and the horse did stud service in that State
until his death, which occurred in the same year as
that of imported Messenger. The fact that Diomed
proved the most successful sire of racing speed in
America in his day, shows that Colonel Hoomes did not
overestimate his ability as a sire of race winners.
Among the best of his get were Sir Archy, Ball's Flori-
zel, Potomac (that broke the two-mile record) , Top Gal-
lant, Hamlintonian, Stump the Dealer, Hampton and
Truxton. The latter was owned by President Andrew
Jackson, and was more highly prized by him than any
other of the several race horses that he ever owned.

34

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

Col. S. D. Bruce, the best authority on American
thoroughbreds, says that Florizel, by Diomed, had no
equal in his day. He never lost a heat or paid a forfeit,
and never felt the touch of whip or spur. The best of
Diomed's get, however, was Sir Archy. The late John
H. Wallace paid Sir Archy the compliment of being the
''Godolphin Arabian of America." Sir Archy was
beaten a few times when first raced, on account of sick-
ness, but when he was four years old and fully recov-
ered Sir Archy beat the best that he met so easily that
his owners offered to match him for a large sum against
any horse in the world in a four-mile heat race, and
meet his competitor half way. The challenge was not
accepted.

The relative rank of Diomed as a sire in this country
is best shown by four tables published in 1844, by J. S.
Skinner, author of Skinner's American Turf Register.
These tables give the time made in the best races ever
won in America from the earliest racing to the close of
1843, at one, two, three and four miles. The table of
best records for one mile includes eighteen races. The
winners of fourteen of these eighteen races trace di-
rectly in the paternal line to imported Diomed, and the
winners of two of the other eighteen were from dams
that were direct descendants of Diomed through their
sires. The table of best races at two-mile heats con-
tains thirty-one races. The winners of twenty-one of
these were direct descendants in the male line of im-
ported Diomed. The winners of two of the others were
from dams that trace directly to Diomed through their
sires. The third table contains twenty-four of the best
races for three-mile heats. The winners of sixteen of

35

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

these twenty-four races were by sires that were direct
descendants of Diomed, and the winners of four of the
others were from mares whose sires trace directly to
Diomed in the paternal line. The table of best races at
four-mile heats includes seventeen races. Animals
that trace directly to Diomed through their sires won
ten of these seventeen races, and three of the other
winners were produced by mares that were direct de-
scendants of Diomed. Here are ninety of the best races
that were run in America up to 1844, and the winners
of sixty-one, or a fraction more than two-thirds of
them, were direct descendants of old Diomed, while the
winners of eleven of the others were from mares that
trace directly to Diomed through their sires, making a
total of seventy-two out of ninety, or eighty per cent.,
of all these winners that carried the blood of the old
Derby winner.

It seems almost incredible that a horse which was
imported to this country in 1799, when twenty-two
years old, could have so far surpassed all the other
stallions in America as a progenitor of superior race
horses, but such is the fact. Some have attempted to
account for the remarkable showing made by Diomed's
get, on the ground that there had been but few thor-
oughbreds imported up to the time that Diomed did
stud service in America. The writer has carefully
examined the list of thoroughbred stallions and mares
that were imported to this country up to and including
the year 1802. Diomed had then been in this country
three years, and lived six years longer. The total
number of thoroughbred stallions, which had been im-
ported up to and including 1802, was two hundred and

36

TEE ENGLISH RACE HORSE,

thirty, and one hundred and one of them were imported
into Virginia, the State where Diomed did stud service.
This number does not include several stallions that
were imported previous to that date, and which were
claimed to be thoroughbred, but whose names do not
appear in the General Stud Book. Neither does it in-
clude a few that died shortly after landing, and before
doing stud service in America. The total number of
thoroughbred mares which had been imported up to
that date was eighty-two, and forty-four of these were
located in Virginia. This shows most conclusively
that it was Diomed's superior merit rather than the
lack of thoroughbred stallions in this country, and
especially in Virginia, that enabled him, in forty-four
years after landing in America, to beat all the other
sires by a fraction more than two to one, as a progeni-
tor of winners of the best races that had ever been run
in America up to the close of 1843. The name of Dio-
med is found more frequently in the pedigrees of record
breaking runners, trotters and pacers in this country
than is that of any other animal.

Other Imported Stallions. Morton's Traveller was
a bay horse, foaled in 1747. His sire was Croft's Part-
ner, the best son of Jigg, by Byerley Turk. The dam of
Traveller derived most of her inheritance from Barbs,
Arabians and Turks, but none of it came from Byerley
Turk, Darley Arabian or Godolphin Arabian. Travel-
ler's progeny were the best racers that were bred in
Virginia in his day. He got Lloyd's Traveller, and
the latter got True Briton, that sired the noted Justin
Morgan, founder of the celebrated Morgan family of
roadsters and trotters.

37

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Sour Grout was a bay horse foaled in 1786. His sire
was the unbeaten Highflyer, by Herod, a direct de-
scendant of Byerley Turk. The dam of Herod, as has
already been stated, was inbred to Barley Arabian.
Highflyer, as already stated, was never beaten in a
race, and he sired three winners of the Derby. The
dam of Highflyer was by Blank, a son of Godolphin
Arabian, and his second dam was by Regulus, another
son of Godolphin Arabian. The dam of Sour Grout
was Jewel, by Squirrel ; second dam by Blank, a son of
Godolphin Arabian ; third dam by Second, a son of Fly-
ing Childers, by Darley Arabian, and fourth dam by
Basto, a son of Byerley Turk. By this it will be seen
that Sour Grout was inbred to the three distinguished
horses, Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin
Arabian, to which the English thoroughbred is so
largely indebted for his superior speed and other valua-
ble racing qualities. A daughter of Sour Grout was
mated with imported Messenger, and the produce was
Mambrino, that got Abdallah, sire of Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian. Mambrino also got Mambrino Paymaster,
sire of Mambrino Ghief. Mambrino will receive more
attention later on, but it will be well to bear in mind
the inheritance of Sour Grout, sire of his dam.

Imported Bellfounder was a Norfolk trotter that
was brought to Boston in 1822. He was a compactly
made, round barrelled, strong quartered, smoothly
turned horse, and a remarkably good gaited trotter.
His sire, Old Bellfounder, was by Pretender, son of
Fireaway, by Driver, he by Shales, a son of Blaze, by
the famous Flying Ghilders, the fastest of the get of
the Darley Arabian. The dam of Old Bellfounder (sire

38

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE,

of imported Bellfounder) was by Smuggler, a son of
Hue and Cry, by Scott Shales, and he by Shales, a son
of the Blaze, by Flying Childers, named above. The
sire of imported Bellfounder was inbred to Blaze, that
got Sampson, the great grandsire of imported Messen-
ger. Imported Bellfounder is chiefly distinguished as
the sire of the Charles Kent mare, that produced Rys-
dyk's Hambletonian.

Imported Trustee was a chestnut horse, foaled in
1829, and imported into New Jersey in 1835. His sire
was Catton, and Catton was by Golumpus ; dam, Lucy
Gray, by Timothy, he by Highflyer, described above,
and his dam a daughter of Blank, by Godolphin Ara-
bian. The second dam of Catton (sire of imported
Trustee) wsls Lucy, whose sire was Florizel, the son of
Herod, that got imported Diomed ; Catton's third dam
was Frenzy, by the invincible Eclipse, and his fourth
dam was by Engineer, the grandsire of imported Mes-
senger, his fifth dam being by Blank, son of Godolphin
Arabian. It will be observed that some of the blood
elements of the dam of Catton, the sire of imported
Trustee, were kindred to those of both imported Mes-
senger and imported Diomed, a fact which it will be
well to bear in mind, as the Trustee blood nicked re-
markably well with that of both Messenger and Dio-
med, as will be shown later. Golumpus, the sire of
Catton, was by Gohanna, and his dam was by Wood-
pecker, a son of the famous Herod, whose blood ele-
ments, as already stated, combined the blood of Byer-
ley Turk and Darley Arabian. Gohanna was by Mer-
cury; dam by Matchem, a son of Cade, by Godolphin
Arabian, and Mercury was by the world-renowned

39

THE AMERICA!!^ TROTTER.

Eclipse, his dam being a daughter of Tartar, the sire of
Herod. The blood of Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian
and Godolphin Arabian was closely interwoven in both
the sire and dam of imported Trustee.

Imported Margrave was a chestnut horse, foaled in
1829, and brought to this country in 1835. He was
foaled the same year, and also imported the same
year as Trustee. His sire was Muley, by Orville, a
son of Beningbrough, and he by King Fergus, a son
of the renowned Eclipse. The dam of Muley was by
Whiskey, and he by Saltram, son of Eclipse. His sec-
ond dam was the famous brood mare Young Giantess,
by Diomed; third dam, by Matchem; son of Cade, by
Godolphin Arabian; fourth dam by Babraham, son of
Godolphin Arabian, beyond which is a cross of Byerley
Turk, through Croft's Partner. The dam of Orville
was by Highflyer, one of the best sons of Herod. He
got Sour Grout, sire of the dam of Mambrino. The
latter was the sire of Abdallah, etc. The next dam of
Orville was by Sampson, the son of Blaze, that got
Engineer, and he in turn got Mambrino, the sire of
Imported Messenger. The next dam of Orville was by
Regulus, a son of Godolphin Arabian. It will be seen
by the above that the sire of imported Margrave de-
rived a large share of his inheritance from Byerley
Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian. The
dam of Margrave was by Election, a son of Gohanna,
and he by Mercury, a son of the famous Eclipse. This
Gohanna, it will be remembered, was the great grand-
sire in the paternal line of imported Trustee. The
second dam of Margrave was by Hambletonian. This

40

THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.

Hambletonian was by King Fergus, a son of the re-
nowned Eclipse, and his dam was by Highflyer, al-
ready mentioned several times. His second dam was
by Matchem, a famous son of Cade, by Godolphin
Arabian. His third dam was by Delpini, a son of
Highflyer; his fourth dam by Phenomenon, a son of
Herod. The dam of Phenomenon was Frenzy, by the
famous Eclipse, and Frenzy's dam was by Engineer,
the grandsire of imported Messenger. The blood of
imported Margrave nicked remarkably well with that
of imported Messenger, and when the blood elements
of the two horses are compared side by side, it will not
be surprising to the student of the breeding problem
that such was the case, for Messenger and Margrave
had several strains of blood in common, other than
those that they inherited through Sampson, the grand-
sire of Engineer.

Imported Glencoe was a golden chestnut in color,
with both hind legs white, half way to the hocks, and
a large star in the forehead. He was foaled in 1831
His sire, Sultan, traced straight to the renowned Herod
through both sire and dam, and was also inbred to the
unbeaten Eclipse. Glencoe's dam. Trampoline, traced
directly to the famous Eclipse, both through her own
sire and the sire of her dam. A careful analysis of
the tabulated pedigree of Glencoe shows that he in-
herited no less than thirty-eight crosses of Godolphin
Arabian, twenty-six of Darley Arabian and twenty
two of Byerley Turk. He first appeared on the
turf as a three-year-old, and raced with fair
success for two seasons. In 1835, Mr. James
Jackson, a resident of the State of Alabama,

41

THE AMERICAls TROTTER.

sent an order to England to purchase the best stallion
in the market. He named Plenipotentiary, Priam and
Glencoe. The latter was bought for a large price, and
was allowed to do stud service in England a part of
the season of 1836, after which he was brought to
Jackson, Alabama.

Consternation was foaled in 1841, and imported to
America in 1846. He was a direct descendant in the
paternal line of Godolphin Arabian, to which he was
considerably inbred. He was also strongly inbred to
Byerley Turk through Herod. He traced several times
to the latter through Highflyer and twice through old
Diomed. He was also considerably inbred to Darley
Arabian, to which he traced twice through the famous
Eclipse and once through Sampson, the great grandsire
of imported Messenger.

Imported Bonnie Scotland was a bay horse, foaled in
1853. He was very strongly inbred to Darley Arabian,
to which he traced no less than ten times through the
famous Eclipse, and also twice through Engineer, the
grandsire of imported Messenger. His pedigree shows
numerous crosses of Byerley Turk, many of which were
through Highflyer, one of the best sons of the re-
nowned Herod. He also traces to Herod once through
the famous brood mare Young Giantess, by old Diomed,
and again through Fancy, a full sister of Diomed
His pedigree also shows that he inherited no less than
thirty-four crosses of renowned Godolphin Arabian.

There were other imported horses whose names are
occasionally found in the pedigrees of noted trotters,
but with the exception of imported Paymaster, Expe-
dition and Magnum Bonum, they do not occur with

42

THE ENGLISH FACE HORSE.

suflBcient frequency to warrant the belief that they
contributed greatly either to their speed, gameness or
endurance. Both Paymaster and Magnum Bonum
were inbred to Godolphin Arabian. They also inherited
the blood of both Byerley Turk and Darley Arabian.
With the blood lines before us of the imported horses
that have played an important part in that wonderful
family of horses, we are now prepared to consider the
American trotter.

43

Chapter II.
THE EARLIEST TROTTERS.

Boston Blue. — Screwdriver. — Top Gallant. — Whalebone. —
Dutchman. — Lady Suffolk and Others.

The first animal to gain a national reputation as a
trotter in this country was called Boston Blue. It is
a matter of history that in 1818 Boston Blue was
matched for |1,000 to trot a mile against time in three
minutes. The horse won, and the performance at that
time was considered nearly as wonderful as was that
of Lou Dillon when she trotted a mile in two minutes
at Readville in 1903. What would those who wit-
nessed the performance of Boston Blue have thought
had some one then predicted that in eighty-five years
from that time an animal would trot a mile on a cir-
cular course in two minutes?

Boston Blue is described as a rat-tailed, iron gray
gelding, about 16 hands high, but his breeding has
never been made public. It is probable that he was a
descendant of imported Messenger, very likely a grand-
son. He possessed great endurance. It is stated upon
good authority that on several occasions he was driven
from New York to Philadelphia in a day, and made

44

THE EARLIEST TROTTERS.

the return trip in another day. He was finally taken
to England, and there trotted eight miles in 28 minutes
and 55 seconds. He also won several races at shorter
distances.

It would appear by a table, published by the late J.
H. Wallace, in Vol. 1 of his Year Book, issued in 1885,
that a horse called Yankee trotted a mile in 2.59, on
a half-mile track at Harlem, N. Y., in 1806, and that
a chestnut gelding called Boston Horse trotted a mile
in 2.48 1-2 at Philadelphia, Pa., in August, 1810. This
table in which these names appear is the last of a
series of tables found near the end of every Year Book,
and is headed, ''Fastest Kecords at Different Decades
Since 1800." In that table the gray gelding Boston
Blue is represented as a black gelding, and his name
is given as Bolton Blue. It is probable that Yankee
and Boston Horse, with the performances given in that
table, existed only in the imagination of the author.
It is also evident that the same author inserted Bolton
Blue, black gelding, instead of Boston Blue, gray geld-
ing, for a purpose known to himself, and not
through an unintentional error. We would respect-
fully suggest to those who have charge of the Year
Book that it would be well to investigate that table
and change it so as to correspond with facts.

After the trotting ball was set rolling by Boston
Blue in 1818, it rapidly gained momentum. Within
ten years from that time trotting sport in the North
had become somewhat common and quite popular. Its
popularity, though interrupted by occasional seasons
of depression, has continued to increase until it has
now become recognized as the national sport of the

45

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

United States, and has also gained a strong foothold
among our worthy neighbors in some sections of
Canada.

But little attention was paid at first to the blood
lines of the earliest American trotters. When the ped-
igrees of the most noted of the early ones, such as
Screw Driver, Top Gallant, Dutchman, Whalebone,
Betsy Baker, Fanny Pullen, Daniel D. Tompkins and
Lady Suffolk were investigated, the majority of them
were found to be descendants of imported Messenger.
Their sires were either sons or grandsons of Messenger
and the most of them were inbred to the gray son of
Mambrino. It is universally conceded by all well-
posted, unprejudiced horsemen, that Messenger trans-
mitted through his sons a stronger inclination to stick
to the trotting gait than any other horse in America
in his day. He was really the foundation of the
unequalled American trotter of the present day, as
will be shown later on.

The history of the descendants of the old-time trot-
ters mentioned above would make an interesting chap-
ter. It was fully related by the master reinsman,
Hiram Woodruff, years ago, in a series of articles that
first appeared in the Spirit of the Times, and later in
book form under the title of "The Trotting Horse of
America." Some old men have asserted that Hiram
Woodruff never wrote those articles. It is true that
he did not put them on paper with his pen. This was
done by the late Charles J. Foster. Hiram Woodruff
furnished the ideas, however, and the facts related
were from his own personal knowledge and experience.
He had a personal knowledge of all the horses that he

46

THE EARLIEST TROTTERS.

described. Most of them had been trained or driven
by him, and he had driven in races against the others.
The matter in the body of that work was all submitted
to and approved by Hiram Woodruff before it was
published. Subsequent investigation showed that the
breeding of a few of the animals, Top Gallant and
Dutchman, for instance, were not given correctly, but
it was given as had been represented.

Top Gallant. The old-time trotters possessed re-
markable stamina. One of the most noted of the early
ones was Top Gallant, a bay gelding foaled about 1810.
In Hiram Woodruff's work Top Gallant was mentioned
as a son of imported Messenger. Careful investiga-
tion, however, disclosed the fact that he w^as by Cor-
iander, a son of imported Messenger, and that his dam
was by Bishop's Hambletonian. The latter was also
by imported Messenger, and his dam was Pheasant, a
thoroughbred daughter of imported Shark. The latter
was by Marske, the sire of English Eclipse. The dam
of Shark was by Snap, a son of Snip, by Flying Child-
ers. The second dam of Shark was by Marlborough,
a son of Godolphin Arabian. The second dam of
Bishop's Hambletonian was by imported Medley. Top
Gallant was first raced as a runner, but finally became
a remarkable trotter. He was more than fourteen
years old when it was discovered that he could trot
fast. Most of his trotting races were from two to
four mile heats. When tw^enty-four years old he was
able to give the best trotters of that time all they could
do to beat him, though he had a spavin on each hock.
He won several races of three and four mile heats
after he was twenty years old. One of Top Gallant's

47

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

most troublesome competitors was Whalebone, and he,
too, was an inbred Messenger.

Whalebone. Whalebone was by Bishop's Hamble-
tonian, mentioned above as the sire of Top Gallant's
dam. The dam of Whalebone was by Coffin's Messen-
ger, he by imported Messenger and from a daughter of
Feather. The latter was by imported Light Infantry,
and he by famous English Eclipse. Top Gallant and
W^halebone were the best trotters of their day. About
the time that their racing careers ended, or their trot-
ting powers began to wane, a greater than either of
them appeared. This was Dutchman.

Dutchman. The famous trainer, Hiram Woodruff,
spoke of Dutchman as follows: "For the combined
excellence of speed, bottom and constitutional vigor
equal to the carrying on of a long campaign, and im-
proving on it, he has had few, if any, equals, and cer-
tainly no superior. His time for three miles still
stands the best on record."

Dutchman made a three-mile record against time of
7.32 1-2 to saddle at Beacon Course, N. J., August 1,
1839, and it still stands as the world's three-mile
champion trotting record to saddle. The renowned
Flora Temple (2.19 3-4) tried to beat it, but failed.
The breeding of Dutchman was not known until after
Hiram Woodruff's book was published. Through the
investigations of the late J. H. Wallace it was finally
brought to light, and he, too, proved to be an inbred
Messenger. His sire, Tippoo Saib, Jr., was by a horse
called Engineer, and this Engineer was by the gray
son of imported Messenger that was known as Mam-
brino and also as Foxhunter. The dam of Dutchman

48

^-^ '^

^^^»

THE EARLIEST TROTTERS.

was also by this same Mambrino (Foxhunter). The
dam of this Mambrino, that got Engineer, sire of Tip-
poo Saib, Jr., was by Pulaski, a thoroughbred son of
Whynot. The latter was a son of imported Fear-
naught. The second dam of Mambrino was by Wilkes,
a thoroughbred son of imported Figure. His third
dam was by True Briton, a thoroughbred son of im-
ported Othello. This gray Mambrino must not be
confounded with the bay son of Messenger by that
name, which got Abdallah.

Lady Suffolk (2.29 1-2). About the time that
Dutchman's fame as a trotter was at its height, LaiJy
Suffolk appeared, and she was the first trotter to take
a record of 2.30 or better, to harness. This wonderful
mare was raced for fifteen consecutive seasons, and
won in all eighty-three races. She made a record of
2.29 1-2 to harness, in a race against Moscow, at the
Beacon Course, New Jersey, October 13, 1845. She
won the first, second and fifth heats of that race in
2.34, 2.29 1-2, 2.36. Moscow got the third and fourth
heats in 2.30, 2.34. Lady Suffolk took a record of
2.26 1-2 to saddle in the first heat of a race that she
won at the Beacon Course, New Jersey, July 12, 1843.
All of her races during the first five years were from
two to four-mile heats. Lady Suffolk was the Gold-
smith Maid of her day, so far as speed and endurance
were concerned, and, like Goldsmith Maid, she Was
raced and won when several years older than most
horses are at the time they are retired. All her races
were against other horses. She was never started
against the watch. Like Top Gallant, Whalebone and
Dutchman, Lady Suffolk was an inbred Messenger.

49

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

She was foaled in 1833. Her sire was Engineer 2d,
a son of Engineer, by imported Messenger. The dam
of Engineer 2d was by Plato, a thoroughbred son of
imported Messenger. Plato was a full brother of
Bishop's Hambletonian. The second dam of Engineer
2d was by Kainbow, a son of the noted thoroughbred,
imported Wildair, the horse that after standing in this
country for several years was bought by an English
breeder of thoroughbred racing stock and taken back
to England again for stock purposes. The dam of
Lady Suffolk was by Don Quixote, a son of imported
Messenger, and her second dam was by Rainbow, sire
of the second dam of Engineer 2d. It will be seen by
the above that Lady Suffolk inherited three crosses
from imported Messenger. There were other fast trot-
ters in those early days that were not known to be
descendants of imported Messenger, but no two of them
could be traced back to a common ancestor, as could
the four named above, and several more like Fanny
Pullen, Daniel D. Tompkins and Betsy Baker, all quite
famous trotters in their day, and all by sons of im-
ported Messenger.

No two of these noted Messenger trotters were by the
same sire. The two that were most closely related
were Top Gallant and Whalebone. The latter was by
Bishop's Hambletonian, and so was the dam of Top
Gallant. It is a fact worthy of note, and especially
interesting to students of the breeding problem, that
Engineer 2d, sire of the old time world's champion
trotter, Lady Suffolk, had a very similar blood inheri-
tance to that of old Top Gallant. The latter, as al-
ready stated, was by Coriander, a son of Messenger,

50

THE EARLIEST TROTTERS.

and his dam was by Bishop's Hambletonian, another
son of Messenger. The dam of Coriander (sire of Top
Gallant) was by Allen's Brown Figure, and his second
dam was by Rainbow, a son of imported Wildair. En-
gineer 2d, as above stated, was by Engineer, a son
of imported Messenger. His dam was by Plato, and
his second dam, like that of Coriander, was by Rain-
bow, the son of imported Wildair, that got the second
dam of Top Gallant's sire, Coriander. Plato, that got
the dam of Engineer 2d, was a full brother of Bishop's
Hambletonian, sire of the dam of Top Gallant.

51

Chapter III.
HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

Mambrino and Old Abdallah. — Rysdyk's Hambletonian. — Elec-
tioneer.— George Wilkes. — Happy Medium. — Alexander's
Abdallah. — Volunteer. — Harold. — Dictator. — Aberdeen.—
Egbert. — Strathmore. — Other Sons of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian.

Mambrino and Old Abdallah. The first stallion to
sire two trotters with records of 2.30 or better was old
Abdallah, and he also got Rysdyk's Hambletonian,
founder of the greatest family of trotters that the
world has ever known or is ever likely to know. Ab-
dallah was an angular, flat-sided horse, with a coarse
head, long, heavy ear, straight neck and rat tail, was
straight hipped and light quartered, or cat hammed,
as described to the writer several years ago by a man
who was a good judge of conformation, and who took
care of the horse in 1849. Though unattractive in
general appearance, all horsemen who knew Abdallah
agreed that he showed lots of quality. He was a bay
in color, with black points, and his coat was fine, short
and glossy. His muscles were of fine grain, his bone
of dense, ivory-like texture, his joints firm and sound,
his legs clean and flat, with the cords and tendons

52

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

standing out prominently, and he had good feet. Ab-
dallah was never broken to harness, but was a clean,
open-gaited trotter to saddle, and stood nearly 15.3 at
the withers. He was foaled in 1823. His sire was
Mambrino, a running bred son of imported Messenger.
His dam, Amazonia, was a large, angular, raw-boned,
coarse-headed, long-eared, flat-sided mare, not attrac-
tive when standing still, but a good-gaited, level-headed
and very fast trotter for her time. The man who sold
her as a four-year-old represented her to be a Messen-
ger. She surely had the Messenger characteristics
very strongly in gait, and strong circumstantial evi-
dence indicates most conclusively that she was either
by Saratoga, a son of Messenger, or by Dove, a son of
Saratoga. It has been asserted by some who made a
careful study of the facts that Abdallah derived more
of his trotting quality from his dam, Amazonia, than
from his sire, Mambrino. He certainly bore a stronger
resemblance to his dam than his sire in general appear-
ance. Amazonia was described as "a road mare of
great distinction." Many who knew her said "without
an equal in her day."

Mambrino. Mambrino, the sire of Abdallah, was
a 16-hand bay, with star in forehead, and one white
ankle behind. He was got by imported Messenger,
and was foaled in 1806. His dam was by imported
Sour Grout, he by Highflyer, and he by Herod. The
second dam of Mambrino was by imported Whirligig;
third dam, the famous Miss Slammerkin (also called
Slammerkin and old Slammerkin), by imported
Wildair; the fourth dam, the imported Cub Mare, by
Cub. Mambrino was bred for a race horse, but for

53

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

some cause did not race successfully. It may have
been due to the influence of a cold cross, somewhere
along the line of Messenger's remote ancestors. He
was a good-gaited natural trotter, however, as will be
seen by the following statement of Major William
Jones, who bought Mambrino from his breeder when
a four-year-old colt : "I have been the breeder of some,
and the owner of many horses, and with the best op-
portunities of judging, having ridden him (he was
never driven) many, many miles. I say with entire
confidence, he was the best natural trotter I ever
threw a leg over. His walk was free, flinging and
elastic; his trot clear, square and distinct, with a
beautiful roll of the knee and great reach of the
hind leg."

Mambrino imparted the trotting action and trotting
inclination to several of his offspring. The fastest of
his get by the records was the old-time trotting mare,
Betsy Baker, that took a record of 2.43 1-2 in the third
heat of a race which she won at Centreville, L. I.,
October 5, 1842. Three of Mambrino's sons sired
founders of trotting families, viz: Abdallah, Mam-
brino Paymaster and Almack. Abdallah sired three
trotters and one pacer that made records in 2.30 or
better, viz: the trotters. Sir Walter (2.27), Frank
Forrester (2.30), and O'Blennis (2.30), and the pacer,
Ben Higdon (2.27). At one time during his life Ab-
dallah was the most popular trotting sire then living.
He was taken to Lexington, Ky., in the winter of 1840,
but the breeders there did not appreciate him, and he
received so little patronage that he was returned to
New York. He received but little patronage after

54

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

coming back from Kentucky. The man who took care
of him at one time stated to the writer that the cause
of his lack of patronage late in life w^as the fact that
many of his get, though good-gaited trotters, were in-
clined to pull too strongly on the bit when speeding
on the road for the comfort of their drivers. It is
said that the owner of Abdallah finally gave the horse
to a farmer on Long Island, with the understanding
that the farmer should care for the horse properly as
long as the animal lived. The farmer became tired of
his bargain, so the story goes, and sold the old horse
to a fish peddler for thirty -five dollars. The fish broker
hitched Abdallah to his cart, but the horse did not take
kindly to that occupation and kicked himself free.
The peddler then turned Abdallah loose, and he finally
died on Long Island from neglect and starvation.

Several of the daughters of Abdallah were successful
as producers of trotting speed. Seven of them in all
produced standard trotters, and one of these trotters
was the renowned Goldsmith Maid (2.14). Abdallah's
daughters were very successful as producers of sires of
standard speed. They produced in all thirty-two stal-
lions that were the sires of 2.30 performers.

Rysdyk's Hambletonian. The most distinguished
of Abdallah's get was Rysdyk's Hambletonian, the
greatest trotting progenitor that ever lived, and foun-
der of the renowned Hambletonian family of trotters.
Rysdyk's Hambletonian was bred by Jonas Seely of
Sugar Loaf, Orange County, N. Y., and foaled in 1849.
His sire was Abdallah, by Mambrino, and his dam was
the Charles Kent Mare, by imported Bellfounder,
whose breeding has already been given. The second

55

THE AMERICA!^ TROTTER.

dam of Rysdyk's Hambletonian was One Eye, by
Bishop's Hambletonian, the running bred son of im-
ported Messenger, that got the noted old-time trotter
Whalebone, and also got the dam of that other famous
old-time trotter. Top Gallant. This Bishop's Hamble-
tonian was among the most successful of the get of
imported Messenger as a race horse, and also as a sire
of trotters. The third dam of Rysdyk's Hambletonian
was Silvertail, by imported Messenger. His fourth
dam was Jin Black, a large, clean-limbed, powerful
black mare, with a bald face and two white feet. The
breeding of Jin Black has never been made public.
She had the appearance and characteristics of a thor-
oughbred. When young she was so "high strung" that
she was inclined to be "contrary" and balky, but this
infirmity was overcome by kind treatment, and she
was finally induced to work kindly, doing general
work on a farm, but the man who handled her said
"they at first had to get an extra strong set of iron
traces to prevent her from breaking them every day."
Jin Black must have been an extra good mare and
highly prized, or Mr. Seely would not have sent her
to imported Messenger. Her daughter, Silvertail, by
Messenger, was a very superior animal, and possessed
remarkable endurance.

Mr. Jonas Seely, a man of unquestioned veracity, is
authority for the statement that on several occasions
Silvertail was ridden to saddle one hundred miles in a
day, by his father; and on one occasion when he (Jonas
Seely) was about ten years old, she carried his father
to saddle with him up behind seventy-five miles in a
day. It has never been stated that Silvertail possessed

56

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

good trotting action or showed any inclination to stick
to the trotting gait, but it has been stated upon the
best of authority that she would gallop all day. This
Silvertail, a daughter of imported Messenger and Jin
Black, was mated with Bishop's Hambletonian, a run-
ning bred son of imported Messenger, and one of his
most successful sons, both as a race winner and sire
of trotting speed, and the produce was a brown filly,
somewhat wilful, "rather hard to manage, when they
came to break her." During the breaking process she
had a stubborn fit one day, and her breaker knocked
out one of her eyes, hence she was named One Eye.

Mr. Jonas Seely does not say anything about the
trotting inclination or trotting action of One Eye. He
did say, however, to the late J. H. Wallace, that Mr.
Josiah Jackson, a brother-in-law of Mr. Seely, had her
mated with the Norfolk trotter, imported Bellfounder,
and the produce, the Charles Kent Mare, "showed a
fine step as a trotter, and was sold to go to New York
city at a good price." When this Charles Kent Mare
was three years old her breeder, Mr. Jackson, sold her
to Peter Seely for three hundred dollars. Mr. Seely
sold her to a Mr. Pray for four hundred dollars; Mr.
Pray sold her to a Mr. Chivers, a butcher in New York
city, for five hundred dollars, and Mr. Chivers sold
her to a New York banker for six hundred dollars.
The banker drove her on the road until she finally got
a hip knocked down, and was pretty badly used up.
She was lame, and unfit for road use, and in this con-
dition was sold to Charles Kent. After this she was
known as the Charles Kent Mare, and was used for
breeding purposes. In 1845 Mr. Kent sold this mare

57

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

with a foal at foot, by Webber^s Tom Thumb. He re-
ceived for the mare and foal one hundred and thirty-
five dollars. This mare produced three foals by
Abdallah, two of which died before reaching maturity.
The third, foaled in 1849, was the renowned Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. In the summer of 1849, Mr. Seely sold
the Charles Kent mare and her foal to William Rysdyk,
who paid $125 for the two. Mr. Rysdyk was then a young
man, and in moderate financial circumstances, but this
colt finally brought him quite a handsome fortune.

It appears from what has already been stated, that
every one of the blood lines of Rysdyk's Hambletonian
that is known came from good running bred ancestors,
most of which were descendants of the Byerley Turk,
the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Arabian. He
was very closely inbred to imported Messenger. His
sire was undoubtedly inbred to imported Messenger,
and his dam was from a mare that was certainly close-
ly inbred to that horse.

Rysdyk's Hambletonian was a bay in color with
black points, a star in the forehead and two white
socks behind. He stood about 15.1 1-2 hands high at
the withers, and considerably higher at the hips. His
head was large and bony, his muzzle a trifle coarse, the
profile of his face somewhat on the Roman order, and
his ears quite large. He had a full, intelligent eye,
and a forehead that indicated ample brain capacity.
His neck was only of medium length, fairly clean at
the jowls, and well set upon oblique and strongly
muscled shoulders. His nostrils and windpipe were
large, indicating good lung capacity. His withers
were low and heavily muscled, making them somewhat

58

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

thick and round instead of sharp. His barrel was
long and as round as a log. He had a good back and
coupling, long, smoothly rounded hips, a straight
croup, tail set high, powerfully muscled quarters,
strong gaskins, and clean, sound joints and limbs.
Though his hind legs did not drop straight from the
hock to the ground, they were not of the sickle con-
formation. He had a beautiful glossy coat, and his
muscle was of the compact, fine-grained quality.

Rysdyk's Hambletonian was a natural, square-gaited
trotter. He was handled some for speed as a three-
year-old, and it was stated upon good authority that
in the fall of his three-year-old form he trotted a mile
in public in 2.48. It has been stated by parties
who were unfriendly to the horse that the time of
this mile was 3.12, but at least one reliable man, who
timed the mile, said it was trotted in 2.48, and this
man was not a partisan of the horse. He was never
trained for speed after that season. A horseman of
large experience and excellent judgment in regard to-,
speed, who knew Rysdyk's Hambletonian well, and had
ridden behind him, has stated that the horse could,
and, in his judgment, did show a 2.40 clip hitched to
road wagon. It is not of the slightest consequence,
however, at this late day, whether he was a fast trotter
or not. His services were in such demand that his
speed could not have been developed any after he was
three years old. The Year Book shows that he sur-
passed all other stallions of his day in transmitting and
perpetuating the inclination to stick to the trotting gait.

Hambletonian possessed a remarkably hardy consti-
tution, and few horses that ever lived have exhibited

59

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

equal vigor, or left so large a number of foals. He
began his stud career when but two years old, and
with the exception of the season of 1868, when he was
nineteen years old and sick, he continued to do stud
duty until his death, which occurred at Chester, N. Y.,
March 27, 1876. The following table shows the enor-
mous patronage that he received during his life. This
table wa-s published in J. H. Sanders' work entitled
"Horse Breeding," and is believed to have been copied
from Hambletonian's stud book, as kept by the owner
of the horse. Mares. Per cent. Foals Service

Years. covered. of foals. dropped. fee.

1851 4 75 3 Free.

1852 17 76 13 $25

1853 101 78 78 25

1854 88 70 62 35

1855 89 72 64 35

1856 87 73 64 35

1857 87 72 63 35

1858 72 75 54 35

1859 95 70 66 35

1860 106 68 72 35

1861 98 69 68 35

1862 1^8 70 111 35

1863 150 61 92 75

1864 217 67 148 100

1865 193 67 128 300

1866 105 71 75 500

1867 72 58 42 500

1868

1869 22 81 18 500

1870 22 72 16 500

1871 30 80 26 500

1872 30 80 24 500

1873 31 65 20 500

1874 32 75 24 500

1875 24 8 2 500

60

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

It appears from the above table that the total number
of foals got by Rysdyk's Hambletonian was 1333.
During the fifteen seasons, beginning when he was
four years old, in 1853, and ending with the season
of 1867, he got 1187 foals, an average of seventy-nine
each year. The number of his foals that took records
of 2.30 or better is forty, all trotters, the fastest of
which is the old-time world's champion. Dexter,
(2.17 1-4). Hambletonian is now credited with one
hundred and fifty sons, that have sired 1487 trotters,
and two hundred and twenty pacers which have made
records in standard time, while eighty of his daughters
have produced one hundred and ten standard trotters
and seven standard pacers, a total of 1824.

Seven of the sons of Rysdyk's Hambletonian sur-
passed him as sires of 2.30 performers, and another
just equalled him in that respect. In addition to their
2.30 trotters all of these eight sons have sired several
pacers that have made standard records. These eight
sons of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, with figures represent-
ing their number of 2.30 trotters, are given below, to-
gether with the breeding of their first and second dams.
Electioneer, b. h., foaled 1868; dam. Green Mountain Maid,
by Harry Clay (2.29); second dam, Shanghai Mary,

undoubtedly by Iron's Cadmus 165

Happy Medium, b. h., foaled 1863; dam, Princess (2.30),
by Andrus' Hamhletonian ; second, dam, Wilcox Mare,

by Burdick's Engineer 87

George Wilkes, br. h., foaled 1856; dam Dolly Spanker, by
Henry Clay; second dam, Telegraph, by Baker's

Highlander 72

Egbert, b. h., foaled 1875; dam, Camptown, by Messenger
Duroc; second dam. Miss McLeod, by Holbert Colt,
son of Hambletonian 67

61

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Strathmore, b. h., foaled 1866; dam. Lady Waltermire, by
North American ; second dam by Harris' Hambletonian 54

Aberdeen, b. h., foaled 1866; dam. Widow Machree (2.29),
by Seeley's American Star; second dam, Duryea Mare,
by Pintlar's Bolivar 49

Dictator, br. h., foaled 1863; dam, Clara, by Seeley's
American Star; second dam, McKinstry Mare 46

Harold, b. h., foaled 1864; dam. Enchantress, by old
Abdallah ; second dam, untraced 40

Electioneer. Electioneer sired a greater number
of 2.30 trotters than any other two sons of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. The Year Book credits him with but
one hundred and fifty-eight. The books of the National
and American Trotting Associations, however, credit
him with one hundred and sixty-five. The compilers
of the Year Book do not dispute the records of the
seven whose names do not appear in Electioneer's list
in that work, but reject them because they were not
made strictly in accordance with the rules suggested
by Mr. Wallace, who was proprietor of the Year Book
and Register when many of these records were made.
The total number of foals got by Electioneer, including
about forty that he got while at Stony Ford, was a
few more than four hundred or less than one-third
the number got by his sire, Rysdyk's Hambletonian,
yet his number of 2.30 trotters is more than four times
that got by Rysdyk's Hambletonian.

Electioneer was bred by Charles Backman, propri-
etor of Stony Ford Farm, Goshen, N. Y., and foaled
May 2, 1868. Late in the fall of 1876 he was bought
for $12,500, by Governor Leland Stanford, proprietor
of the famous Palo Alto breeding establishment,
Menlo Park, California. He was a dark bay horse

62

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

with both hind feet and pasterns white, 15.2 hands
high at the withers, and an inch higher at the hips.
He was a compactly made, smoothly turned animal,
with a well proportioned, fair sized, brainy head, good
shoulders, round barrel of good length, excellent back,
strong loin and powerfully muscled quarters, gaskins
and forearms. His joints were sound and clean, his
legs and feet naturally first-class. He was well pro-
portioned all over, well finished and showed consid-
erable quality. He was broken to harness as a three-
year-old, and though worked but little showed a quarter
in thirty-eight seconds that season to wagon. Though
never developed and conditioned for racing he was
a good gaited, good headed, natural trotter, and showed
quarters in thirty-five seconds, or better, in his exercise
on the Palo Alto Farm track. He died at Palo Alto,
Dec. 3, 1890, from muscular rheumatism.

The dam of Electioneer, Green Mountain Maid, was
a good-gaited trotter, and showed very fast in the lot.
She was of a highly nervous temperament, and was
never broken to use in harness. She was a small, wiry,
active animal, only about fifteen hands high. Her sire,
Sayre's Harry Clay (2.29), was by Neave's Cassius M.
Clay, Jr., and his dam was by imported Bellfounder,
the Norfolk trotter that got the dam of Rysdyk^s
Hambletonian. The dam of Green Mountain Maid was
very blood-like in appearance, a fast trotter for her
day, and was called Shanghai Mary. It has been
stated upon apparently good authority that Shanghai
Mary trotted a mile in 2.28. Her breeding has never
been fully established, but there is strong circumstan-
tial evidence, which tends to prove quite conclusively.

63

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

that her sire was Iron's Cadmus, and that her dam
was running bred. Iron's Cadmus is recorded in
Bruce's American Stud Book as by Cadmus (sometimes
called Beech's Cadmus) ; dam by Brunswick, a son of
Sumpter, by the famous Sir Archy. Cadmus, the sire
of Iron's Cadmus, was by the renowned four-mile race
winner, American Eclipse, and his dam. Die Vernon,
was by Ball's Florizel, the son of imported Diomed,
that got the dam of the successful race horse, Boston^
American Eclipse was by Duroc, son of imported
Diomed, and his dam was Miller's Damsel, by imported
Messenger. Miller's Damsel was the best race winner
that imported Messenger ever got. Her dam was bred
in England, and got by Pot-8-o's, a son of the famous
English Eclipse. Pot-8-o's sired three winners of the
famous English Derby. The second dam of Miller's
Damsel was by Gimcrack, a son of Cripple, by
Godolphin Arabian. Her third dam was by Snap, son
of Snip, by Flying Childers; her fourth dam by
Regulus, son of Godolphin Arabian, and her fifth
dam by Bartlett's Childers, full brother of Flying
Childers. It will be remembered that a son of Bart-
lett's Childers, called Squirt, got Marske, sire of the
unbeaten English Eclipse.

Electioneer sired a greater number of champion
trotters than have been sired by all the other sons of
Rysdyk's Hambletonian. During his first season at
Palo Alto, Electioneer got Fred Crocker, that in 1880
reduced the world's champion trotting record for two-
year-olds to 2.25 1-4. Sons and daughters of Elec-
tioneer have held the world's champion trotting record
from that day to the present time. In 1891 it was

64

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

lowered to 2.10 3-4 by Arion, where it now stands. The
world's three-year-old champion trotting record was
reduced five times by two daughters and a son of
Electioneer. The world's champion four-year-old trot-
ting record was reduced six times by three different
daughters of Electioneer. The world's champion
yearling trotting record has been reduced five time*
by two different daughters and a grandson of Elec-
tioneer. This grandson of Electioneer was Adbell,
that placed it at 2.23, where the yearling trotting rec-
ord now stands. Palo Alto, by Electioneer, reduced
the world's champion stallion record to 2.08 3-4 in
1891. All the above champion trotters, except Adbell,
were trained and driven to their records by one man,
the veteran trainer, Charles Marvin.

Several of the sons of Electioneer have also sired
trotting champions at different ages. Electioneer is
now credited with ninety-nine sons that have sired
eight hundred and seventy-four standard trotters and
two hundred and twenty-five standard pacers. He is
also credited with ninety-three daughters that have
produced one hundred and thirteen trotters and sixteen
pacers, that have taken records in standard time. The
total number of standard performers sired by Elec-
tioneer's sons and produced by his daughters to the
close of 1903 was 1250.

George Wilkes (2.22). George Wilkes was bred by
Colonel Felter of Newburgh, N. Y., and foaled in 1856.
His dam, Dolly Spanker, was a noted road mare, about
15.2 hands high, brown in color, with white hairs mixed
through her coat ; foaled in 1847 or 1848, sired by Henry
Clay, son of Andrew Jackson. Dolly Spanker's dam

65

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

was Telegraph, a very superior roadster, by Baker's
Highlander, son of Paul's Highlander, by Kellogg's
Highlander, by Sherman Morgan, son of the original
Justin Morgan. It is claimed that the dam of Tele-
graph was imported from England and was running
bred. Dolly Spanker died shortly after giving birth
to George Wilkes, and the latter was raised on cow's
milk. He was small and somewhat puny at first. He
was a family pet or cosset until he was two years old
or upwards, and then answered to the name of Billy.
When two years old he was rather small for his age
and somewhat shaggy in appearance, but finally devel-
oped into a well-proportioned, smoothly turned horse,
15.1 hands in height, and was higher behind than for-
ward. At maturity he was well supplied with muscles
of the hard, fine-grained quality. His quarters and
gaskins were particularly strong. He was a brown
color, with tan muzzle and flanks, and his right hind
foot and ankle were white.

By some George Wilkes was pronounced a very hand-
some horse. It was generally acknowledged in those
days that Ethan Allen (2.25 1-2) was the handsomest
and most stylish horse in harness that could be found.
The noted horseman Dunn Walton knew both Ethan
Allen and George Wilkes well. Mr. Walton is a born
horseman, and one of the best judges of trotting stock
in this country. He was as firm a friend of Ethan Al-
len (2.25 1-2) as that handsome son of Vermont Black
Hawk ever had. During an interview with Mr. Walton
several years ago he stated to the writer that in his
judgment George Wilkes was fully as handsome as
Ethan Allen, but added that "Ethan Allen was the best

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

gaited trotter and most perfect road horse that he
ever saw." It is evident that George Wilkes lacked the
proud bearing, elegant poise and elastic step which dis-
tinguished Ethan Allen and captivated the general
public.

When three years old George Wilkes was broken to
harness, and soon gave promise of becoming a fast trot-
ter. He was placed in the hands of the well-known
trainer, Horace Jones, who agreed to keep the colt and
develop his speed for a half interest in him. He soon
attracted considerable attention from horsemen by his
gait, speed and strong inclination to stick to the trot.
Mr. Z. E. Simmons, then of New York city, bought the
colt when about four years old, paying $4000 cash and
another horse, if report was correct. Mr. W. L. Sim-
mons, a brother of Z. E., bought an interest in the horse
not long afterwards, and finally became his sole owner.

The first race won by this remarkable son of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian was at Fashion Course, L. I., August 1,
1861. He was then called Robert Fillingham. There
were two other starters, and it was a four-heat race.
Robert Fillingham won the first, third and fourth heats
in 2.33, 2.331-4, 2.34 3-4. In 1865 his name was
changed to George Wilkes. He was raced every season
from 1861 up to and including the season of 1872. He
defeated many of the very best trotters of his time.
He beat American Girl (2.16 1-4) once to wagon; Lucy
(2.18 1-4) three times to harness, and Lady Thorn
(2.18 1-4) once to wagon and twice to harness. His
record, 2.22, was made in the second heat of a four-heat
race that he won at Providence, R. I., October 13,
1868, and it was then the world's champion record for

67

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

trotting stallions. He started in sixty-nine races in
all, and won first money in twenty-eight of them. The
total amount of his winnings in purses was $50,150.
He won fifty-six heats in 2.30 or better. He was much
faster than his record indicates. It is stated upon ap-
parently good authority that in his six-year-old form
he trotted a mile in 2.19 1-4 and repeated in 2.17 1-4,
also that he trotted a half to wagon in 1.04 1-2, and a
quarter in 29 seconds.

George Wilkes' trotting action, especially behind,
was unlike that of any other trotter of his day. The
late Charles J. Foster, who was an experienced horse-
man, as well as a very entertaining writer, stated that
"George Wilkes' hind leg when straightened out in
action, as he went at his best speed, reminded him of
that of a duck swimming." Another horseman said
that when trotting he could reach his hind leg further
back of the sulky, and hold it there longer than any
other trotter he ever saw. It is evident that he was one
of the most honest trotters that lived in his day, and
at times suffered from cruel abuse. A man whom we
have known for years, and whose word can be relied
upon, says that a wire was braided into the lash of
the whip with which George Wilkes was driven in his
races, and he saw the whip applied so severely that the
blood trickled down upon his legs after the heat was
finished, and yet the horse did not break from a trot.
He did not allow strangers to become familiar with
him, and it has been said that he would run back faster
and farther to kick another horse than any other stal-
lion then living. His son, Kentucky Wilkes (2. 21 1-4),
resembled him somewhat at times in this respect.

68

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

In 1873 the late W. H. Wilson prevailed upon Messrs.
Simmons to let him take George Wilkes to Kentucky
and stand him for stock purposes. The horsemen there
were not inclined to patronize him at first on account
of his lack of size. Mr. Wilson was a hustler, however,
and by breeding some of them on shares got a fair
number of mares. The Messrs. Simmons finally moved
to Kentucky. Mr. W. L. Simmons, who had secured
Z. E. Simmons' interest in George Wilkes, established
a breeding farm known as Ash Grove, near Lexington,
and it was here that George Wilkes spent the last years
of his life. The horse died from pneumonia at Ash
Grove, May 28, 1882. He was used but little in the
stud before going to Kentucky, and probably got all
told not more than four hundred and fifty foals. W. H.
Marrett (Vision) informed the writer that Mr. Sim-
mons gave the number of his foals as about four
hundred.

At the close of the season of 1903 George Wilkes
was credited with one hundred and two sons that had
sired 1,813 trotters and eight hundred and thirty-two
pacers with standard records; also with one hundred
and one daughters that had produced one hundred and
thirty-two standard trotters and forty-seven standard
pacers. His sons had at that time sired and his daugh-
ters produced a total of 2,824 standard performers.
The sons and daughters of Rysdyk's Hambletonian
sired and produced 1,824 standard performers, just
1,000 less than those of George Wilkes.

It appears from the above that while the number of
George Wilkes' sons and daughters that took standard
records are not one-half the number of those got by

69

TEE AMERICA!:^ TROTTER.

Electioneer, yet he has proved far superior to Elec-
tioneer as a perpetuator of trotting speed. None of
the sons and daughters of George Wilkes were ever
distinguished as holders of world's champion records,
however. The fastest of his get was Harry Wilkes,
trotting record 2.13 1-2. There are world's champion
pacers among his progeny, however. Dan Patch
(1.56), the fastest pacer yet produced, is inbred to him.
Joe Patchen (2.01 1-4), the sire of Dan Patchy was got
by Patchen Wilkes (2.29 1-2), a son of George Wilkes.
Wilkesberry (2.30), that got the dam of Dan Patch
(1.56), was by Young Jim, a son of George Wilkes.
There is no other trotting strain from which so good
results have been obtained in late years by close in-
breeding as that of George Wilkes.

Happy Medium (2.321-2). Happy Medium ranks
next to Electioneer among the sons of Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian as a sire of 2.30 trotters, with eighty-eight
to his credit. He was bred by R. F. Galloway, Suf-
frens, N. Y., and foaled in 1863. His dam was the
famous trotting mare Princess (2.30), that was at one
time the property of the father of O. K. G. Billings,
who now owns the world's champion trotter, Lou Dil-
lon (1.58 1-2) . Princess was by Andrus Hambletonian,
a son of Judson's Hambletonian, and he by Bishop's
Hambletonian, the running bred son of imported Mes-
senger, that got the famous old-time long distance trot-
ter Whalebone. He also got the dam of that other
wonderful old-time trotter. Top Gallant, and later got
the second dam of Rysdyk's Hambletonian. The dam
of Andrus Hambletonian was by Well's Magnum
Bonum, a son of imported Magnum Bonum. This

70

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

WelPs Magnum Bonum was owned in Washington
county, N. Y., where he stood for stock purposes for a
number of years. He also did service at several towns
in Vermont. The Register gives the dam of Andrus
Hambletonian as untraced, but a trustworthy gentle-
man, who knew the mare well, stated positively that
she was by Old Magnum Bonum, as WelFs Magnum
Bonum was called to distinguisth him from his sons.
Judson's Hambletonian, the sire of Andrus Hamble-
tonian, was also from a daughter of Well's Magnum
Bonum, making Andrus Hambletonian inbred to this
son of imported Magnum Bonum. This imported
Magnum Bonum was very strongly inbred to the fa-
mous Godolphin Arabian, through some of the best sons
of the latter. He was got by the renowned Matchem,
whose sire was Cade, by Godolphin Arabian, and
his dam was by Croft's Partner, the best grandson of
the famous Byerley Turk. Tartar, a son of Croft's
Partner, was the sire of Herod, one of the most famous
sires of winners in England in his day. The dam of
imported Magnum Bonum was by Regulus, one of the
very best sons of Godolphin Arabian. Regulus was
one of the best race horses of his day. Pick's Turf
Register says that "Regulus at six years old won eight
Royal Plates and another Plate the value of which
was given at 50 pounds English money. He was never
beaten and was much superior to any other horse of
his time." The dam of Princess was the Isaiah Wilcox
mare, and her sire was Burdick's Engineer, a son of
Engineer, by imported Messenger. Beyond that noth-
ing is known of Princess' breeding. She was inbred to
imported Messenger, and was also inbred to imported

71

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Magnum Bonum. The record of Princess (2.30) gives
but a faint idea of her speed and racing qualities. She
was among the fastest trotters of her day, and nearly
the equal in speed of the renowned old-time world's
champion trotter Flora Temple (2.19 3-4). The latter
was foaled in 1845 and Princess in 1846.

Princess was once matched to trot two ten-mile dash
races against Glencoe Chief. The first was to wagon,
for 136,500. This race came off in California, March
2, 1859, and was won by Princess in twenty-nine min-
utes ten and three-quarters seconds. The race to har-
ness was for |5,000 and took place the day following
the wagon race, March 3, 1859. This race was also
won by Princess in twenty-nine minutes, sixteen and
one-quarter seconds. Princess was then brought East
and at the Eclipse, Long Island, course, June 23, 1859,
she beat Flora Temple in a race of two mile heats, best
two in three, time 5.02-5.05. Princess met Flora Tem-
ple several times afterwards during that season, but
did not beat her again. It was she, however, that
forced Flora Temple to the world's trotting record,
2.19 3-4, in the third heat of a race at Kalamazoo,
October 15, 1859.

Happy Medium was a handsome bay horse with both
hind feet, pasterns and ankles white, a small star in
his forehead and a snip on his nose. He stood 15.3
hands in height, and in general conformation bore quite
a close resemblance to his renowned sire, but was some
what better finished than Hambletonian at some points,
especially his head and muzzle, and he was a trifie
more rangy than his sire. He was a natural trotter
and good gaited. He was handled some for speed

72

HAMBLETONIAN AND EI8 SONS.

when young and was raced a little. He won a four-
year-old stallion race at Goshen, N. Y., September 11,
1867, beating two competitors in 2.54, 3.00. He also
beat one other horse in a race as a five-year-old at
Goshen, N. Y., September 3, 1868, and lowered his
record to 2.51. On September 15, 1869, he distanced
Guy Miller and Honesty at Paterson, N. J., in 2.34 1-2,
2.321-2. It is claimed that Happy Medium was
trained but eight days for this race. This w^as his last
public race. His breeder, Mr. Galloway, stated that he
drove Happy Medium quarters in 35 seconds to wagon
carrying two hundred and fifty pounds. In 1871 Mr.
Galloway sold Happy Medium to the late Robert Steel
of Cedar Park, Philadelphia, for |25,000. He stood
at the head of the stud there until the fall of 1879, when
Mr. Steele sold the horse to General Withers, then pro-
prietor of the Fairlawn Farm, Lexington, Ky. Happy
Medium did stud duty at Fairlawn until his death,
which occurred January 25, 1888.

Happy Medium was well patronized, and left an ex-
tensive and valuable progeny. The most noted per-
formers among his get were Nancy Hanks, that low-
ered the world's champion trotting record to 2.04, at
Terre Haute, Ind., September 28, 1892, and Maxie Cobb,
that reduced the world's champion record for trotting
stallions to 2.13 1-4 at Providence, R. I., September 30,
1884. Happy Medium is now credited with sixty-six
sons that have sired two hundred and sixty-four trot-
ters and one hundred and twenty-seven pacers with
standard records; also with seventy-four daughters
that have produced eighty-nine trotters and twenty-
seven pacers that have made records in standard time.

16

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

His son, Pilot Medium, has proved even more success-
ful than Happy Medium himself as a sire of standard
performers. Pilot Medium at the close of 1903 was
credited with ninety-nine trotters and twenty-three
pacers that had made standard records, a total of one
hundred and twenty-two. For some reason, however,
the sons of Pilot Medium up to the present time seem
to lack perpetuating or breeding-on capacity. At the
close of 1903 he was credited with twenty-two sons
that were the sires of thirty-three trotters and twenty-
two pacers which have made standard records.

Alexander's Abdallah. The other sons of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian, that sired world's champion trotters,
are Alexander's Abdallah, Volunteer, Dictator and
Harold. Alexander's Abdallah, opportunities consid-
ered, was the most remarkable son of Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian. He was bred by Lewis J. Sutton, Warwick,
N. Y., was one of the three foals that Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian got in his two-year-old form, and was foaled
September 22, 1852. His dam was known as Katy
Darling. Major Edsall, who bought Alexander's Ab-
dallah when seventeen months old, made the following
statement concerning this mare, and it was published
in Wallace's Monthly for May, 1877 :

Katy Darling was a bay mare a little over fifteen and
three-quarters strong; got by Bay Roman, a horse that ran
races West and stood in Dutchess County, and Katy Darling
went from there to New York. She trotted on Long Island,
N. Y., when four years old, in 2.40, and that winter was
harnessed double with Mendham Maid, but got her foot fast
in the railroad track and broke her ankle. Lewis Sutton of
Warwick went to New York, brought her to Newburg, and
from there to Chester, and left her. In July or August she

74

HAMBLETONIAN AND HI8 SONS.

was stinted to Hambletonian. The summer that this colt by
Hambletonian was fifteen months old, Katy Darling was
brought to Goshen, N. Y., entered in a race to saddle, mile
and repeat, on the road, against Blue Bug, a horse that could
trot in 2.50, and two others; she was then lame, but beat the
field a long distance and was a genuine trotter.

We are inclined to think that the size given above,
fifteen and three-quarters, was an unintentional error,
and that the height of Katy Darling did not much ex-
ceed 15.1 hands. All agree that she was a natural
trotter of more than ordinary speed. It was under-
stood then that her sire was Bay Roman, a son of
imported Roman, dam by Young Mambrino, also known
as Thompson's Mambrino, that was got by Mambrino,
the son of Messenger that got Abdallah.

The dam of Thompson's Mambrino was by Duroc, a
son of imported Diomed. The dam of Bay Roman is
given in Helm's Work as the Pinckey mare, said to be
by Hickory, whose dam was also by Mambrino. This
pedigree has never been established, but there is noth-
ing improbable about it. Had any one been disposed
to manufacture a fictitious pedigree for Katy Darling it
is unlikely that he would have selected such as the
above.

After General Withers bought Alexander's Abdal-
lah's son, Almont, some one suggested that Katy
Darling was by a son of Andrew Jackson, probably
Long Island Black Hawk. General Withers and Gen-
eral Tilton employed a man at considerable expense to
investigate the matter and learn whether such was
the case or not. This was done, and the man finally
submitted what purported to be facts tending to show
that Katy Darling was a daughter of some son of Long

75

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Island Black Hawk. The evidence was submitted to
General Withers, who examined it carefully, but being
an honest man, as well as a lawyer and a judge of
evidence, he rejected it, and always continued to give
the dam of Alexander's Abdallah in his catalogue as
said to be Bay Roman, a son of imported Roman.

Alexander's Abdallah was a born trotter. Mr. Sut-
ton, his breeder, is authority for the statement that
when the colt was one year old no man about his
place could run so fast as the colt, led to bridle, could
trot. When about seventeen months old this colt was
bought in partnership by Mr. Hezekiah Hoyt and Major
J. S. Edsall, at a price somewhere between three hun-
dred and fifty dollars and five hundred dollars. Major
Edsall finally became his sole owner and he was then
named Hambletonian, Jr. He was also known as Ed-
sall's Hambletonian. In the winter of 1859 Major
Edsall sold the horse to James Miller and Joseph Love
of Kentucky for about three thousand dollars. The
horse was taken to Cynthiana, Ky., about the first
of March, 1859, being then seven years old. He made
four seasons at Cynthiana, and in the fall of 1862 be-
came the property of R. A. Alexander, the founder of
famous Woodburn Farm, near Lexington, Ky. Mr.
Alexander gave the stallion Forest Temple and two
thousand dollars cash in exchange for the son of
Rysdyk's Hambletonian and placed him at the head
of the stud in the trotting department at Woodburn
Farm. After becoming the property of Mr. Alexander
the name of the horse was changed to Alexander's Ab-
dallah. He died in the spring of 1865. The circum-
stances attending his death are minutely recorded in

76

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

Helm's American Trotters and Roadsters as follows:
On the second day of February, 1865, about 6 o'clock p. m.,
a band of guerrillas under one Marion visited Woodburn and
took several horses, among them Bay Chief, a son of
Mambrino Chief, and Abdallah (Alexander's). They
encamped about 12 miles from Woodburn, where they were
attacked by a Federal force early the next morning and
routed, the horses being recaptured. Bay Chief was shot in
several places during the fight, and died from his wounds in
about ten days. Abdaliah was seized by a Federal soldier,
who refused to release him. The horse was unshod and in
no condition for severe usage; nevertheless, in this plight he
was ridden by the soldier over the roughest of stony and hilly
roads, nearly fifty miles that day, and, becoming exhausted,
was turned loose on the highway, where he was found the
next day in a most deplorable state. He was taken to
Lawrenceburg, but could go no further. Here he was seized
with pneumonia, from which he died in a few days.

In his four-year-old form Alexander's Abdallah got
Goldsmith Maid (2.14), the most remarkable trotter
ever produced. This mare was foaled in 1857 and was
first raced in 1865, under the name of Goldsmith Mare.
She was raced every year after that up to and in-
cluding the season of 1877. When she first came out
the world's champion trotting record was 2.17 1-4 and
was held by Dexter. In 1871 Goldsmith Maid lowered
it to 2.17. In 1872 she lowered it to 2.16 3-4. In 1874
she lowered it four times, first to 2.16, at East Saginaw,
Mich., July 16; then to 2.151-2 at Buffalo, N. Y., Au-
gust 7 ; to 2.14 3-4 at Rochester, N. Y., August 12 ; and
to 2.14 at Mystic Park, Boston, September 2. This
stood as the world's champion trotting record until
Rarus lowered it to 2.13 1-4 at Buffalo, N. Y., August
3, 1878. This calls to mind the fact that in the Table
of Champion Trotters in the Year Book the record of

77

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Rarus has been given as 2.13 3-4 ever since 1893, a
clerical error that should be corrected. Goldsmith
Maid equalled her record at Belmont Park, Philadel-
phia, June 23, 1876. At Chico, Cal., May 19, 1877,
she" beat Rarus in 2.191-2, 2.141-2, 2.17, a truly won-
derful performance for a mare then past twenty years
old. She trotted in all three hundred and thirty-two
heats in 2.30 or better, not including those in which
she was beaten by other horses. She met and defeated
all the best trotters of her day. She produced her first
foal when twenty-two years old, and had two others
afterwards. Her dam was by old Abdallah, and her
second dam was running bred, or at least was raced
successfully at the running gait.

During the season of 1863 Alexander's Abdallah
got two sons whose progeny will keep his memory
green for many years to come. They were Almont
and Belmont. The latter got the unequalled brood
mare sire Nutwood (2.18 3-4), whose daughters have
already produced one hundred and sixty-nine trotters
and fifty-three pacers, a total of two hundred and
twenty-two, that have made records in standard time,
and the list will continue to grow for more than ten
years yet. Alexander's Abdallah got five trotters with
records from 2.30 to 2.14. He is credited with four-
teen sons that sired one hundred and forty-two trot-
ters and fourteen pacers that took standard records,
also with twenty-nine daughters that produced thirty-
five trotters and eight pacers that made standard rec-
ords. His daughters also produced sixty-five stallions
that have sired standard speed. Three of his four

78

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

most successful sons, as sires and perpetuators of trot-
ting speed, were from daughters of Mambrino Chief.
These were Almont, Belmont and Thorndale.

The Alexander's Abdallah branch of the Hamble-
tonian family is a valuable factor of trotting speed
and at one time, when Almont was in his prime, it
gave promise of leading all the others. During the
past few years, however, it has fallen behind the
Wilkes' branch of the family and bids fair to drop be-
hind that of Electioneer. It is being perpetuated now
in the paternal line, chiefly through Nutwood
(2.18 3-4), whose dam. Miss Russell, was by Pilot, Jr.,
and whose second dam, Sally Russell, was a running
bred daughter of the noted long distance race winner
Boston.

Volunteer. This noted son of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian was foaled May 1, 1854, hence was got when
his sire was four years old. The dam of Volunteer
was Lady Patriot. Her sire was young Patriot, and
he was by Patriot, a son of the running bred Blucher.
The latter was by Duroc, a son of imported Diomed,
and his dam. Young Damsel, was by Bishop's Ham-
bletonian, his second dam being the famous race mare^
Miller's Damsel, by imported Messenger. The breed-
ing of Blucher was quite similar to that of the great
four-mile race winner, American EcKpse. Both were
by Duroc; the dam of American Eclipse was Miller's
Damsel, and the dam of Blucher was a daughter of
Miller's Damsel. It will be observed that Young
Damsel, the dam of Blucher, was closely inbred to
imported Messenger. Her sire, Bishop's Hamble-
tonian, was the best son of imported Messenger, and

79

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Miller's Damsel was by far his best daughter, and a
more successful race winner than Bishop's Hamble-
tonian. The second dam of Volunteer was known as
the Lewis Hulse mare. Nothing is known of her
breeding, but it is a matter of history that her owner
issued a standing challenge to any horse in this coun-
try to both run and trot against her, from which it
is evident that she was fast at both gaits, and was
from running bred ancestors on one side, if not both
sides. When Lady Patriot was three years old a puff
appeared on the side of one hock, which developed
into a running sore. She was mated that season with
Rysdyk's Hambletonian, and the day that she was four
years old she gave birth to Volunteer. She produced
in all fifteen foals, six of which, four colts and two
fillies, were by Rysdyk's Hambletonian. One of the
fillies died young. One of the colts. Sentinel
(2.29 3-4), died when ten years old, and another,
Green's Hambletonian, was burned to death when
fourteen years old.

Volunteer was bred by Mr. Joseph Hetzel of Florida,
Orange county, N. Y., and was foaled his property.
He was a beautiful bay in color, with black points, and
some white around his left hind coronet. He stood
15.3 hands at the withers and one inch higher over the
hips. He was a handsome, smoothly turned horse,
was more blood-like in appearance and showed more
quality than any other son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian.
He resembled his sire in muscular development of
quarters, but his head, ear and neck were much finer
than those points in his sire. Volunteer had a some-
what peculiar conformation of hips, croup and setting

80

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

of the tail, which he transmitted to many of his get.
He was a horse of substance, as well as finish. His
muscle was of the hard, fine-grained type, and his bone
of dense, ivory-like texture. He was a sound horse,
with remarkably smooth limbs, clean joints and good
feet. He w^as a natural, good-gaited trotter, but had
less knee action than many of the other sons of his
sire. He also had a temper that would not permit
him to endure abuse, and that is a marked characteris-
tic of some of his descendants. He was as full of
nervous energy as an egg is of meat, and was especially
attractive in harness. In his four-year-old form Vol-
unteer won first premium in a stallion class at the
Orange county, N. Y., fall fair. A few months later
he was bought by Mr. R. C. Underbill of Brooklyn, N.
Y., who had him handled some for speed. It has been
stated upon good authority that the horse trotted a
trial mile to wagon in 2.33, over Union Course, L. I.,
and repeated in 2.31 1-4. Chester's "Complete Trotting
and Pacing Record'' credits Volunteer with a record
of 2.37 to wagon, made at Hartford, Ct., August 21,
1867. In 1862 the horse became the partnership prop-
erty of Edwin Thorne, Esq., and Mr. Alden Goldsmith.
Subsequently Mr. Goldsmith became his sole owner,
after which he was use(i£xclusively for stock purposes.
He died the property of \Mr. Goldsmith, December 12,
1888. Volunteer got thirty-three trotters and one
pacer that made standard records. He is credited
with forty-one sons that have sired one hundred and
forty-eight trotters, and twenty-eight pacers, that have
made records in standard time, and fifty-five of his

81

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

daughters have produced sixty-two standard trotters
and fifteen standard pacers.

The get of Volunteer did not mature early, but they
raced better than the get of any other son of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. They were more noted for great cour-
age and endurance than extreme speed. Yet there
were some world's record breakers among them. His
son, St. Julien, lowered the world's champion record
to 2.12 3-4, at Oakland, Cal., October 25, 1879, and the
following year reduced it to 2.11 1-4. His daughter,
Huntress, driven by the veteran trainer, John Trout,
lowered the world's three-mile champion trotting rec-
ord to 7.21 1-4 in 1872. Volunteer produced the best
results from mares of Clay and Seeley's American Star
blood. The dam of St. Julien (2.111-4). was by
Say re's Harry Clay (2.29), and that of Huntress, by
Seeley's American Star. The most successful son of
Volunteer, as a sire and perpetuator of speed, was
Louis Napoleon, whose dam was Hattie Wood, by
Sayre's Harry Clay (2.29), and whose second dam was
Grandmother, a running bred daughter of Terror, by
American Eclipse. There is no trotting family su-
perior to that of Volunteer for transmitting a high
degree of courage and great endurance.

Harold. This distinguished son of Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian was bred by Charles S. Dole, Crystal Lake,
111., and foaled in 1864. His dam was Enchantress, a
bay daughter of Old Abdallah. The second dam of
Harold was a bob-tailed, chestnut mare, bought with
some cows, by a Mr. William Thorne, in Central Valley,
N. Y. It was claimed at one time that this chestnut

82

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

mare was by the Norfolk trotter imported Bell-
founder, but careful investigation failed to substan-
tiate the claim. Enchantress was mated with Al-
hambra, a son of Mambrino Chief, and the produce
was Black Maria that trotted to a record of 2.30 1-2,
in a race which she won, at Portsmouth, O., September
26j 1874. Enchantress also produced Lakeland Abdal-
lah, a full brother of Harold. When Harold was in
his two-year-old form, his breeder, Mr. Dole, exchanged
him with R. A. Alexander, Esq., proprietor of Wood-
burn Farm, for horse stock, and the colt was taken
to Lexington, Ky. He was then so small and unat-
tractive that he was not considered of much value by
the Woodburn people and other Kentucky horsemen.

Harold was a beautiful rich bay in color, with jet
black points. He was compactly built, but stood only
fifteen hands high at maturity. It has been stated
upon good authority that he was somewhat tucked up
in the flanks, or what old horsemen called "fiddle
flanked.'' He had an intelligent countenance, strong-
ly muscled quarters of the Bellfounder type, wide and
strong gaskins, for a horse of his size, and the best of
feet and legs. A well-informed horseman who visited
Woodburn Farm to learn the facts wrote of him as
follows :

Harold was thought so little of at Woodburn that he was
not broken to harness till he was five years old. He was a
pure gaited trotter, and with limited handling could show
considerable speed for that early day. During the limited
handling that Harold received he trotted short distances at
better than a 2.30 gait, and as soon as his training had been
sufficiently advanced he was given an easy mile and repeat.

It appears from the carelully kept books at Woodburn that

83

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

he trotted the first mile in 2.42, and in the repeat made the
first quarter in 39 1-2 seconds, the half in 1.20 1-2 and the
three-quarters in 1.59 1-2, when he struck his quarter and tore
it open so that it made an ugly permanent scar; still, without
flinching, he came on and finished the mile in 2.40 1-2, but
was never harnessed arterwards,

Harold was six years old when first used for stock pur-
poses, and but five mares were mated with him that season.
Three of the foals which resulted from that season's service
were Hermes, that took a trotting record of 2.27 12; Childe
Harold, that was taken to England, where he trotted fast and
became quite popular as a stallion; and Bicara, now in the
brood mare list with six trotters to her credit, one of which
was the successful sire Pancoast (2.21 3-4).

Up to the time that Harold was eleven years old the total
number of foals that he had got was nineteen, and very few
mares had been mated with him, except such as it was very
difficult to get with foal, or were otherwise considered
undesirable for breeding to stallions that were then thought
to be his superiors.

It is now a matter of history that the breeding of several
thoroughbred mares to Pilot, Jr., was an experiment, for the
purpose of getting brood mares, and, famous as those mares
have since become, the first of their offspring, when young,
were not considered at all superior, which was the real reason
that Miss Russell, Midnight and several others were bred in
1873 to Harold. From these services came the old-time
champion trotter, Maud S. (2.08 3-4), Noontide (2.20 1-2),
which many have claimed had as much natural speed as Maud
S., and several others that helped to make the Pilot, Jr.,
mares famous.

Harold died at Woodbnrn Farm October 6, 1893.
Although he lived to be upwards of twenty-nine years
old, he did not leave a numerous progeny, but after his
noted daughter, Maud S. (2.08 3-4), became the world's
champion trotter, he was more liberally patronized than
before that time. He is credited with forty trotters

84

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

and five pacers that made standard records; for-
ty-six of his sons have sired one hundred and seventy-
nine trotters and eighty-six pacers that have made rec-
ords standard time, and fifty-seven of his daughters
are credited with ninety-five trotters and thirteen
pacers that have made standard records.

The most noted of Harold's descendants have been
from mares whose ancestors on the dam's side were
mostly from running-bred stock. The fastest of his
get was the famous world's champion Maud S.
(2.08 3-4). Her dam was by Pilot, Jr., and from Sally
Russell, a running bred daughter of the noted race
horse Boston, winner of forty races, thirty of which
were of four-mile heats. The most successful son of
Harold as a sire is Lord Russell, and he was from
the dam of Maud S. (2.08 3-4). Lord Russell is the
sire of Kremlin, that lowered the world's champion
five-year-old trotting record to 2.07 3-4 November 5,
1892. This was then the world's champion record
for trotting stallions. The most noted daughter of
Harold as a producer of extreme speed was Beulah,
the dam of Beuzetta (2.06 3-4), Early Bird (2.10),
etc. The dam of Beulah was Sally B., and her sire
was Lever, a running bred son of Lexington, by Bos-
ton. Attorney, a son of Harold, got the dam of the
one-time world's champion trotter, Alix (2.03 3-4.)
The dam of Attorney was by Alexander's Abdallah,
but his second dam was a running-bred daughter of
Robert Bruce, a son of Clinton by Sir Charles by
Sir Archy.

Dictator. This valuable son of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonion was bred by Jonathan Hawkins, Walden,

85

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Orange Co., N. Y., and foaled in 1863. His dam was
Clara, a small black mare, foaled in 1848, and got by
Seely^s American Star, making Dictator a full brother
of the famous Dexter, the trotting wonder of his day,
that lowered the world's champion trotting record to
2.17 1-4, at Buffalo, N. Y., August 14, 1867. In reply
to a request by the writer for a description of Clara,
Mr. Jonathan Hawkins, under date of January 8, 1894,
wrote as follows :

Clara was about fifteen and one-quarter hands high, and
was a natural trotter. She was never trained, but in the fall
of 1861, when she was carrying Lady Dexter, my brother took
her out of pasture and drove her to wagon in 2.58. She could
show a 2.40 gait hitched light. She was a mare of fine nerve
and good temper, a free, pleasant driver, and ready for a
brush on the road at any time.

At the age of eighteen months, in trying to jump a fence,
she caught her front foot, which threw her, and caused her
to turn a complete somersault. This hipped her and left her
crooked. One hip was too high and the other too low, yet
although she went a trifle sidewise, it affected her gait but
very little. I did not breed Clara in the spring of 1858, after
Dexter was foaled, thinking I would need her to drive. She
sprained one of her hind legs during the spring of 1859, which
resulted in a bone spavin. Had I left her at breeding, this
of course would never have happened.

We are inclined to think that Mr. Hawkins intend-
ed to represent the height of Clara as 15 hands and
one-fourth of an inch instead of 15.1 hands, as many
might infer that he meant by 15 1-4 hands. Some who
knew her estimated her height at only about 14.2
or at most 14.3 hands high at the withers, when in
her prime, but she may have been upwards of fifteen
hands high behind. It is evident from Mr. Hawkins'

86

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

letter that Clara was a good headed trotter, with con-
siderable natural speed. Many mares with fast rec-
ords could not be taken right from pasture and driven
a mile in 2.50 to as heavy a wagon as the lightest
of those in use in 1858. The dam of Clara was called
the McKinstry mare, but her breeding has never been
given. Mated with Rysdyk's Hambletonian, this Mc-
Kinstry mare produced Shark, that took a record of
2.30 1-2 to harness and 2.27 3-4 to saddle. Shark also
took a record of 2.36 to wagon, a two-mile record of
5.00 1-2 to saddle and a three-mile record of 7.47 3-4,
all in races that he won, from which it is evident that
the McKinstry mare was well bred. She was a brown
in color and all four of her feet were white, a badge
that she transmitted through Clara to Dexter
(2.171-4).

Dictator was a well-proportioned, trim-built, hand-
some, upheaded stallion, with a neat head, clean throt-
tle, good back and loin, strong, smooth coupling, a
handsomely turned croup, well muscled quarters, and
wide gaskins, but was a lighter boned horse than most
of the other sons of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, an Ameri-
can Star characteristic that he inherited from his dam
and transmitted to some of his offspring. He was a
seal brown in color and his right hind foot pastern
and ankle were white. He was strong fifteen, but
scant 15.1 hands high at the withers. When he was
about one year old, Dictator was bought by Mr. Har-
rison Durkee, a wealthy gentleman who owned a farm
on Long Island, a few miles from New York city. Mr.
Durkee had Dictator trained some for speed. H. G.
Woodnut, who probably handled and drove the horse

87

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

more than any other man, has stated that he was a
perfectly gaited trotter and fast, but he was never
developed and conditioned to show miles at speed.
Although he stood for stock purposes at the farm of
his owner, his lack of size and bone, and the high
service fee for which he stood combined to prevent him
from receiving much outside patronage during his
early years.

In 1876 Dictator was sent to Kentucky and stood
there two seasons at a fee of |200. This was double
the fee of George Wilkes, Almont and Belmont, the
most popular stallions then standing in Kentucky,
consequently but few mares were mated with him.
Among those that produced foals by him there were
Betsey Trotwood by Clark Chief, a son of Mambrino
Chief; dam by Ericsson (2.301-2), by Mambrino
Chief; second dam a running bred daughter of Sir
William by Sir Archy; Dolly, by Mambrino Chief;
dam Fanny, by Ben Franklin (he by Hazrack, from
a daughter of Johnson's Copperbottom, next dam by
Saxe Weimer, a thoroughbred son of Sir Archy) ;
second dam Nance by Saxe Weimer; Midnight, by
Pilot, Jr., dam Twilight, a runing bred daughter of
Lexington. He also received a few other well bred
ones. From Midnight Dictator got Jay-Eye-See, that
lowered the world's champion trotting record to 2.10
at Narragansett Park, Providence, R. I., August 1,
1884, and made a record of 2.06 1-4 pacing at Inde-
pendence, Iowa, August 26, 1892. Betsey Trotwood's
foal by Dictator was Phallas, that reduced the world's
champion stallion trotting record to 2.13 3-4 at Chica-
go, 111., July 14, 1884, and the foal that Dolly produced

88

1

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

by Dictator was Director, that in 1883 beat all the
best horses in the Grand Circuit, won two purses of
#5,000 each, also the |10,000 Charter Oak event, in
which he trotted to a record of 2.17, and was the
largest money-winning light harness horse of the sea-
son of 1883. Jay-Eye-See trotted, that season, to a
record of 2.10 3-4, and Phallas to 2.15 1-2. The three
trotters gave Dictator such a reputation as a sire that
he was bought early in 1884 for |20,000 by several
gentlemen, among whom were H. C. McDowell, Esq.,
and Colonel Richard West of Kentucky. Dictator
was returned to Kentucky again and received sixty
patrons during the season of 1884. The year follow-
ing Mr. McDowell became sole owner of the horse on a
value basis of |25,000. Dictator died at Mr. McDow-
ell's place May 25, 1893.

During the last years of his life Dictator's service
fee was |500. He got in all forty-eight trotters and
eleven pacers that have made records in standard time,
including Jay-Eye-See, that appears in his list of
pacers as well as trotters. He is also credited with
fifty-seven sons which sired one hundred and forty-
eight trotters and one hundred and eight pacers that
have taken standard records; also with seventy -three
daughters that have produced eighty-three trotters
and twenty-six pacers which have made records in
standard time. It is estimated that he got in all only
about four hundred foals.

Director (2.17) seems to have possessed stronger
speed perpetuating ability than any of the other sons
of Dictator. Direct (2.051-2), by Director; dam by
Echo, a son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian ; second

89

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

dam by Jack Hawkins, a running bred son of
Boston, is proving the most successful grandson of
Dictator as a sire of uniform and extreme
speed. At the close of the season of 1903 Direct was
credited with twenty-six trotters and twenty-eight
pacers that had made standard records. Among the
latter is Directly (2.031-4), that holds the world's
champion record for two-year-old pacers, 2.07 3-4.
Directum by Director reduced the world's champion
stallion record to 2.05 1-4 when but four years old.
This still stands as the world's champion record for
four-year-old trotters. Directum's dam was by Ven-
ture (2.27 3-4), a running bred son of Williamson's
Belmont. Directum (2.05 1-4) is a more successful
sire of extreme and uniform speed than any other son
of Director (2.17), excepting Direct (2.05).

Aberdeen. This son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian was
bred by Captain Isaiah Rynders of Passaic, N. J., and
foaled in 1866. His dam was the famous trotter,
Widow Machree (2.29). She was got by the noted
brood mare sire, Seely's American Star, and was,
by the records, the fastest of his get. Horsemen who
saw her race pronounced Widow Machree the gamest
of all the old-time trotters. An incident witnessed by
the king of trainers in his day, Hiram Woodruff, and
related by him in his excellent work, "The Trotting
Horse of America," well illustrates the racing quali-
ties of this wonderful mare. Widow Machree, with
her pole mate, had been brought from New York to
Boston by steamer in a severe storm. The horses
got wet and chilled. The team trotted a hard race

90

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

to pole the day that they were taken from the steam-
er. Mr. Woodruff said of Widow Machree as follows :

When we took the team to their stable that night after
their hard race to pole, I thought neither of them would be
able to trot again that year. In the morning following I
found the Widow lying down and eating hay. She was so
stiff that she could not get up without our help. We thought
she had trotted her last race, and her owner, Captain Rynders,
said he would sell her for $500; but when she wa-5 on her feet
she went at her oats and cleaned her manger, while we
rubbed her forelegs with warm lotions. After this she was
walked for an hour.

The proprietor of the course said that the people would be
greatly disappointed if she did not start in the race that
afternoon, and requested that she might be led by the stand
in order that her unfitness to start might be seen. When the
time for the race came, I took her to the track and drove
her past the stand in a sulky. She could hardly put one foot
before the other. The other horses, Draco, Somerville, Lady
Spurr and Ephraim Smooth, soon appeared. I had jogged
the mare round, and was about to take her off when I noticed
that she pricked up her ears at sight of the other horses
and acted as though she would warm up and get limber.

I then told the Captain that I thought she might do better
than we expected, if started. He said I was crazy, but finally
told me to do as I pleased, adding that he knew she would be
distanced in the first heat. For all that I resolved to start
her, and, as the day was cold and windy, jogged her round
again. The first heat was won by Draco in 2.28 1-2, but I
was second, although I had been run into by Ephraim Smooth,
whose sulky wheel took the hair off one of the mare's legs.
The second heat was won by Draco in 2.41 1-2, and I was
second again, with Lady Spurr and Ephraim Smooth both
distanced. The latter ran into Lady Spurr, upset her sulky
and herself, and she fell with her neck over Dan Mace's body.
Ephraim spilled his own driver and ran off with his sulky
upside down.

91

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

When Mace's sulky was upset I was close behind him and
lost nearly a hundred yards. I had to call upon the Widow
to get inside the distance, and the way she answered let me
know that her dead game quality had triumphed over her
infirmity, and that she was all the time "a coming." I sent
her along and got second place. Between the heats she was
blanketed close and kept moving except while her legs were
being rubbed with lotion. In the third heat we got off well,
aud Draco and the Widow went neck-and-neck to the quarter.
The mare then began to show in front; but Holcomb let the
stallion break and ease himself by a few jumps; and this
expedient being several times repeated, Draco was ahead in
turning into the stretch. But the steady stroke of the mare
overhauled him at the distance, and in spite of another break
and run she beat him out by a neck in 2.39 1-2. Draco was
second and Somerville third.

In the fourth heat I had the pole, which was a great
advantage, as it was a half-mile track. The mare took the
lead and kept it, although Draco made a good game struggle.
The time was 2.34 1-2. In the fifth heat Draco made a
desperate race of it for half a mile, hanging on the mare's
wheel all the way. It was at the rate of about 2.30, but after
that it fell off, and I took the Widow in hand. She could
have trotted out in 2.30 if there had been anything to force
her. As it was the time was 2.39. In these five heats Widow
Machree never broke. Considering her arduous race the day
before, and the state ot her legs when we brought her to the
course, it was one of t^e most splendid exhibitions of un-
flinching game and strong bottom that was ever seen. The
Widow's pluck was always so good that she was always
counted a real do-or-die trotter.

Unflinching courage and great endurance are
marked characteristics of the descendants of Seely's
American Star, sire of Widow Machree. The dam of
Widow Machree was by Pintlar's Young Bolivar, by
Davidson's Bolivar, a running bred son of Thornton's
Rattler, by imported Diomed's renowned son, Sir

92

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

Archy. Aberdeen was bay in color, with both hind
feet pasterns and ankles white. He was a deep-bar-
relled, blocky made horse, somewhat gross in appear-
ance, with a small, thin tail, stood 15.3 hands, and
in stud condition weighed 1,200 pounds. He was a
good gaited, reliable, fast, natural trotter. He was
trained in his three-year-old form, and was started in
the ''Spirit of the Time Stake" for three-year-olds in
1869. He distanced his two competitors in the first
heat in 2.46. He was never again started in a race
He showed so much speed in his four-year-old form
that he was barred from the four-year-old stakes. It
is stated upon good authority that he trotted a mile
in 2.24 1-2 and a half in 1.09 1-2 on a slow half-mile
track in New Jersey as a four-year-old.

Aberdeen was kept in New Jersey until March, 1881,
when he was bought by General W. T. Withers and
taken to his Fairlawn Farm, Lexington, Ky. When
General Withers died in June, 1889, Aberdeen was
at the head of the Fairlawn establishment. At the
dispersal sale of the Fairlawn stock, in October, 1889,
Aberdeen, then twenty-three years old, was bought
for 13,000 by Mr. James C. Clay of Paris, Ky., and
remained his property until the death of the horse,
which occurred September 30, 1892. When taken to
Fairlawn, Aberdeen had the reputation of being so
bad tempered as to endanger the lives of his grooms.
Kind but firm treatment overcame that infirmity,
however, to a great extent.

Aberdeen got forty-nine trotters and three pacers that
made standard records. He is now credited with thir-
ty-three sons that have sired one hundred and three

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

trotters and thirty-three pacers with standard records.
The number of his producing daughters, to the close ot
1903, was forty. They had then produced forty-two
trotters and nine pacers that had made records in
standard time. The fastest of his get was Kentucky
Union (2.071-4), whose dam inherited a large in-
fusion of running blood. The fastest trotter got by
a son of Aberdeen is Anzella (2.06 3-4) by Antrim,
and the fastest trotter produced by a daughter is
Onward Silver (2.051-4), whose dam, Sylvan Maid, is
a full sister of Kentucky Union (2.07 1-4).

The Aberdeen strain seems to nick remarkably well
with that of Vermont Black Hawk. The most suc-
cessful son of Aberdeen as a sire of uniform, standard
speed, is Elial G., whose dam is by Humbird. The
latter was by Thomas Jefferson, a son of Vermont
Black Hawk. Elial G. is credited with a greater
number of standard performers than any other three
sons of Aberdeen. One of the best campaigners ever
raised in New England, Alcidalia (2.10 1-4), was by Sir
Walter, Jr., (2.181-4), a grandson of Aberdeen, and
Alcidalia's dam, Comee's Sister, was inbred to the Ver-
mont Black Hawk strain. Wiggins (2), (2.191-2), by
Aberdeen, has gained considerable prominence recently
as a sire of early and extreme speed. His daughter,
Katherine A., won the |6,000 stake for two-year-old
trotters at the Lexington, Ky., Breeders' meeting, Oc-
tober 9, 1902, in 2.14, 2.15 1-2, and shares with Janie T.
the honor of holding the fastest record ever made in a
race by a two-year-old trotter.

Egbert. This is another son of Rysdyk's Hamble
tonian that has gained considerable prominence as a

94

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

sire of speed. He was bred by J. H. Walker, Worces-
ter, Mass., and foaled July 9, 1875. He was closely
inbred to Rysdyk's Hambletonian and still more
strongly inbred to old Abdallah, to which he traces
five times, three times through Rysdyk's Hambleton-
ian, and twice through Roe's Abdallah Chief. His
dam was the great brood mare, Camptown, by Mes-
senger Duroc, son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, and
second dam by the Holbert Colt, another son of
Rysdyk's Hambletonian; third dam. Mayfly, by Utter
Horse, son of Hoyt's Comet, and fourth dam, Virgo,
by Roe's Abdallah Chief, son of old Abdallah. The
dam of Messenger Duroc was also by Roe's Abdallah
Chief. Some twenty-seven years ago, Wallace's
Monthly, in commenting on the breeding of Egbert,
stated that his pedigree showed thirty-five crosses of
imported Messenger and nineteen crosses of imported
Diomed.

Egbert was a dark bay in color, with a very small
star in forehead, a stripe on his nose and left hind
ankle white. When young, he had a dark spot on
the point of his right shoulder. He stood 15.2 hands
at maturity, and was handsomer than many of the
sons of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, particularly about the
head and neck. So far as known Egbert was never
handled for speed, and there is nothing on record in
regard to his gait.

In October, 1877, Mr. Walker disposed of his trot-
ting stock at public sale, and Egbert, then two years
old past, brought |3,425 under the hammer. The pur-
chaser was H. J. Hendryx, Dowagiac, Mich. On the
following day, if we remember correctly, Mr. Hendryx

95

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

sold Egbert by telegraph for |4,000 to Messrs. Bou
denbush and Benton, Reading, Pa. Early in 1880 the
horse was bought by Colonel Richard West of Lex-
ington, Ky., and made his first season there in 1880.
He stood in Kentucky until January, 1893, when he
was offered at a public sale of trotting stock, conduct-
ed by Messrs. Woodward and Shanklin, Lexington,
Ky., and brought |12,500, but did not leave Lexington.
Two months later, about April 1, 1893, Egbert was
bought by Messrs. F. M. and D. R. Mills of Des Moines,
Iowa, and taken there. At that time his list of stand-
ard performers numbered forty-five trotters and eight
pacers. Egbert's list of standard performers increased
so rapidly for the next two or three years as to cause
some to predict that he would eventually become the
leading son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian as a sire of
standard speed, but after going to Iowa he seemed to
drop so completely out of sight that even the late J.
H. Wallace, who was always a great admirer of Egbert
on account of his breeding, had evidently forgotten
that the horse ever went to Iowa, as he made no men-
tion of that fact when speaking of Egbert in his last
work, "The Horse of America," published in 1897,
Whether Egbert is still living or not is a question.
We have never seen his death announced, and his
name has seldom been mentioned late years except as
it appears in the Great Table of sires of standard per-
formers. Being so strongly inbred to Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian and old Abdallah, it is natural to expect
that he would possess greater speed perpetuating abil-
ity than any of the other sons of his sire. But the
records do not show that such was the case. None of

96

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS,

his get has ever taken a record so fast as 2.10, and
the total number got by all his sons that entered the
standard list during the season of 1903 was eight, four
trotters and four pacers.

Egbert is now credited with sixty-seven trotters and
eighteen pacers that have made standard records,
also with forty-one sons that have sired sixty-six trot
ters and fifty-three pacers that have taken records in
standard time; also with forty-five daughters that
have produced forty trotters and twenty pacers
with standard records. It should be remembered,
however, that Egbert was one of the youngest sons
of Rysdyk's Hambletonian.

Strathmore. During the season of 1864 Rysdyk^s
Hambletonian received two hundred and seventeen
patrons. The result was one hundred and forty-eight
living foals. The following year, 1865, he received
one hundred and ninety-three patrons, and one hun-
dred and twenty-eight of them produced foals. One of
these one hundred and twenty-eight foals was the now
famous stallion Strathmore, bred by Aristides Welch
of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pa., and foaled in
1866. The dam of Strathmore was a famous road
mare, known as Lady Waltermire. The noted trainer,
"General" (John E.) Turner once stated that there
never had been such a road mare in Philadelphia as
Lady Waltermire, and never would be another. It is
stated upon good authority that Lady Waltermire
trotted a mile in 2.32 and repeated in 2.30, pulling a
skeleton wagon. A Mr. Carl Cockey of Baltimore, one
of the men who timed her in the above performance,
bought Lady Waltermire for ?2,500. Mr. Cockey sold

97

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

her to Mr. Welch. Her sire was North American,
also known as the Bullock Horse, and her dam was
said to be by Harris Hambletonian, a son of Bishop's
Hambletonian, by imported Messenger. North Amer-
ican was bred on Grand Isle, N. Y., and is registered in
Vol. 1 of the American Trotting Register as by Sir
Walter; dam a pacer of unknown breeding. Sir Wal-
ter was running bred. His sire was Hickory by im-
ported Whip. His dam, Nettletop, was by imported
Diomed, and his second dam was Betsey Lewis by im-
ported Shark. The latter was by Marske, sire of the
renowned English Eclipse. His dam was by Snap,
son of Snip by Flying Childers, and his second dam
by Marlborough, a son of Godolphin Arabian. Years
afterwards, when Mr. Wallace was fighting with all
his might to eliminate all thoroughbred crosses from
the pedigrees of successful trotters and trotting sires,
he substituted a pacing work horse of unknown breed-
ing for Sir Walter, the sire of North American. This
was done according to his own admission on the state-
ment of a man who reported from memory and claimed
to know nothing about the matter personally, but had
been told so by another party not then living. The
evidence, if it may be termed such, upon which this
pedigree was changed, may be found in Wallace's
Monthly for February, 1880, page 61. There is not
the slightest doubt that the pedigree as registered in
Vol. 1 was correct.

Strathmore was a bay horse about 15.1 hands high^
whose conformation in some respects resembled that
of his sire, particularly his barrel and quarters. His
head and ears, however, were much finer than those of

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

his sire and his hind legs much straighter than those
of Hambletonian. It has been stated that Strathmore
was inclined to pace, but has never been claimed that
he was trained, or that he ever showed speed at any
gait. He was first christened Goodwin Watson and
went by that name until 1873, when he was bought for
$1,000 by Colonel R. G. Stoner of Paris Ky. His new
owner changed his name to Strathmore. It is evident
from the price paid that he was not considered very
promising as a sire when Colonel Stoner bought him.
During his first few seasons in Kentucky he received
but a limited patronage. The first year that he stood
there he got Santa Claus, that trotted to a record
of 2.18 as a five-year-old, which at that time, 1879,
was the fastest record ever made by a five-year-old
trotter. In 1881 Santa Claus reduced his record to
2.17 1-2. When Santa Claus was dropped he was so
crooked and curby that Colonel Stoner tried to per-
suade his owner to kill the colt, and offered him a free
service of Strathmore if he would do so, but fortunate-
ly the offer was declined. Had it been accepted there
would have been no Lou Dillon, 1.58 1-2. The same
year that Santa Claus secured the world's champion
record for five-year-old trotters, Steinway, by
Strathmore, lowered the world's champion record for
three-year-old trotters to 2.25 3-4. These two
champion trotters of their respective ages com-
ing out the same season, opened the eyes of breeders
to the merits of Strathmore as a sire of speed. He at
once became a popular sire and was well patronized
from that time. On Feb. 9, 1886, Colonel Stoner dis-
posed of about sixty head of trotting stock at public

99

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

sale, and Strathmore among them. Roekhill Bros. &
Fleming, proprietors of Elm wood Farm, Fort Wayne,
Ind., bought Strathmore for |2,150, and kept him till
he broke a leg from falling on the ice, March 13, 1895,
when they had him killed.

Although so lightly esteemed in early life, that up
to the time he was seven years old he had got but
three foals, Strathmore is now regarded as one of the
best of the most famous sons of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian, as a speed perpetuator. His son, Santa Claus,
(2.171-2), got mdney (2.19 3-4), the sire of fifty-eight
trotters and forty-two pacers that have made standard
records. Five of these took records as yearlings, viz,
the trotters Frou Frou (2.25 1-4) and Idah (2.30), and
the pacers Rosedale (2.22), Fausta (2.22 3-4), and
William Sidney (2.25). Sidney is the only sire that
has ever got so many as five that have made standard
records as yearlings. He got Sidney Dillon, sire of
the world's champion trotter, Lou Dillon (1.581-2),
Dolly Dillon (2.06 3-4), etc. Steinway (3) (2.25 3-4)
by Strathmore got Klatawah, that lowered the world's
champion record for three-year-old pacers to 2.05 1-2
in 1898, and that still stands as the fastest ever made
by a three-year-old pacer. The fastest of the get of
Strathmore is AhMe Strathmore (2.071-4), and his
next fastest is Terrill S. (2.081-4). At the close of
the season of 1903 Strathmore was credited with fifty-
four trotters and thirty-five pacers that had made
standard records; also with forty-one sons that had
sired seventy-two trotters and eighty -two pacers; and
ninety-three daughters that had produced ninety-six
trotters and fifty-two pacers with standard records.

100

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

The only son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian that outranks
Strathmore as a broodmare sire is George Wilkes,
then credited with one hundred and one daughters
that have produced one hundred and thirty-two trot-
ters and forty-seven pacers which have made records
in standard time. Ten years hence the daughters of
Strathmore will have a greater number of standard
performers to their credit than will those of George
Wilkes.

Sweepstakes. Nine other sons of Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian have each sired twenty or more trotters that
have made standard records. They are Sweepstakes,
Dauntless, Victor Yon Bismarck, Masterlode, Gen.
Stanton, Jay Gould, Hambletonian Prince, Squire
Talmage and Messenger Duroc. Sweepstakes, foaled
in 1867, is credited with thirty-nine trotters and three
pacers; also with six sons that have sired nine trot-
ters and four pacers, and twenty-nine of his daugh-
ters have produced forty-two trotters and six pacers
with standard records. The dam of Sweepstakes was
Emma Mills by Seely's American Star; second dam by
a grandson of Cole's Messenger, the latter by imported
Messenger.

Dauntless. Dauntless, foaled in 1867, is the sire
of thirty-three trotters and three pacers that have
made standard records; nine of his sons have sired
seven trotters and six pacers, and eleven of his daugh-
ters have produced twelve trotters and four pacers
with standard records. The dam of Dauntless was
Sally Feagles by Smith's Clay, Jr., he by Cassius M.
Clay, a son of old Henry Clay, by Andrew Jackson,

101

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

His second dam was by Hulse's Hickory, breeding tin-
traced, but believed to have been from running bred
stock.

Victor Von Bismarck. Victor Von Bismarck,
foaled in 1867, is the sire of twenty-nine trotters and
two pacers, with standard records; also of nineteen
stallions that have sired seventy trotters and twenty-
two pacers, and twenty-two mares that have produced
nineteen trotters and four pacers with standard rec-
ords. The dam of Victor Von Bismarck was Hat-
tie Wood (dam of Gazelle, 2.21, etc.), by Sayre's
Harry Clay (2.29) ; second dam Grandmother by Ter-
ror, son of American Eclipse; third dam by Cock of
the Rock, son of Duroc.

Masterlode. Masterlode, foaled in 1868, is the sire
of twenty-seven trotters and one pacer with standard
records. He also got twenty stallions that sired thir-
ty-four trotters and fifteen pacers, and twenty-eight of
his daughters have produced thirty-one trotters and
seven pacers that have made records in standard time.
The dam of Masterlode was Lady Irwin by Seely^s
American Star, second dam by old Abdallah, son of
Mambrino.

General Stanton. General Stanton, foaled in
1866, got twenty-six trotters and four pacers that made
standard records. He also got six stallions that have
sired eight trotters and three pacers, and eight of his
daughters have produced eight trotters and two
pacers with standard records. General Stanton.'s
dam was by one-eyed Kentucky Hunter ; second dam by
Long Island Black Hawk, son of Andrew Jackson.

102

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

Jay Gould. Jay Gould (2.211-2), at first called
Judge Brigham, foaled in 1864, got twenty-six trotters
and three pacers that have made standard records.
He also got sixteen stallions that have sired thirty-
three trotters and twenty pacers, and thirty-seven
of his daughters have produced sixty-eight trotters
and five pacers that have made standard records. The
dam of Jay Gould was Lady Sanford by Seely's
American Star; second dam Old Sorrell, by Exton
Eclipse, son of American Eclipse; third dam by Mes-
senger Duroc, son of Sir Archy Duroc.

Hambletonian Prince. Hambletonian Prince
(Baird's), foaled in 1863, is credited with twenty -three
standard performers, all trotters. Four of his sons
have sired eleven trotters, and fifteen of his daughters
have produced fifteen trotters and seven pacers that
have made standard records. The dam of Hamble-
tonian Prince was Nelly Cammeyer by Cassius M.
Clay, son of Henry Clay by Andrew Jackson; second
dam by Chancellor, son of Mambrino, by imported
Messenger; third dam by Mt. Holly, a son of imported
Messenger, and fourth dam by Engineer, son of im-
ported Messenger. It will be seen that Hambletonian
Prince was very strongly inbred to imported Messen-
ger, through both sire and dam.

Squire Talmage. Squire Talmage (also called
Strader's Hambletonian), foaled in 1866, has to his
credit twenty-two trotters and two pacers with stand-
ard records; ten of his sons have sired sixteen trot-
ters and nine pacers, and eighteen of his daughters
have produced twenty-four trotters and two pacers
that have made records in standard time. The dam

103

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

of Squire Talmage was Lady Talmage, by Seely's
American Star. Squire Talmage had a trotting rec-
ord of 2.39 1-4.

Messenger Duroc. Messenger Duroc, bay horse,
foaled in 1865, is credited with twenty-two trotters
and one pacer that have made standard records; also
with twenty-five sons that have sired ninety-four trot-
ters and nineteen pacers with standard records, and
fifty daughters that have produced sixty-seven trotters
and six pacers with records in standard time. The
dam of Messenger Duroc was Satinet by Roe's Ab-
dallah Chief, a son of old Abdallah; second dam Cat-
bird by Whistle Jacket, a son of Mambrino; third
dam by Bertholf Horse, son of imported Messenger,
and fourth dam by Duroc, son of imported Diomed.

The Rysdyk's Hambletonian family not only sur-
passes all the other trotting families in number and
quality, but is rapidly absorbing all the others and
bids fair to soon swallow them up completely. The
stallions that head the studs today of nearly all the
prominent breeding establishments are direct descend-
ants of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, and the majority of
them are members of either the Wilkes, Electioneer,
Nutwood, Dictator or Harold branches of that fam-
ily. The Wilkeses are in a large majority and the
Electioneers next in rank. All the best qualities of the
extinct trotting families and those that are fast be-
coming extinct have been engrafted upon and have
served to improve the families that are crowding them
out of existence. It is a case of "the survival of the
fittest," but those which have been forced to succumb,
or some of them, at least, have exerted an influence

104

HAMBLETONIAN AND HIS SONS.

that will be felt as long as the American trotter ex-
ists. These families are really lost only so far as
name is concerned. The tendency today is to inbreed
to the Hambletonian strain, and this method of breed-
ing is producing excellent results. The time may
come when an outcross may be necessary. There will
then be plenty of first-class thoroughbred families
that may be employed to advantage. That is un-
doubtedly the source from which the American trotter
has derived the speed, courage and stamina that has
made him so vastly superior to the trotters produced
by any other nation in the world.

105

Chapter IV.
MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY.

Lady Thorn (2.181-4). — Herr's Mambrino Patchen. — ^Wood-
ford Mambrino. — Mambrino King. — Alma Mater. — Prin-
ceps. — Pancoast. — Fisk's Mambrino Chief, Jr. — Clark
Chief. — Ericsson.

Mambrino Chief Family. The Mambrino Chief
trotting family ranks next in importance to that
founded by Rysdyk's Hambletonian. Mambrino Chief,
the founder of the family, was bred by Richard El-
dridge of Mabbettsville, Duchess county, N. Y., and
foaled May 9, 1844. His sire was Mambrino Pay-
master, and his dam was known as the Eldridge Mare.
Mambrino Paymaster was a large bay horse, 16.2
hands high, bred by Azariah Arnold of Duchess coun-
ty, N. Y., and got by Mambrino, the same running bred
son of imported Messenger, that got Abdallah, the sire
of Rysdyk's Hambletonian. It has been generally
conceded that the dam of Mambrino Paymaster was of
wholly unknown lineage. Vol. 1 of Wallace's Ameri-
can Trotting Register, in which Mambrino Paymaster
is registered, states that his dam was by imported
Paymaster.

106

MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY,

When the controversy in regard to the influence of
a thoroughbred cross in a trotting pedigree waxed ex-
ceedingly warm, several years ago, it was boldly as-
serted that there was no truth in the statement that
the dam of Mambrino Paymaster was by imported
Paymaster, and that the only ground for the state-
ment in the first place was a resemblance, real or
fancied, that this mare bore to imported Paymaster.
In Vol. 2, Mr. Wallace re-registered Mambrino Pay-
master with the following change: "Dam, a hand-
some blood-like bay mare owned by i^zariah Arnold
and represented to be by imported Paymaster, but to-
ward the end of Mr. Arnold's life he said he did not
know she was a Paymaster." It seems that Mr. Arnold
was a man of undoubted veracity who would not know-
ingly misrepresent. In early life, when his mental
faculties were unimpaired, Mr. Arnold always stated
positively that the dam of Mambrino Paymaster was
by imported Paymaster. After his faculties were so
impaired by age that he could not recall events clear-
ly, he undoubtedly did say that he then did not know
that she was by imported Paymaster. In his last
work, "The Horse of America," page 260, Mr. Wallace
says, "I have but little doubt that the Paymaster cross
is correct." This was considerable for Mr. Wallace to
admit, and it is safe to say that it settles the matter.
It was stated years ago upon apparently good au-
thority that Mambrino Paymaster could show a 2.45
gait or better at the trot. The only one of his get that
was successful as a race winner was a bay mare called
lola that won a two-mile heat race at Union Course,
L. I., October 23, 1856, in 5.09 1-2, 5.17 1-2, which gave

107

THE america:si trotter.

her a record of 2.34 3-4. Mambrino Paymaster was
blind during several of the last years of his life.

The dam of Mambrino Chief was a dark brown in
color, and stood about 15.2 or 15.3 hands high. She
had considerable substance, but her back was rather
long, her coupling somewhat slack, and she had less
width across the loin than was considered desirable
in a horse of her size, though she was of good width
across the hips. She was a good, serviceable animal,
however, a square-gaited trotter, and could undoubt-
edly pull an ordinary wagon a three-minute gait on the
road. Her breeding has been the subject of consider-
able discussion in years past. H. T. Helm, Esq., in-
vestigated the matter very carefully some twenty-five
or more years ago, and the circumstantial evidence
which he obtained is given at length in his interesting
work published in 1878 entitled " American Roadsters
and Trotting Horses." Before Mr. Helm investigated
the facts it was believed that the dam of Mambrino
Chief came to New York from one of the Western
States in a drove of horses brought by a Mr. Nichol-
son to Washington Hollow, N. Y. A Mr. G. G. Sharp-
stein, who knew the dam of Mambrino Chief well,
wrote of her as follows:

The dam of Mambrino Chief was brought to our town by-
Mr. Nicholson. I saw her the day she arrived with others.
She was bought some fifty or sixty miles west of Kingston,
N. Y. She was a large, coarse, brown or black mare, I think
without white marks, at least not conspicuous. I saw her
almost every week for ten years.

A careful examination of the circumstantial evi-
dence that Mr. Helm collected and presented in his
interesting work will convince every unprejudiced

108

MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY,

man that there is a strong probability that the dam of
Mambrino Chief was got by old Messenger Duroc.
The latter was by Duroc, and his dam was by imported
Messenger. The fact that the best trotter got by
Mambrino Chief, Lady Thorn (2.181-4), and that
Mambrino Chiefs most successful son, as a sire and
perpetuator of speed, Mambrino Patchen, were from
a mare in which the Duroc and Messenger strains were
prominent, is another thread which tends to strength-
en the probability that the Eldridge mare, Mambrino
Chiefs dam, was by old Messenger Duroc.

Mambrino Chief was a rich brown in color, fully
sixteen hands high, and when in stud condition
weighed upwards of 1,300 pounds. He was a natural
trotter and could probably show as much speed as any
trotting stallion of his day. When he was three years
old Mr. Richard Eldridge, who bred him, sold Mam-
brino Chief to Warren Williams. Mr. Williams broke
the colt to harness and kept him four seasons for stock
purposes. After the death of Mr. Warren Williams in
1851, Mambrino Chief was bought by George T. Wil-
liams, who shortly afterwards sold a half interest in
the horse to James M. Cockroft, who lived a few
months each year at Washington Hollow, N. Y. Pre-
vious to the time that Mr. Cockroft purchased Mam-
brino Chief he had never been trained or driven on a
track. He showed so much speed on the road, how-
ever, that in the fall of 1852 Mr. Cockroft took the
horse to a slow half-mile track at Washington Hol-
low, to test his speed. The first time that he was
started on a track he trotted a mile to saddle in 2.36,
ridden by Seymour Tomlinson. After cooling out,

109

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Mambrino Chief was hitched to sulky and trotted an-
other mile in 2.40. After this trial Mr. Cockroft drove
Mambrino Chief to the track occasionally and worked
him some that season, and also during the season of
1853. It is stated upon good authority that on one oc-
casion the horse trotted a mile in 2.32 and showed
quarters on several occasions in 37 seconds, a 2.28 gait.
In the winter of 1854, Edwin Thorne, Esq., a wealthy
gentleman of Millbrook, Duchess county, N. Y., who
loved a fast trotter, and at one time and another
owned many of them, bought Mambrino Chief for
James B. Clay, Esq., then proprietor of the famous
Ashland Farm, near Lexington, Ky. It was under-
stood that the price paid was |3,000. Mambrino
Chief was taken to Ashland Farm in February, 1854,
and was so highly appreciated by Kentucky horsemen
that, within an hour from the time of his arrival
there, twenty mares had been booked to him. He
stood for public service at Ashland Farm three sea-
sons. At the end of that time the horse was bought
by Messrs. Gray and Jones for |5,020, and taken to the
farm of Colonel Louis Jones, Woodford county, Ky.,
where he was kept until his death, which occurred
March 28, 1862. He made eight seasons in Kentucky.
Counting his three-year-old form, he made seven sea-
sons in New York State, before going to Kentucky, but
was not extensively patronized there. It is probable
that only about one hundred and twenty-five foals re-
sulted from his services in New York State. He got
in all six trotters that took records of 2.30 or better,
and it is a significant fact that every one of the six
was bred in Kentucky. Not one of those that he got

110

MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY.

in New York State, where trotting mares, and cold-
blooded ones, were much more plentiful than in Ken-
tucky, ever trotted to a record of 2.30. The fastest of
his get was Lady Thorn (2.181-4), whose dam, the
Eodes mare, was by the running bred Gano, and
whose second dam was by the son of Sir William, he
by the renowned Sir Archy, and whose third dam was
a very blood like pacer. Gano, sire of the Rodes mare,
was by the noted four-mile running race winner, Amer-
ican Eclipse, whose sire was Duroc, and whose dam
was the successful race mare. Miller's Damsel, by im-
ported Messenger. The dam of Gano was Betsey
Richards, by Sir Archy.

The next fastest trotter got by Mambrino Chief was
Woodford Mambrino (2.211-2). The dam of Wood-
ford Mambrino was the great brood mare Woodbine,
that also produced Wedgewood (2.19). Woodbine's
sire was Woodford, a running bred son of Kosciusko,
by Sir Archy. Mambrino Chief is credited with
twenty -three sons that have sired a total of ninety-six
that have taken records, and all of them were trotters.
He is also credited with seventeen daughters that pro-
duced twenty-four with standard records, all trotters.
His daughters also produced forty-nine stallions that
have sired standard speed. Some of the most noted
sires from daughters of Mambrino Chief are Almont,
Belmont, Director (2.17), Onward (2.251-4), and Red
Wilkes.

Here's Mambrino Patchen. The most successful
son of Mambrino Chief as a sire and perpetuator of
speed was Herr's Mambrino Patchen. The dam of the
latter was the Rodes mare, dam of Lady Thorn

111

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

(2.181-4), and her breeding is given above. Mambri-
no Patchen was a full brother of Mambrino Chiefs
fastest trotter, Lady Thorn (2.181-4). He was a
handsome, smoothly turned and highly finished black
horse, about sixteen hands high. He was bred by Dr.
J. Herr, Lexington, Ky., and foaled in 1862. When in
his yearling form Dr. Herr sold Mambrino Patchen
to Mr. John K. Alexander of Illinois for |1,500, a very
large price for a yearling colt at that early day. Dr.
Herr then owned Mambrino Pilot, by Mambrino Chief.
The following year he sold Mambrino Pilot for |10,000,
and immediately bought Mambrino Patchen, then a
two-year-old. He was never raced, and, judging from
Dr. Herr's statement concerning the horse, was not
worked much for speed. He was trotting gaited, how-
ever, and on one occasion was timed a quarter in 40
seconds. It has been reported that Mambrino Patch-
en's sire was a Denmark horse. The matter was fully
•discussed last season and evidence so positive and
conclusive was brought to light as to leave not the
slightest room to doubt that his sire was Mambrino
Chief.

Mambrino Patchen was the sire of twenty-five that
made records in standard time, all trotters. He is
credited with fifty-three sons that sired one hundred
and fifty-eight trotters, and forty pacers with standard
records; also with one hundred and two daughters
that up to the close of the season of 1903 had produced
one hundred and thirty-five trotters and seventeen
pacers, which had taken standard records. A few
years ago Mambrino Patchen stood at the head of all
stallions as a brood mare sire and still ranks well up

112

MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY.

among the very best in that respect.

Mambrino King. Mambrino Patchen's most suc-
cessful son as a sire was Mambrino King, owned
for many years at Village Farm. When in his
prime Mambrino King was generally admitted to
be one of the handsomest horses in America,
by some pronounced the handsomest. When Mr.
C. J. Hamlin paid $10,000 for Mambrino King
to place at the head of Village Farm stud, he
was ridiculed unsparingly by many turf writers, and
some practical breeders, owing to the fact that his
blood inheritage was derived chiefly from ancestors
that were trained and raced at the running gait. His
dam was by Alexander's Edwin Forrest, a horse that
got trotters, though so far as known his onlv claim to
trotting inheritance was a remote cross to imported
Messenger. Edwin Forrest was a direct descendant
through sire and dam of imported Brown Highlander.
The latter was inbred to Byerley Turk, Darley
Arabian and Godolphin Arabian. The second dam
of Mambrino King was by Birmingham, a run-
ning bred son of Stockholder, by Sir Archy ; third dam
by Bertrand, another famous son of Sir Archy, and
fourth dam by Robert Bruce, he by Clinton, and he
by Sir Charles, another noted son of Sir Archy.

Mambrino King is credited with fifty-three trot-
ters and sixteen pacers that have made standard
records. More than one-third of the trotters
and pacers got by the fifty-three sons of Mambrino
Patchen, that sired trotters and pacers which took
records in standard time, were got by Mambrino King.
The total number got by the other fifty-two sons was

113

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

one hundred and five trotters and twenty-four pacers,
'^ight of the get of Mambrino King have made records
from 2.04 1-4 to 2.10 and his daughters have produced
eight that have taken records from 2.03 1-4, 2.09 3-4.

Mambrino King was credited at the close of 1903
with twenty-six sons that had got one hundred and
two trotters and forty-eight pacers with standard rec-
ords; also with fifty-nine daughters that had pro-
duced fifty-one trotters and thirty-four pacers which
had made records in standard time. The best son of
Mambrino King, as a sire of speed, is Elyria, trotting
record 2.25 1-4. Elyria was foaled in 1882, and up to
the present time not less than eighty-four of his sons
and daughters have made records of 2.30 or better,
sixty-five of which are trotters. This is a greater
number of 2.30 performers than has been got by any
other stallion in the whole of the Mambrino Chief
family. The dam of Elyria was by Bradford's Tele-
graph, a son of Vermont Black Hawk that died at Au-
gusta, Kentucky, in 1876. The second dam of Elyria
was by Prince Edward, a running bred son of Sir
Charles, by Sir Archy.

Alma Mater. The most successful daughter of
Mambrino Patchen, as a producer and perpetuator of
speed, was Alma Mater. She was the dam of eight
that made records of 2.30 or better, all trotters.
Among the eight are the successful sires, Alcantara,
Alcyone, Allandorf and Alfonso. The dam of Alma
Mater was Estella, by imported Australian, and her sec-
ond dam was Fanny G. by imported Margrave. A
daughter of Fanny G. produced the famous brood
mare Dame Winnie, dam of Palo Alto (2.08 3-4) and

114

MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY,

four other trotters that have made records in standard
time. The number of standard performers produced
by Alma Mater, together with those sired by her sons
and produced by her daughters, up to the close of
1903, was greater than that of any other mare that
ever lived. Alma Mater's performers numbered two
hundred and seventy eight, those of Mambrino Chief a
famous daughter, old Dolly, two hundred and fifty-
six; of Miss Russell, the greatest daughter of Pilot,
Jr., two hundred and fifty-four; of Green Mountain
Maid, dam of Electioneer, etc., two hundred and twen-
ty-six, and those of the renowned Beautiful Bells
(2.29 1-2) numbered two hundred and nineteen. This
seems almost incredible, but the figures are taken
from the Year Book of 1903, and are correct.

Woodford Mambrino (2.211-2). The son of
Mambrino Chief that ranks next to Mambrino Patch-
en, as a sire and perpetuator of speed, was Woodford
Mambrino (2.211-2). He was bred at Woodburn
Farm and foaled in 1863. He was a rich mahogany
bay in color and stood 15.3 hands in height. A thor-
ough horseman who examined Woodford Mambrino
critically describes him as follows: ''He had a well
formed, clean cut head, with a game-cock throttle, full
intelligent eye, denoting resolution and courage, with
a well shaped ear. Smaller and more highly formed
than is peculiar to the Mambrino Chief family ; a well
proportioned, slightly arching neck of good length,
sloping shoulder, well rounded barrel of good length,
a strong loin, well proportioned hips, croup moderate-
ly sloping to a well formed tail, which was well car-
ried. He had strong, well-rounded quarters, excel-

115

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

lent legs and feet, with bone of ivory texture, and ten-
dons of catgut and steel, giving them the hard, firm
appearance as if intended for the wear and tear of
campaign life. He was, in short, a perfect type of the
high formed American trotting horse of thoroughbred
appearance."

His dam, as has already been stated, was the great
brood mare Woodbine, that produced Wedgewood
(2.19). Woodbine was by Woodford, and he by Kos-
ciusko, a son of the renowned Sir Archy. The dam of
Kosciusko was Lottery, by imported Bedford, and the
latter by Dungannon, a son of the invincible race
horse English Eclipse. The second dam of Kosciusko
was imported Anvilina, by Anvil, and he by the re-
nowned Herod, one of the most successful sires of
race winners in England in his day. Kosciusko was
a full brother of Saxe Weimer. The latter got the
second dam of the famous brood mare Dolly, by Mam-
brino Chief. He also got the second dam of Ben
Franklin, the sire of old Dolly^s dam. The dam of
Woodford, sire of Woodbine, was by Hancock's Ham-
lintonian, a son of Hamiltonian, by imported Diomed.
The proprietor of Woodburn Farm did not make a
practice of developing and racing the trotters that he
bred, but Woodford Mambrino was so promising that
he made an exception in his case. He started him in
a three-year-old race at Louisville, Ky., November 2,
1866, and won, giving him a record of 2.40 in the sec-
ond heat. In November of that year Woodford Mam-
brino trotted a trial mile in 2.381-4. He was used
some for stock purposes, and also handled some for
speed each season. In 1870 he trotted a trial mile in

116

MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY.

2.241-4. The next year, 1871, he trotted a mile
in 2.23 3-4. In 1872 he suffered from a fistula
of the withers, that finally caused his death
several years later. He was not worked for
speed that season or the following one, but was put
in training again in 1874 and that fall trotted a public
trial over the Lexington, Ky., track in 2.20 1-4. He
was kept in the stud the two following seasons, but
in 1877 was worked again, and August 23, that year,
took a record of 2.34 1-4 in a race which he won at
Cynthiana, Ky. Later he trotted a trial mile in 2.21
on the slow Woodbum Farm track, and in October of
that year Mr. Alexander, proprietor of Woodburn
Farm, sold Woodford Mambrino to L. B. Dubois, who
sold him a few months later to R. C. Pate of St.
Louis, Mo. The horse was campaigned by Mr. Pate in
1878 and established a reputation for gameness
equalled by few trotters and seldom surpassed by any.
Though suffering from fistula and weakened by its con-
stant drain upon the system, Woodford Mambrino
started in fifteen races in 1878 and won first money
in seven of them. He made his record, 2.21 1-2, in
the first heat of a race that he won at Minneapolis,
Minn., September 4, 1878, when he beat such fast
game trotters as Bonesetter (2.19), Indianapolis
(2.21), and Scott's Thomas (2.21).

Woodford Mambrino died March 30, 1879, at the
stable of his owner, R. C. Pate, St. Louis, Mo. He
did not leave a very numerous progeny, as he had not
been extensively patronized while at Woodburn Farm.
He is credited with thirteen trotters that made records
from 2.191-2 to 2.30, and with twenty-five sons that

117

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

have sired one hundred and forty-three trotters and
twenty-five pacers ; also with twenty-six daughters that
produced forty-two trotters that have made standard
records.

Princeps. The son of Woodford Mambrino that
has sired the greatest number of 2.30 performers is
Princeps, whose dam, Primrose, was by Alexander's
Abdallah, and whose second dam was the famous
Black Rose, by Tom Teemer. Princeps sired fifty-two
standard performers, forty-seven of which were trot-
ters. He is credited with forty-one sons that have
sired one hundred and sixty-one trotters and thirty-
five pacers; also with forty -seven daughters that have
produced fifty-three trotters and ten pacers that have
made standard records. Princeps' best son is Earl
(2.23 3-4), sire of twenty-seven standard performers,
all trotters.

Pancoast (2.213-4). The next best son of Wood-
ford Mambrino as a sire, was Pancoast (2.213-4), for
which J. H. Shults, Parkville, N. Y., paid |28,000 at
auction at the McFerran dispersal sale in Kentucky.
The dam of Pancoast was Bicara, by Harold, and his
second dam was Belle (the dam of Alexander's
Belmont) by Mambrino Chief. Pancoast was injured
severely after Mr. Shults bought him, by a bolt of
lightning, which rendered him incapable of use in the
stud for some time. But for this injury he would un-
doubtedly have proved more successful in the stud
than he did. He is now credited with twenty trotters
and five pacers that have made standard records ; with
eighteen sons that have sired one hundred and fifty-
two standard performers, one hundred and fifteen of

118

MAMBRINO CHIEF FAMILY.

which were trotters; also with fifteen daughters that
have produced twenty-one trotters and three pacers
that have made records in standard time. Some of
the fastest performers in the Mambrino Chief family
were got by sons of Pancoast, including Alix
(2.03 3-4), whose sire was Patronage; John Nolan (4)
(2.08), by Prodigal (2.16), a brother of Patronage;
Ananias (2.05), Caspian (2.071-4) and Caracalla
(2.10), all got by Patron (2.141-4), another brother
of Patronage.

Mambrino Pilot. Mambrino Pilot, by Mambrino
Chief, gained quite a reputation as a sire. He got nine
trotters that made standard records, and one of them
was Mambrino Gift, the first stallion to take a trotting
ecord of 2.20. The fastest of Mambrino Pilots get
was Hannis (2.17 3-4), and he is proving the best of
his sons as a sire of standard speed. The dam of
Mambrino Pilot was Juliet, by Pilot, Jr.; second dam
by Webster, a son of the running bred Medoc, and
third dam by American Eclipse, the noted four-mile
running race horse.

Fiske's Mambrino Chief^ Jr. Fiske's Mambrino
Chief, Jr., is another son of Mambrino Chief that was
valued quite highly as a sire. He got six trotters with
records of 2.30 or better, the best of which was Mam-
brino Sparkle (2.17). His daughters were more high
ly valued than his sons as speed perpetuators. They
produced in all twenty -three with standard records,
including Phoebe Wilkes (2.081-2). The dam of
Fiske's Mambrino Chief was the second dam of Mam-
brino King. She was by Birmingham, a son of Stock-
holder, by Sir Archy ; dam by Bertrand, by Sir Archy,

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THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

and second dam by Sumpter, by Sir Archy.

Clark Chief. Clark Chief was another successful
son of Mambrino Chief as a sire. He died when but
ten years old, yet he got six trotters with records
from 2.191-4 to 2.30. Kentucky Prince, by Clark
Chief, was a successful sire of speed. Daughters of
Clark Chief were very successful as brood mares.
They produced such performers as Martha Wilkes
(2.08), W. E. G. (2.09 1-2), Phallas (2.13 3-4), etc.

Ericsson. Ericsson was another son of Mambrino
Chief that gained distinction, both as a trotter and
perpetuator of speed. He was one of the largest
sons of Mambrino Chief. He took a record of 2.30 1-2
to wagon as a four-year-old, the best that had ever
been made by a four-year-old at that time. He sired
six trotters that took records of 2.30 or better.
Daughters of Ericsson were quite successful brood
mares. One of them produced Moquette (4) (2.10).

The Mambrino Chief trotting family was a valuable
one, but the best representatives of the family have a
cross of Rysdyk's Hambletonian close up. Very few
prominent stock farms in America have a stallion
at the head of the stud that is a direct descendant in
the paternal line of Mambrino Chief. The family is
being gradually but surely absorbed by that of Rysdyk^s
Hambletonian, and it is probable that, like that of
many less prominent families, it will in time become
extinct.

120

Chapter V.
THE CLAY FAMILY.

Henry Clay.— Cassius M. Clay.— Geo. M. Patchen (2.23 1-2).—
Neave's Cassius M. Clay, Jr. — The Moor. — Sayre's Harry
Clay (2.29).— Other Clay Stallions.

Grand Bashaw. The Clay family comes next in
order. The founder of this family, a horse known
and registered as Henry Clay, was a direct descendant
in the paternal line of an imported barb stallion
known and registered as Grand Bashaw. He was
brought to America from Tripoli, and it was stated
on excellent authority that he was a barb of the
purest lineage, and from the very choicest of that
famous stock. He was a small horse, about 14.1 hands
high, but of beautiful conformation, black in color,
with a small white star in forehead and snip on the
nose. Grand Bashaw was imported in 1820 and died
in Pennsylvania in 1845. During the first year that
Grand Bashaw stood for service in America, 1821, a
mare called Pearl was mated with him. Her sire
was Bond's First Consul, a running bred horse, that
was raced very successfully. His racing career began
when he was three years old. During that season and

121

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

the five following ones he won twenty-one races with-
out suffering a single defeat. He was not beaten un-
til the sixth season that he was on the turf, when in
his eight-year-old form.

Bond's First Consul was by Flag of Truce. His
dam was by imported Slender and his second dam
was imported Dian, by the renowned English Eclipse.
Imported Slender, sire of the dam of Bond's First
Consul, was a brother in blood of the famous High-
flyer, one of the most noted sons of the renowned
Herod. Highflyer was one of the very few horses that
was never beaten in a race and never paid forfeit.
Slender was by Herod and his dam was a full sister to
the dam of Highflyer. Flag of Truce, the sire of
Bond's First Consul, was equally as well bred as the
dam of the latter. His sire was Snap, a son of Snip,
by the renowned Flying Childers. He was also
strongly inbred to the famous Godolphin Arabian.
The dam of Pearl was by imported Messenger, and her
second dam was by imported Rockingham.

Young Bashaw. In 1822 Pearl produced a colt-
foal, now known as Young Bashaw, a grey horse
that stood about 15.1 hands at maturity, was some-
what angular in conformation, with a coarse, homely
head and neck, but excellent legs and feet, and a born
trotter. The excellent trotting action and remark-
able speed for that early day that Young Bashaw
showed, induced breeders to mate about a dozen mares
with him in 1826, when in his four-year-old form.
The result was eight foals, and seven of them showed
unusual speed at the trot. One of the twelve mated

122

THE CLAY FAMILY.

with him the above season was a stoutly made, short-
legged, double-gaited black mare, that both trotted and
paced. It was claimed that she came from the West
to Philadelphia in a drove of horses and it is generally
understood that she was brought from Ohio. It is
more probable, however, that she was raised in Penn-
sylvania at some point west of Philadelphia. It was
claimed at one time that she was by Why Not, a son
of imported Messenger, but that claim was not sub-
stantiated. It is much more probable that she was
of Messenger descent, however, than that she came
from as far West as Ohio at that early day.

Andrew Jackson. In 1827 this double-gaited black
mare produced a black colt by Young Bashaw. This
colt was foaled the property of Mr. Daniel Jaffries, a
brick manufacturer near Philadelphia. The colt was
named Andrew Jackson, and though not very prom-
ising at first, he became one of the fastest trotting
stallions of his day. He won a race of two mile heats
to saddle at Philadelphia, Pa., October 27, 1835, beat-
ing Lady Washington and Daniel D. Tompkins in
5.20, 5.17. He could probably trot a mile to saddle
close to 2.32 when in his prime.

Andrew Jackson was the most distinguished of all
the get of Young Bashaw, and the only one that
proved successful as a speed perpetuator. The most
noted of the get of Andrew Jackson were Kemble
Jackson (2.34 to wagon). Long Island Black Hawk
(2.38 to wagon), and Henry Clay. Kemble Jackson
died young and left but few foals. None of his get
ever took records in standard time.

123

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

Long Island Black Hawk. Long Island Black
Hawk died when but thirteen years old. His only
2.30 trotter was Prince (2.241-2). Seven of the sons
of Long Island Black Hawk are found in the Great
Table of Sires of 2.30 performers in the Year Book.
One of these seven was Vernol's Black Hawk that
got Green's Bashaw, founder of quite a family of
trotters, but which is now nearly extinct. Henry
Clay's name does not appear among the trotters with
records in Chester's Complete Trotting and Pacing
Records, but as a perpetuator of trotting speed he
surpassed all the other sons of Andrew Jackson.

Henry Clay. Henry Clay, founder of the Clay
family of trotters, was bred by George M. Patchen
of Brooklyn, N. Y., and foaled in 1837. His sire was
Andrew Jackson, by Young Bashaw. His dam was
taken to New York city from the town of Surrey,
N. H. She was generally known as the Surrey Mare,
but was sometimes called Lady Surrey. She was used
for a time as a saddle mare and it was said that
she paced when ridden to saddle, but she finally be-
came quite a fast trotter. Nothing whatever is
known of her blood lines or her origin. Neither is
there any proof that she was a natural pacer. Some
have pronounced the Clay family soft, but, if so, that
quality must have come from the Surrey Mare.

Henry Clay was black in color, with a white cres-
cent or half moon in the forehead, between the eyes,
and one white foot behind. It is stated upon good
authority that he stood about 15.1 hands at maturity.
He had a good-sized head, and his large, pleasant eyes
gave him an intelligent, attractive countenance. His

124

THE CLAY FAMILY.

ears were of moderate length, but the distance be-
tween them was greater than that of the average highly
bred horses. His neck was of medium length and well
set upon oblique shoulders. He was deep through the
lungs and heart, and had a strong, well-ribbed, round
barrel of good length. His back was rather long and
his coupling extended farther back towards the roots
of his tail than that of the founders of most of the
other trotting families. His hips were of good length
and his rump somewhat steep and drooping. His legs
were clean and strong, his joints sound and firm and
his feet excellent, but his hind leg was shaped some-
what after the sickle formation. He was a horse of
good substance, and his bone was of the dense, ivory-
like texture which horsemen admire. He was a good-
gaited, natural trotter and an untiring roadster. He
was considered a promising trotter when young and
it is stated upon good authority that in his early days
he was handled some for speed.

In 1845 Mr. Patchen sold Henry Clay to General
Wadsworth of Livingston county, N. Y. The price, if
we rememeber correctly, was one dollar a pound, and
the weight of the horse one thousand pounds. Gen-
eral Wadsworth owned the horse for several years and
allowed him to stand for public service at various
places. In 1854 he became the property of Bailey
Brothers of Bristol, N. Y. The horse was also at Bris-
tol some during the seasons of 1845, 1846 and 1847.
He was blind for several years previous to his death,
which occurred in 1867.

Henry Clay did not make a great showing as a sire
of 2.30 performers. He is credited with only two

125

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

trotters that took records in standard time. It must
be borne in mind, however, that he was always kept
in New York State, and that Mambrino Chief did stud
service there seven seasons without getting a single
standard performer. In addition to the trotters Black
Douglass (2.30) and Jericho (2.30), Henry Clay also
got Centreville (trotting record to wagon 2.31), and
Andy Johnson (2.32).

Three sons of Henry Clay are found in the Great
Table in the Year Book. They are Andy Johnson,
Cassius M. Clay and Henry Clay, Jr. His daughters
produced six trotters that took records in standard
time, the fastest of which was the renowned trotting
sire George Wilkes (2.22). The only one of the sons
of Henry Clay through which the family is now being
perpetuated is Cassius M. Clay, whose registered num-
ber is eighteen.

Cassius M. Clay. Cassius M. Clay was a dark
bay horse of powerful build, not far from sixteen
hands high. He was bred by Joseph Oliver, Brooklyn,
N. Y., and foaled in 1843. His dam was a 15.3 hand,
spirited bay, known as Jersey Kate. It was claimed
at one time that she was by Mambrino, son of im-
ported Messenger, but the claim was not substan-
tiated. She possessed unusual merit, however, if her
breeding is unknown, for before being mated with
Henry Clay she produced the trotter John Anderson
(2.41). Cassius M. Clay was bought by Mr. George
M. Patchen of Brooklyn, N. Y., who kept him for
stock purposes in New York State until his death,
which occurred in July, 1854, when the horse was
eleven years old. Although he showed good trotting

126

THE CLAY FAMILY.

action and probably considerable speed for his day^
he was not credited with a record. Eight of his get
were raced some, but he is credited with only one in
the 2.30 list. That one, however, George M. Patchen
(2.23 1-2), was one of the greatest trotters of his day.
Nine of the sons of Cassins M. Clay sired trotters that
made records in standard time, and his daughters pro-
duced one trotter that took a record of just 2.30.

George M. Patchen (2.231-2). The fastest of the
^t of Cassius M. Clay was the famous trotting stallion
George M. Patchen, that lowered the world's champion
trotting stallion record to 2.23 1-2. George M. Patch-
en was foaled in 1849 and won his first race in 1854,
taking a record of 2.41. In 1859 he won eight races,
beating some famous trotters, including Lancet, and
took a record of 2.25 1-4. In 1860 he beat Ethan Allen
(2.25 1-2) twice, and also beat the famous Flora Tem-
ple (2.19 3-4) twice. The latter beat him nine times
that season, however, although in one of the nine he
won a heat from her in 2.23 1-2, the fastest ever won
by a trotting stallion up to that time. He was cam-
paigned four seasons in all, viz. : 1857, 1859, 1860,
1863. and won twenty races.

The Clay family has been denounced by some as
quitters; George M. Patchen, however, won the ad-
miration of all horsmen by his unflinching gameness
and great endurance. Many of his races were against
Flora Temple (2.19 3-4), the champion trotter of her
day, and though she beat him in the majority of them,
he was never accused of not trying to beat her at every
stage of the game. The greatest reinsman and best

127

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

authority of his day, Hiram Woodruff, said of George
M. Patchen in his Trotting Horse of America:

There had not been another horse that had been so close
to Flora Temple herself in speed, in ability to stay a dis-
tance, and in apparent endurance and capacity to keep at it
race after race as George M. Patchen. He beat her more
heats than any other horse, and most of the heats in which
she beat him were very fast and close. He met her, too, at
the golden prime of her life, when she had just reached the
full maturity of her extraordinary power.

George M. Patchen was foaled in 1849 and died May
1, 1864. He was a brown horse, strong, sixteen hands
high, of powerful conformation, a trifle coarse about
the head, and heavy in the carcass, but a slashing gait-
ed, honest, reliable trotter. His dam was by a running
bred colt called Head'em. The latter was by imported
Trustee, and his dam was Itasca, by the noted four-
mile race winner, American Eclipse. The second dam
of Head^em was Betsey Ransom, by Virginian, a son
of Sir Archy. Four of the get of George M. Patchen
made trotting records in standard time. The fastest
of these was Lucy (2.181-4). He is credited with
fourteen sons that sired sixty-one trotters and two
pacers with records in standard time; also with four
daughters that produced four trotters and one pacer
with standard records. His most successful sons as
sires of speed were Seneca Patchen, George M. Patch-
en, Jr. (2.27), and Godfrey Patchen.

Neaves' Cassius M. Clay, Jr. The most successful
son of Cassius M. Clay as a perpetuator of speed was
Neaves' Cassius M. Clay, Jr., whose registered number
is twenty. He was a brown horse, bred by Charles
Mitchell, Manhassett, N. Y., and foaled in 1858. His

128

THE CLAY FAMILY.

dam was by Chancellor and Chancellor was by Mam-
brino, son of imported Messenger, his dam being a
daughter of imported Messenger. The second dam of
Neaves' Cassius M. Clay, Jr., was by Engineer 2d, he
by Engineer, a son of imported Messenger. Engineer
2d got the renowned Lady Suffolk (2.291-2). It ap-
pears that Neaves' Cassius M. Clay inherited four
crosses of imported Messenger, three through his dam
and one through Young Bashaw. Neaves' Cassius M.
Clay got four trotters that took standard records and
four of his sons were sires of standard performers.
The most noted of his sons as perpetuators of speed
were Clay Pilot and Sayre's Harry Clay (2.29). Clay
Pilot was bred by Colonel James Morgan of Cincin-
nati, O., and foaled in 1862. In Wallace's American
Trotting Register the dam of Clay Pilot is given as "a
catch filly, sire unknown; second dam Kate (grandam
of Almont) by Pilot, Jr., son of old Pacing Pilot."
There is pretty strong evidence, however, that the dam
of Clay Pilot was by old Pacing Pilot, the sire
of Pilot, eTr. ; second dam by Grey Eagle, a
running-bred son of Woodpecker, by Bertrand;
and third dam by Bertrand, son of Sir Archy.
There is but slight doubt that Kate, the grandam
of Almont, was from a daughter of Grey Eagle.
The wires seem to be crossed in this pedigree,
as given by the register and the man who bred Clay
Pilot. The latter, however, should be the better au-
thority. Clay Pilot was a fast natural trotter. He
got three that made records in standard time, two of
which were trotters. He left one son, however. The

129

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Moor (2.37), that was one of the most remarkable sires
of uniform trotting speed of his day.

The Moor. The Moor was foaled in 1867 and died
in 1875. His dam, Belle of Wabash, trotting record
2.40, was running bred, and is so registered in Vol. 6
of Bruce's American Stud Book, Page 1,077. Her sire
was Young Bassinger, by Lieutenant Bassinger, and
her dam was William The IV. mare. It is stated upon
good authority that The Moor got but fifty-one foals In
all, and six of them made trotting records of 2.30 or
better. The three most noted of these were the stal-
lion's Sultan (2.24) and Del Sur (2.24) and the famous
brood mare Beautiful Bells (2.291-2). The latter is
the dam of eleven trotters that made records from
2.12 3-4 to 2.29 1-2, two of which made yearling rec-
ords respectively of 2.26 1-4 and 2.23.

The Moor is credited with three sons that are sires
and ten daughters that are producers of standard
performers. His ten daughters have produced twenty-
five trotters and one pacer that have made records in
standard time. The most successful of his sons is
Sultan (2.24) and Sultan's dam was strong in the
blood of imported Messenger. She was by Delmonico,
whose sire, Guy Miller, was by Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian, and whose dam, the Adams mare, was also by
Rysdyk's Hambletonian, and from a daughter of im-
ported Bellfounder, sire of the dam of Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian. The second dam of Sultan was Celeste, by
Mambrino Chief, and third dam, Big Nora, by Down-
ing's Bay Messenger, a son of Harpinus, by Bishop's
Hambletonian by imported Messenger. Sultan is
credited with forty-two trotters and ten pacers that

130

THE CLAY FAMILY.

bave made standard records with twenty-four sons
that have sired ninety-two trotters and eighteen pacers
with standard records; also with thirty -two daughters
that hiive produced thirty-five trotters and nine pacers
that have riade records in standard time.

Stamboul (2.071-2). The fastest trotter and most
successful sire of speed got by Sultan was Stamboul,
that trotted a mile in 2.07 1-2 against time, in an ef-
fort to beat 2.08 at Stockton, California, November 23,
1891. The performance was not accepted as a record,
however, by the Register Association, as some of the
rules of that organization were not complied with.
The 2.07 1-2 stands as a record, however, on the books
of the National and American Trotting Associations.
Stamboul was the fastest trotter that traces directly
in the paternal line to Henry Clay. The dam of
Stamboul (2.07 1-2) was Fleetwing, by Rysdyk's
Hambletonian, and she also produced the trotting
mare Ruby (2.19 3-4). Stamboul's second dam was
Patchen Maid, by George M. Patchen (2.231-2), mak-
ing him inbred to the Clay strain. The third da^ri
of Stamboul was by old Abdallah, sire of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. It will be seen from this that Stam
boul derived a much stronger inheritance from import-
ed Messenger than from any other source. His ped-
igree shows four crosses of old Abdallah, and three of
them were through Abdallah's most famous son, Rys-
dyk's Hambletonian. He had a stronger and closer
inheritance from Rysdyk's Hambletonian than from
Henry Clay, yet as he is a direct descendant in the pa-
ternal line of Henry Clay, he is very properly credited
to the Clay family, and is its "bright, particular star."

131

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Stamboul (2.07 1-2) was not only the fastest of the
Clay family, but was also its handsomest represen-
tative. He was a beautifully proportioned, smoothly
turned, well finished horse, a seal brown in color, and
stood 15.3 hands high. He was foaled in California
in 1882, and died the property of E. H. Harriman, at
Goshen, N. Y., August 17, 1901. He is the sire of
forty-five that have made records in standard time, all
trotters. He is credited with sixteen sons that have
sired thirty-two trotters and five pacers, which have
made records in standard time; also with nine daugh-
ters that have produced ten trotters which have made
standard records.

Sayre^s Harry Clay (2.29). Although Clay Pilot,
with the aid of Belle of Wabash (2.40) and Kysdyk's
Hambletonian, has to his credit the fastest trotter that
traces in the direct paternal line to Henry Clay, there
was another son of Neave's Cassius M. Clay that was
a faster trotter than Clay Pilot, and also gained dis-
tinction as a perpetuator of speed. This was Sayre's
Harry Clay (2.29), whose dam. Fan, was by imported
Bellfounder, Fan was a full sister of the stallion
Crabtree Bellfounder. Harry Clay was foaled in New
Jersey in 1853, and died at Middletown, Orange coun-
ty, N. Y., in 1887. He was a large black horse with
four white feet and made a record of 2.29 at Chicago,
111., July 9, 1864. He was raced some for five seasons
and according to Chester's Complete Trotting and
Pacing Kecords won twelve races in all. Four of his
get made trotting records from 2.19 to 2.29 3-4. He is
credited with fifteen sons that have sired standard
performers, the most successful of which was King

132

THE CLAY FAMILY.

Clay, sire of eleven trotters with records of 2.30 or bet-
ter, one of which is Clay King (2.27 3-4), sire of ten
standard performers, nine of which are trotters, in-
cluding The King (2.101-2).

Sayre's Harry Clay (2.29) gained his greatest dis-
tinction as a brood mare sire. He is credited with
twenty-six daughters that have produced forty-four
trotters and two pacers which have made records in
standard time. His most noted daughter as a pro-
ducer was the renowned Green Mountain Maid, the
dam of nine trotters, with records of 2.30 or better.
Four of the sons of Green Mountain Maid are sires
of standard speed, and one of them was the famous
Electioneer, the sire of one hundred and sixty-five
trotters that are credited by the National and Ameri-
can Trotting Associations with records of 2.30 or bet-
ter. Some of the fastest trotters produced by daugh-
ters of Say re's Harry Clay are Masetto (2.081-4),
Harrietta (2.09 3-4), St. Julien (2.111-4), and Bellini
(2.131-4).

Other Clay Stallions. Several other sons of Cas-
sius M. Clay besides Neave's gained distinction as sires
of standard speed and some of them were quite suc-
cessful as perpetuators. Amos' Cassius M. Clay, Jr.,
by Cassius M. Clay, got the noted trotter, American
Girl (2.161-2), a formidable rival of Lucy (2.181-4),
Lady Thorn (2.18 1-4) , and even of the renowned Gold
smith Maid (2.14). She beat the latter fairly seven
times during the seasons from 1868 to 1872. She won
in ail fifty-two races and is credited with one hundred
and fifty winning heats in 2.30 or better. American
Girl was the only 2.30 trotter that Amos' Cassius M.

133

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Clay, Jr., ever got, and only one of his sons ever sired
a standard performer.

Strader's Cassius M. Clay, Jr. Strader's Cassius
M. Clay, Jr., by Cassius M. Clay, was quite popular as
a sire and was something of a trotter himself. He
won a few races and made a record of 2.35 1-4. He
also sired four trotters that made records in standard
time. His trotting inheritance was far superior to
that of George M. Patchen (2.23 1-2) . His dam was by
Old Abdallah, the sire of Rysdyk's Hambletonian.
His second dam was by Lawrence's Eclipse, a son of
the old four-mile running race winner, American
Eclipse, and his third dam was the Charles Hadley
mare by imported Messenger. Strader's Cassius M.
Clay, Jr., was owned several of the last years of his
life by Gen. W. T. Withers, and did service at the noted
Fairlawn Farm, Lexington, Ky. He was foaled in
1852 and died at Fairlawn in 1882. He received a
better class of trotting bred mares and left a larger
number of foals than any other son of Cassius M. Clay.
The fastest of his get was Durango (2.23 3-4). The
dam of Durango was Mattie West, dam of McMahon
(2.21) by Almont; second dam Monogram by Mam-
brino Chief.

Durango. Durango is credited with eighteen that
made standard records, all trotters; with seven sons
that sired thirteen trotters and two pacers which have
made standard records; also sixteen daughters that
have produced twenty-two trotters and six pacers with
standard records. The Rodes mare, dam of Lady
Thorn (2.18 1-4) and Herr's Mambrino Patchen, was

134

THE CLAY FAMILY.

mated with Strader's Cassius M. Clay, Jr., and the re-
sult was Kentucky Clay, that got the great brood mare
Flaxy, dam of Blondine (2.24 3-4), Autograph
(2.161-2), etc. Autograph is the sire of fifteen trot-
ters with standard records, one of which is Authoress
(2.091-4). A daughter of Autograph produced the
noted trotter, Major Delmar (1.59 3-4). The name of
the Rodes Mare is found in the pedigrees of a greater
number of 2.10 trotters and pacers than that of any of
the other great brood mares ever produced. Fully one-
third of all the 2.10 trotters are descendants of this
wonderful daughter of the thoroughbred Gano. She
was once mated with the thoroughbred, imported Con-
sternation, and the produce. Consolation, was the
fourth dam of the trotter William Penn (2.07 1-4), the
fastest of the get of Santa Claus (2.17 1-2).

American Clay. American Clay is another son of
Strader's Cassius M. Clay, that has gained consider-
able notoriety, especially for transmitting to his daugh-
ters the ability to perpetuate speed. The dam of
American Clay was by imported Tranby; second dam
by Aratus, a running bred son of Director, by Sir
Archy; third dam by Josephus, a running bred son
of Rob Roy, by Sir Archy ; and fourth dam by Eaton's
Columbus, another son of Sir Archy. American Clay
got three trotters that made standard records and
three of his sons have sired standard speed. One of
these was Magic, that got the big game trotting mare
Clemmie G. (2.15 1-2), owned at one time by Mr.
George Fabyan of this city.

135

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

The fame of American Clay is greatest as a brood
mare sire. His daughters have proved very success-
ful, both as producers of speed and of successful sires
of speed. They are now credited with forty trotters
and five pacers that have made standard records. The
fastest of the produce of his daughters is David B.
(2.091-4). Among the successful sires produced by
daughters of American Clay are Sir Walter, Jr.
(2.181-4), sire of Alcidalia (2.101-4), etc.; Ambassa-
dor (2.211-4), sire of fifty trotters and nineteen
pacers that have made records in standard time; and
Nelson's Wilkes, sire of forty trotters and seven
pacers that have made records from 2.07 1-4 to 2.30,
one of which was St. Croix (2.14 3-4), sire of Anidrosis
(2.051-4), the fastest performer ever bred in Maine.
A daughter of American Clay produced the dam of
Col. H. S. KusselFs noted stallion Edgemark (4)
(2.16), the first trotting stallion to take so fast a
four-year-old record as 2.16. Edgemark is the sire of
Miss Whitney (2.071-2). The dam of Victor Von
Bismarck, Edgemark's sire, was by Sayre's Harry Clay
(2.29). The latter was the most successful brood
mare sire in the Clay family, but American Clay is a
close second.

Gen. Hatch. Gen. Hatch is another son of Stra-
der's Cassius M. Clay that has gained some fame as a
sire and perpetuator of speed. His dam was by im-
ported Envoy and his second dam by imported
Tranby. He was the sire of two trotters with
records of 2.28. The dam of these two trotters was
Dolly and her sire was Iowa, a running bred son of
imported Glencoe. A daughter of Gen. Hatch that

136

THE CLAY FAMILY.

was from this same Dolly, by Iowa, produced the dam
of the noted world's champion trotter Alix (2.03 3-4).
The dam of the fast game trotter Dr. Strong (2.07 1-2)
was by Gould's Clay, a son of Neave's Cassius M. Clay,
Jr. It has already been stated that the three most
successful sons of George M. Patchen (2.23 1-2) as
Bires of standard speed were Seneca Patchen, George
M. Patchen, Jr. (2.27), sometimes called California
Patchen, and Godfrey Patchen. Neither of these three
sons showed sufficient speed perpetuating ability to
found a family of trotters. It may, however, have
been lack of opportunity, rather than ability, that pre-
vented them from doing so. George M. Patchen, Jr.
(2.27), apparently possessed greater perpetuating
ability than either of the other two named. He is
credited with ten that made standard records, all trot-
ters. He is also credited with eleven sons that have
sired standard speed. The whole number of standard
performers got by these eleven sons is twenty-five trot
ters and three pacers. The best of these eleven sires
are Alexander and Sam Purdy (2.20 1-2).

George M. Patchen^ Jr. The dam of George M
Patchen, Jr. (2.27), was by Top Bellfounder, a son
of imported Bellfounder. The dam of Alexander was
by Brown's Bellfounder, another son of imported Bell-
founder, making Alexander inbred to the Bellfounder
strain. Alexander got six trotters that took standard
records and three of his sons are found in the Great
Table of sires. The best of these is Alexander But-
ton (2.261-2), the sire of fifteen trotters and eight
pacers with standard records. The dam of Alexander
Button was by Napa Rattler. It looks now as though

137

THE AMERICAX TROTTER.

that branch of the family would end with Alexander
Button or his son, Gen. Logan.

The George M. Patchen, Jr., cross is found in a num-
ber of fast performers. He got the second dam of
the world's champion double-gaited performer, Ana-
conda (2.013-4) pacing, 2.09 3-4 trotting. Tuna, that
trotted to a record of 2.09 1-2 in a winning race at the
recent Grand Circuit meeting at Keadville, is by Jamei
Madison, whose sire was Anteeo (2.16 1-2) and whose
dam, Lucy Patchen, was by George M. Patchen, Jr.
(2.27).

Sam Purdy. The best son of George M. Patchen,
Jr., as a sire was Sam Purdy, race record 2.20 1-2, and
he was also the best campaigner got by his sire. The
dam of Sam Purdy was Whiskey Jane, by Roy's Me-
doc, a son of the successful thoroughbred race horse
and sire, Medoc, by American Eclipse. Sam Purdy
was the sire of seven trotters and two pacers that
have made records in standard time, the fastest of
which is Miss Woodford (2.09 3-4). None of his sons
appear in the Great Table of sires of standard per-
formers, but his daughters have produced seven with
standard records.

Andy Johnson. Many other stallions of the Clay
family, besides those named, have attained some de-
gree of success as sires, but as we are dealing with the
principal trotting families, rather than individuals, it
is not necessary to describe them all. One of those
not mentioned above was Andy Johnson, by Old Henrj
Clay. Andy Johnson got the great brood mare Hattie
R., the dam of seven trotters that have made record!
of 2.30 or better, also the dam of one sire of standard

138

THE CLAY FAMILY.

speed. Spink, a son of Andy Johnson, got the noted
plow horse Captain Lewis (2.201-2).

It is claimed that Old Henry Clay was a very fa-
mous roadster in his day, and many of his descendants
have been distinguished for superior road qualities.
Many of the family have been noted for bold trotting
action. This is especially true of the descendants of
the noted brood mare sire, Sayre's Harry Clay (2.29).
The Clay family has a longer line of developed trotting
inheritance than any of the others, yet this family has
been almost completely swallowed up and its best qual-
ities absorbed by the Hambletonian family, and in the
near future it will be known only in equine history.
The best stallions in that family, as has already
been shown, have inherited much more of the blood
of imported Messenger than of imported Grand Ba-
shaw, and those that in recent years have been most
successful as sires, though tracing direct to Henry
Clay in the paternal line, have been much more close-
ly related to Rysdyk's Hambletonian than to Henry
Clay.

139

Chapter VI.
THE MORGAN FAMILY.

Justin Morgan. — Sherman Morgan. — ^Vermont Black Hawk. —
Ethan Allen (2.25 1-2). — Daniel Lambert. — General Knox.

The Morgan Family. The trotting family that is
generally regarded as fourth in importance and rank
is that branch of the Morgan family that sprang
from Vermont Black Hawk, sometimes called Hill's
Black Hawk, and registered in the American Trot-
ting Register as Black Hawk 5. He was a grandson
of the famous horse, Justin Morgan. Less is generally
known by the average horseman and by the majority of
students of the breeding problem concerning the origin
and ancestors of the horse Justin Morgan than of the
founders of either of the other trotting families.

Justin Morgan. Statements in regard to the origin
and blood lines of Justin Morgan have been so numer-
ous and conflicting as to confuse many who have not
taken the time to investigate and compare them. To
sift these statements and glean from them the real
facts is no small task. To present all of them would
require more space than can be spared. The first man
to make a persistent effort to collect the facts in regard

140

THE MORGAN FAMILY,

to this horse and present them to the public was
D. C. Linsley, then a resident of Middlebury, Vt. The
result of his efforts was a book entitled ''Morgan's
Horses," published in 1856. Mr. Linsley was an hon-
est, conscientious man and secured much valuable in-
formation, part of which was original — and from par-
ties whose statements were based on their own person-
al knowledge or on information given them verbally
by trustworthy men who had personal knowledge of
the facts communicated — and the rest from articles
gleaned from reliable publications. After weighing
the statements carefully, Mr. Linsley reached the con-
clusion that the horse Justin Morgan was bred in the
vicinity of West Springfield, Mass., and was taken
to Randolph, Vt., by a Mr. Justin Morgan who for-
merly lived at West Springfield, and that the
sire of this horse was True Briton, also known as
Beautiful Bay.

There are some, even at this late day, who are not
acquainted with all the facts, that believe the horse
Justin Morgan originated in Canada. They get this
idea from a letter dated Sherbrook, P. Q. (then Lower
Canada), August, 1841, and written by a Mr. Geo.
Barnard, to the publishers of the Albany Cultivator,
an excellent agricultural publication, then Issued
monthly at Albany, N. Y. A part of this letter is as
follows :

For the last dozen years, being aware, both by observation
and experiment, of the surprising results of crossing the
Canadian with other breeds of horses, and having become ac-
quainted with the vast variety and different qualities of
various races in the Canadian breed, I have believed that the

141

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

original Morgan horse was of French Canadian origin. This
opinion being confirmed by the accounts here given, I am
anxious to ascertain whether any one can prove it erroneous,
and, if not, to make it public, that it may be known that
thousands of horses may be obtained in French Canada of
the same blood and not inferior in qualities to the Morgan
whose existence added several hundred thousand dollars to
the wealth of Vermont.

Mr. Barnard's letter was accompanied by an affi-
davit of one John Stearns, to the effect that some thir-
ty-seven years previously, when he was a boy about
thirteen years old, or about 1804, he heard somebody
say that the Morgan horse had just been brought
from Montreal, Canada, by Mr. Justin Morgan, etc.,
etc. The town records show that Mr. Justin Morgan
died in 1798, or six years previous to the time when
John Stearns claimed to have seen the horse which
he heard some one say Justin Morgan had just brought
from Montreal. Mr. Barnard frankly admits that his
object in claiming that the Morgan horse originated
in Canada was to make a demand for Canadian horses.
It is not probable that he had ever examined a gen-
uine descendant of the original Morgan horse at the
time he wrote the letter from which the above was
quoted. In fact, it is very certain that he had not,
for under date of October 25, 1841, he wrote to the
Albany Cultivator in regard to the Morgan horse as
follows :

In my communication on this subject, published in the late
October number, I have expressed too confident an opinion
in saying I believed the original horse (Morgan) was of
French Canadian origin. I have recently had some acquain-
tance with a Morgan horse endowed with all the peculiarities
of the breed; sufficient to make me forbear any decided

142

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

opinion on the point in question, until very clear evidence is
adduced. The affidavit which I furnished is only probable
and not conclusive testimony that the original horse was of
French Norman descent, and procured in Montreal.

This second letter of Mr. Barnard was written short-
ly after his first one, accompanied by the aflSdavit, was
published. It is quite evident from this second letter
that Mr. Barnard placed little confidence in the erro-
neous affidavit of Stearns, and had learned from experi-
ence that the characteristics of the genuine Morgan
were very different from those of the Canadians, which
bore some resemblance to the Morgan in size and con-
formation, but were decidedly unlike them in tempera-
ment, style, gait and road qualities, as all of us know
who had experience with both the Morgans and Cana-
dians to saddle and harness on New England roads
fifty years ago. The letter of Mr. Barnard and affi-
davit which accompanied it brought a positive and
emphatic denial of the statements which they con-
tained, from several trustworthy parties who were
knowing to the facts concerning the origin of the horse
in question and his introduction into Vermont. One
of those who flatly contradicted the statement was
John Morgan, a son of the man who took the hoi*se
from the Connecticut River valley to Vermont. We
have been led to mention Mr. Barnard's letter and the
erroneous affidavit of John Stearns from the fact that
only about fifteen years ago the late Leslie E. McLeod
published an article entitled "The Trotting Horse
Historically Considered," in which he made the follow-
ing statement:

143

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

The descendants of Justin Morgan had the showy trappy
gait, conformation and other characteristics that find their
counterpart in certain Canadian families, and after duly
weighing all the facts presented as to his history, I think the
most reasonable conclusion is that he was of Canadian
descent.

It is evident that Mr. McLeod had never read, or if
he had read he had forgotten, the statement made by
Mr. Barnard in his second letter and also the state-
ments of Mr. John Morgan, a son of Mr. Justin Mor-
gan, the man who took the horse to Vermont, and
for whom the animal was named. Some years after
Mr. Linsley's work, now out of print, was published,
several men who were admirers of the Morgans inves-
tigated the origin and early history of the horse Justin
Morgan, and the facts which they learned that threw
light on the subject were published in various news-
papers. Hon. Joseph Battell of Middlebury, Vt., has
spent more time and money in such investigations
than have all other men combined. Mr. Battell has
published these facts in Vol. 1 of the Morgan Horse
and Register. Many of the facts contained in Lins-
ley's work are embodied in Mr. BattelPs, but a vast
number of facts pertaining to the subject, dug up by
Mr. Battell and others from reliable sources, are add-
ed. A careful examination and comparison of all the
facts presented by Mr. Battell and others show most
conclusively that the founder of the Morgan family of
horses was bred by Justin Morgan before he moved
from West Springfield, Mass., to Vermont in 1788, and
that the colt was foaled somewhere in the Connecticut

144

TEE MORGAN FAMILY.

River valley as early as 1789. He was taken to Ver-
mont as early as 1793, for Mr. Justin Morgan adver-
tised him to stand for service in Vermont that season.
The horse was advertised under the name of Figure,
and was always called that by Mr. Morgan as long as
he owned him. Later in life the horse was named for
the man who brought him to Vermont, Justin Morgan.

The sire of the horse Justin Morgan was known as
True Briton, also as Beautiful Bay, and Traveler. He
was from the best of racing stock, tracing directly in
the paternal line through the noted Croft's Partner
to Byerly Turk, and through his dam straight to Go-
dolphin Arabian, from both of which he inherited
two crosses. Through his dam, Betty Leeds, True
Briton inherited a cross of the renowned Flying
Childers, the fastest son of Darley Arabian. True Brit-
on was by Lloyd's Traveler, he by Morton's imported
Traveler, a son of Croft's Partner. The latter was
by Jigg, a son of Byerly Turk. The dam of True
Briton was Betty Leeds, by Babraham, son of Godol-
phin Arabian; second dam by Bolton Starling; third
dam by Godolphin Arabian and fourth dam by Flying
Childers, the fastest horse in England in his day.

The dam of Justin Morgan was by Diamond, he by
Church's Wildair, a son of imported Wildair, the
horse that the English breeders sent over here and
bought to take back to England and keep for stock
purposes. Imported Wildair was by Cade, one of the
most successful sons of Godolphin Arabian as a sire
and perpetuator of racing speed. The dam of imported
Wildair was by Steady, a son of the famous Flying
Childers, and his second dam was by Croft's Partner,

145

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

the best son of Jigg, and the latter the most success-
ful son of Byerly Turk as a sire. Here we find the
same three horses again which did so much to improve
the quality of the racing stock of England, viz., By-
erly Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian.
The pedigree of imported Messenger contains the
names of these three noted horses, and some of them
more than once. There is good reason to believe
that the second dam of Justin Morgan was by Sports-
man, a son of Arabian Ranger, but no direct proof that
such was the fact has ever been presented. The tabu-
lated pedigree of Justin Morgan appears in Mr. Bat-
telFs work, as stated above. It is apparent from this
that the founder of the Morgan family was well bred.
No horse that was not well bred could accomplish
what he did from the class of mares with which he
must have been mated at that early day in Vermont.
No horse of his time stamped his offspring more strong-
ly with his own characteristics or endowed his g<&t with
greater ability to perpetuate those valuable character-
istics through succeeding generations than did Justin
Morgan. Probably no horse of his size ever lived
that could pull so heavy a load as he or do it more
cheerfully. Though of diminutive size, he was a giant
in strength and had the courage of a lion, yet he was
as docile as a lamb. It was claimed that he could
out-draw, out-walk, out-trot and out-run every horse
that was ever matched against him, and his owner
never declined a challenge, however large and fast
the opponent, though his races were for short distances
and straight away on the road. In D. C. Linsley's
excellent work the horse is described as follows:

146

THE MORGAN FAMILY,

The original, or Justin Morgan, was about fourteen hands
high and weighed about nine hundred and fifty pounds. His
color was dark bay, with black legs, mane and tail. He had
no white hairs on him. His mane and tail were coarse and
heavy, but not so massive as has been sometimes described;
the hair of both was straight and not inclined to curl. His
head was good, not extremely small, but lean and bony, the
face straight, forehead broad, ears small and very fine, but set
rather wide apart. His eyes were medium size, very dark
and prominent, with a spirited but pleasant expression, and
showed no white round the edge of the lid. His nostrils were
very large, the muzzle smkll, and ihe lips close and firm.
His back and legs were perhaps his most noticeable points.
The former was very short, the shoulder blades and hip bones
being very long and oblique, and the loins exceedingly broad
and muscular.

His body was rather long, round and deep, close ribbed
up; chest 'deep and wide, with the breastbone projecting a
good deal in front. His legs were short, close-jointed, thin,
but very wide, hard and free from meat, with muscles that
were remarkably large for a horse of his size, and this super-
abundance of muscle exhibited itself at every step. His hair
was short, and at almost all seasons soft and glossy. He had
a little long hair about the fetlocks, and for two or three
inches above the fetlock on the back side of the legs; the
rest of the limbs were entirely free from it. His feet were
small, but well shaped, and he was in every respect perfectly
sound and free from any sort of blemish. He was a very fast
walker. In trotting his gait was low and smooth, and his
step short and nervous: he was not what in these days would
be called fast, and we think it doubtful whether he could
trot a mile much if any within four minutes, though it is
claimed by many that he could trot it in three.

Although he raised his feet but little, he never stumbled.
His proud, bold and fearless style of movement, and his vig-
orous, untiring action, have, perhaps, never been surpassed.
When a rider was on Him, he was obedient to the slightest
motion of the rein, would walk backwards rapidly under a

147

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

gentle pressure of the bit, and moved sideways almost as
willingly as he moved forward; in short, was perfectly trained
to all the paces and evolutions of a parade horse; and when
ridden at military reviews (as was frequently the case), his
hold, imposing style, and spirited, nervous action attracted
universal attention and admiration. He was perfectly gentle
and kind to handle, and loved to be groomed and caressed,
but he disliked to have children about him, and had an invet-
erate hatred for dogs, if loose always chasing them out of
sight the instant he saw them.

When taken out with halter or bridle he was in constant
motion, and very playful. He was a fleet runner at short dis-
tances. Running horses short distances for small stakes was
very common in Vermont fifty years ago. Eighty rods was
very generally the length of the course, which usually com-
menced at a tavern or grocery, and extended the distance
agreed upon, up or down the public road. In these races the
horses were started from a "scratch," that is, a mark was
drawn across the road in the dirt, and the horses, ranged in
a row upon it, went off at tne "drop of a hat" or some other
signal.

Among the many laces of this description that he ran
were two in 1796, at Brookfield, Vt., one with a horse called
Sweepstakes from Long Island and the other with a horse
called Silver Tail from St. Lawrence county. New York.
Both of these he beat with ease. Mr. Morgan (who then
owned him) offered to give the owner of Silver Tail two more
chances to win the stake, which was fifty dollars, by walking
or trotting the horses for it, which was declined. There are
many accounts of other races which he ran and won, but
these accounts not fully agreeing as to the details, we have
not mentioned them.

In the harness Justin Morgan was quiet but full of spirit,
an eager and nimble traveller, but patient in bad spots; and
although for a long time steadily engaged in the heavy work
of a new farm, his owner at that time informs us that he
never knew him to refuse to draw as often as he was required
to, but he pithily adds, "I didn't very often have to ask him

148

THE MORGAN FAMILY,

but once, for whatever lie was hitched to generally had to
come the first time trying." This uniform kindness at a pull
was one of the striking characteristics of the horse, and the
same trait may be observed in the greater part of his
descendants.

Following is an extract from a letter written by Solomon
Steele to Mr. Linsley, and published by the latter in Morgan
Horses: "Mr. Morgan leased this horse to Robert Evans, for
one year, tor the sum of fifteen dollars. Immediately after
this Evans undertook the job of clearing fifteen acres of
heavy-timbered land for a Mr. Fisk, and before the first of
June following had completed the job, with no other team
but this colt, though not regarded as a 'salable horse.'

"While Evans was engaged in piling this timber, the re-
markable powers of this horse, it would seem, were in a
measure developed, as he was then found able to out-draw,
out-walk, out-trot, or out-run every norse that was matched
against him. An instance was related to me by Mr. Nathan
Nye, who was an eye-witness, and whose testimony was never
questioned. I noted it at the time, and will relate it In his
own words:

." 'At the time Evans had this horse, a small tavern, a
grist mill and a saw mill were in operation on the branch
of White River, in Randolph, and at this place the strength
of men and horses in that settlement was generally tested.
On one occasion' (says Nye) '1 went to these mills, where
I spent most of the day, and during the time many trials were
had, for a small wager, to draw a certain pine log, which lay
some ten rods from the saw mill.

" 'Some horses were hitched to it that would weigh 1,200
pounds, but not one of them could move it its length. About
dusk Evans came down from his logging field, which was near
by, and I told him the particulars of the -drawing match.
Evans requested me to show him the log, which I did; he
then ran "back to the tavern and challenged the company to
bet a gallon of rum that he could not draw the log fairly
on to the logway, at three puils with his colt. The challenge

149

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

was promptij^ accepted, and each having "taken a glass," the
whole company went down to the spot.

"'Arrived on the ground, Evans says: "I am ashamed to
hitch my horse to a little log like that, but if three of you
will get on and ride, if i don't draw it I will forfeit the
rum." Accordingly, three of those least able to stand were
placed upon the log. I was present with a lantern, and
cautioned those on the log to look out for their legs, as I
had seen the horse draw before, and knew something had got
to come. At the word of command the horse started log and
men, and went more than half of the distance before stopping.
At the next pull he landed his load at the spot agreed upon,
to the astonishment of all present.

" 'Not many days after this, the beaten party proposed to
Evans to run a certain horse against his, eighty rods, for
another gallon. Evans accepted, went from his work, and
matched his horse against four different horses the same
evening, and beat them all with ease.' "

This wonderful little horse died at Chelsea, Vt., in
the winter of 1821. He was then thirty-two years old.
Mr. Linsley^s account of the circumstance is as follows :

He was not stabled, but was running loose in an open yard
with other horses, and receiving a kick from one of them in
the flank, exposed without shelter to the inclemency of a
northern winter, inflammation set in and he died. Before
receiving the injury which caused his death, he was perfectly
sound and entirely free from any description of blemish.
His limbs were perfectly smooth, clean, free from any
swelling, and perfectly limber and supple. Age had not
quenched his spirit nor dampened the ardor of his temper;
years of severest labor had not sapped his vigor nor broken
his constitution; his eye was still bright and his step firm and
elastic.

The fact that Justin Morgan was so well preserved
at thirty-two years of age is of itself alone sufficient
proof that his blood inheritance was of the choicest,

150

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

that his bone and muscle were of the finest quality and
that he possessed a vast amount of nerve force. Had
he not possessed such an inheritance it would have
been impossible for him to transmit and perpetuate his
valuable qualities with such uniformity when mated
with the class of mares that he received there. "A
tree is known by its fruit," and the inheritance of a
stallion is surely known by the quality of his progeny.
Trotting tracks were unknown in the days of Justin
Morgan and his sons, but for road use, either under
the saddle or in harness, and also for the stage coach
and general purpose horses, the early Morgans were
unsurpassed by those of any other family. His ster-
ling merit was not appreciated until he was well ad-
vanced in years, and but comparatively few of his
sons were kept for stock purposes. The three which
proved most successful and are best known today as
progenitors of speed were Bulrush, Woodbury and
Sherman Morgan. The Morrill family, of which the
Fearnaughts and Winthrop Morrills are branches,
were descendants of Bulrush; the Golddusts, the
Magna Chartas, and the dam of the successful sire
Kentucky Prince, are members of the Woodbury
branch; while from Sherman Morgan came the Ver-
mont Black Hawk family, which includes those of
Daniel Lambert, General Knox and others.

Lady Sutton. One of the first of the Morgans to
take a record of 2.30 was the brown mare Lady Sutton.
She made a record of 2.30 in a memorable seven-heat
contest with Lady Suffolk and Pelham at Centreville,
L. I., August 3, 1849. Lady Suffolk won the first heat
in 2.29 1-2, which equalled her best record to harness.

151

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

She also got the second heat in 2.31. Lady Sutton won
the third heat in 2.30 and Pelham was distanced,
which left the contest to these two best representa-
tives of the Messenger and Morgan families. The
fourth heat was won by Lady Sutton in 2.31 1-2. The
fifth was a dead heat in 2.32, and the sixth was also a
dead heat, time, 2.31; but the stout thoroughbred
backing that Lady Suffolk got, aside from Mes-
senger, from the son of imported Wildair that
sired her second dam, and through Shark that got the
dam of Plato, sire of the dam of Engineer 2d, enabled
Lady Suffolk to outlast the daughter of Morgan Eagle,
and she won the seventh heat in 2.38. It was the most
stubbornly contested race ever seen between two trot-
ters. Morgan Eagle, the sire of Lady Sutton, was
by Woodbury, son of Justin Morgan. These two
mares met in several contests, and though Lady Suf-
folk was the victor in the majority of them. Lady
Sutton beat her twice.

Mac (2.27). The brown gelding Mac was another
of the early Morgan trotters of note. He beat some
of the best trotters of his day and one of them was
Lady Suffolk, that he defeated four times. Mac took
a record of 2.27 to saddle in the third heat of a race
that he beat Lady Suffolk, in the vicinity of Boston,
June 14, 1849, and June 28, 1853, he made a record of
2.28 to harness on Union Course, N. Y. The sire of
Mac was Morgan Cseser, also called Post Boy, and he,
too, was a son of Woodbury Morgan.

Sherman Morgan. The branch of the Morgan
family which has been most prolific in trotting speed
is the line which came through Sherman Morgan.

152

3. -

^/

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

The latter was bred by Mr. James Sherman, Lyndon,
Vt., and according to D. C. Linsley was foaled in
1808 or 1809. His sire was the original Justin Morgan.
His dam was described by Mr. George Sherman, a
son of John Sherman, as a chestnut in color, of
good size, high-spirited and an elegant animal. He
called her of Spanish breed. Others claimed that
she was an imported English mare. From her
elegant and blood-like appearance and high spirits
it is evident that she was well bred. She was taken
to Vermont from Providence or Cranston, R. I, It
is stated upon good authority that she was bought
by Mr. John Sherman of Providence, R. I., a brother
of James Sherman, for her beauty and speed. Like
Clara, the dam of Dexter (2.171-4), she met with
an injury and finally became the property of James
Sherman of Lyndon, Vt., who mated her with Justin
Morgan, and the result was Sherman Morgan. It is
probable that she was the best bred as well as the
most elegant and spirited mare that was ever mated
with Justin Morgan, though her breeding is unknown.
Linsley says that "whoever may have bred this mare,
and whether of Spanish or English descent, it is
certain that she was a fine animal. She was a chestnut
with three white feet and a white stripe in the face.
Her head was good, ears small, neck light and rather
long; not very compactly formed, and never carried
much flesh. She carried her head high, was a spirited
traveler, and an excellent saddle beast. She was very
pleasant tempered, and worked kindly in all places."
From the same author we quote the following
description of this remarkable son of Justin Morgan:

153

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Sherman (Morgan) was a bright chestnut about thirteen
and three-quarters hands high and weighed nine hundred and
twenty-five pounds. His off hind leg was white from the
foot halt way to the hoc"k:; and he had a small white stripe in
the face; his head was lean and wedge-shaped ears small
and fine, eyes inclined to be small, but full, prominent and
lively; his legs had some long hairs upon the back side, but
were broad, flat and sinewy. He had a capital chest, with
the breast bone very prominent; the shoulders were large and
well placed, the neck excellent, the mane and tail full, but not
remarkably heavy. His Kips were long and deep, the loins
broad and muscular, but he was a little hollow or sway-
backed; still no suspicion of a weak back could attach to him
or he would have broken down under the rough treatment he
received in early life. When four years old, Mr. Sherman
put him to hard work, and though for about two months in
the spring of each year he worked but little, yet the remainder
of the year his work was very severe. Mr. Sherman was a
hard-working man and the animals under his charge had few
opportunities to rest. Most of the year the horse was kept
constantly at work upon the farm, much of which he helped
to "clear up." In the winter Mr. Sherman usually ran a team
steadily from Lyndon, Vt., to Portland, Me. For several years
this team consisted of this horse and a half brother (?) sired
by Justin Morgan, a year older and a little larger than
Sherman.

Mr. Sherman was not a man to be outdone at drawing or
driving and he was always ready to match his team against
-any he met to draw or run for a trifling wager. His little
team became famous at every inn from Lyndon to Portland,
and after a time the teamsters that knew the horses were
afraid to match animals of any size against them. In the
spring, when the sleighing became poor, the men who had
been companions through the winter in the severe labor of
teaming across the country would often congregate at the
village taverns to spin yarns of their simple but rough ad-
ventures, engage in wrestling, running, foot and horse races,
drawing matches, and many games invented to test the

154

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

strength of men or fiorses. In addition to these attractions
the prospects of a social glass of "Old Santa Cruz" may have
had some influence in drawing together the people collected
on these occasions, for it was at that time considered a
pleasant beverage, and it was not generally known to be a
subtle poison. Certain it is that these games were well at-
tended and were conducted with much spirit. Drawing
matches were at that time very common.

At Lyndon the usual way of drawing was to attach a horse
to a sled, fill it with men and draw the load up a steep hill
just north of the tavern. "When each his utmost strength
had shown," Sherman would add a small boy to his largest
load and commence the ascent, well satisfied if he could gain
two or three feet at a pull, for nothing discouraged his horse,
and it was difllcult to load him so that he could not move a
little. These facts are perfectly well known to many persons
now (1856) living in Lyndon, and we mention them, not from
any intrinsic interest they may possess, but having said that
Sherman was slightly hollow-backed, we thought it necessary
to show that if so his back was by no means weak.

Mr. Sherman sold this horse to Stephen C. Gibbs of Little-
ton, N. H., in 181?. Mr. Gibbs kept the horse one year and
sold him to John Buckminster of Danville, Vt,, but Mr. Gibbs
had charge of him two years longer. After this he was kept
at Danville and vicinity until 1829, when he was purchased
of Mr. Buckminster by Mr. John Bellows of Lancaster, N. H.
The summer of 1829 he was kept at Littleton, N. H., in charge
of Stephen C. Gibbs; in 1830 he was kept at Dover and
vicinity; in 1831 he was at Colonel Jacques' Ten Hills Farm,
Charlesfown, Mass. In 1832 he was at Dover and Durham, N.
H.; in 1833 at Lancaster, N. H., and in 1834 at Dover and
vicinity. He died in Mr. Bellows' stable in Lancaster the
9th of January, 18^5. The cause of his death is unknown.
He was left at ten o'clock in the morning apparently well,
and at one o'clock in the afternoon was found dead. With
the exception of some slight indications of age, he was ap-
parently as free from every species of blemish or infirmity
the morning of the day he died as when he was foaled.

155

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

The thorough investigations, a few years ago, of
Hon. Joseph Battell, brought to light some facts in
the shape of old newspaper advertisements which tend
to show that Mr. Linsley may have made slight
mistakes in some of the above dates, but they are
undoubtedly nearly correct on the whole. Mr. John
Bellows, who owned Sherman Morgan the last six
years of the horse's life, was a very capable and
successful business man. He began buying cattle on his
own account, collecting them in droves and driving them
to market, when he was but seventeen years old. He
finally owned a large amount of real estate and timber
lands in the vicinity of the White Mountains. He
lived at the Hotel Warren in this city during the last
few years of his life and died there several years ago.
The writer had several interesting interviews with
Mr. Bellows toward the close of his life. He remem
bered Sherman Morgan well and never tired of talking
when that horse was the subject of conversation. Mr.
Bellows owned many horses during his life, but appar-
ently valued Sherman Morgan much more highly than
all the others. He was considered the best sire in New
England in his day and during the last few years of
his life yielded his owner a handsome yearly income.
The horse was a prompt, cheerful roadster, but it
has never been claimed that he was a fast trotter.
His offspring were the best roadsters that could be
found in their time, and some of them could show
considerable speed at the trot for that early day.
Many of his sons were kept for service and left
excellent stock. The fastest trotter and most success-
ful perpetuator of speed among them all was Vermont

156

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

Black Hawk, founder of the Black Hawk trotting
family.

Vermont Black Hawk. Vermont Black Hawk,
also known as HilFs Black Hawk and registered in
the American Trotting Register as Black Hawk (5),
was bred by Benjamin Kelly, then proprietor of a hotel
in Durham, N. H. He was foaled about the middle
of April, 1833j the property of Ezekiel Twombly, then
also a resident of Durham. His dam was a large
black mare which Mr. Kelly got from a traveling man
or pedlar, in exchange for another horse. This pedlar
said that the mare was half bred, that is, she was
got by a thorougbred horse, and that she was raised
in the Province of New Brunswick, and brought from
there by him. She was a well proportioned, strongly
made animal, not far from sixteen hands high and
weighed 1,100 pounds. She was a solid black in color
with the exception of a white stripe in the face. She
was a pure gaited trotter, never paced or mixed or
•showed any inclination to do so.

Mr. A. R. Mathes, at one time an oil merchant of
Boston and an expert judge of horses, became the
owner of Black Hawk when the horse was five years
old. He knew the dam of Black Hawk well, and in
a personal letter to the writer, some twenty years
ago, had this to say of her: "I remember the dam
of Black Hawk perfectly well. She was a good
looking, large-sized black mare, said to have come from
the Provinces. She was said to have been from
English stock and from experience since I should think
she was. Nothing was ever said or thought much'
in those days about pedigree or speed. I remember

157

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

her as being a good-looking, easy-moving mare with
long neck, large ears, full, large eyes, wide between
the eyes, strong back, good legs and feet."

Mr. Shadrack Seavey, a man of excellent reputation,
who had charge of this mare for eight years, stated
to the writer that *^she was a very pleasant, free driver,
did not pull on the bit in the least, was a square
trotter, never showing any inclination to pace, and
was very fast for those days. In harness she carried
her head pretty well up, needed but little checking.
Although a free driver, she had a pleasant disposition.
She had a long, slim neck, medium mane and tail,
round barrel of good length, handsome, smoothly
turned hips, quite a straight rump, legs clean, smooth
and free from shaggy hairs. Her weight was 1,100
pounds." She was driven for several years by Mr.
Seavey's grandmother, an old lady who was quite
feeble.

When Black Hawk was foaled he was small, very
poor, weak and homely. He looked so inferior and
unpromising that Mr. Twombly thought seriously of
killing him, and asked the advice of a neighbor In
regard to the matter. After looking the colt over
the neighbor said, "No, don't kill him; he may be
worth a hundred dollars some day." Mr. Twombly
decided to let the colt live, but said he hated to have
such a looking thing following so good a mare. He
told his grandson, Shadrack Seavey, then a youth of
seventeen years, who lived with his grandparents, that
he might have the colt for his own. Shadrack
Seavey's mother was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

158

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

Ezekiel Twombly. Shadrack lived with his grand-
parents until after he was "of age," and his grandfather
died. The colt improved in looks as he grew older.
But few farmers in that section thought they could
afford to feed grain to their colts in those days, and
Black Hawk was never treated to such a luxury as a
feed of oats until after he left the farm where he was
raised. Shadrack Seavey had sole charge of the colt
and at the usual age broke him both to harness and
saddle. When the colt was three years old a veterinary
Burgeon was called to the farm to castrate him, but he
was a good judge of horse stock, and advised young
Seavey to keep the colt entire. The Morgans were
then very popular in New England, and the get of
Sherman Morgan, the most popular of them all. The
colt was named Morgan by Mr. Seavey and was always
BO called as long as he kept him. He proved very
intelligent and docile, and submitted to be used to
harness and saddle without resistance.

About the time that Shadrack Seavey became
twenty-one years of age his grandfather, Ezekiel
Twombly, died. Although the colt had been given
to Shadrack Seavey, the administrator of the estate
claimed Morgan, and he was appraised as part of the
estate at |60. Mr. Seavey did not like to part with
the colt, and, being a bright young man who could
stand up for his rights, he put in a claim against
the estate of |60 for services rendered his grandfather.
The claim was allowed and he was given the colt in
payment. Morgan, as the colt was then called, was
a born trotter. Mr. Seavey was not a horseman, yet
with his handling Morgan improved in speed, so that

159

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

he soon out-trotted all the best horses in that vicinity.
His gait was pure and his inclination to stick to the
trot was so strong that he never made a break during
all the time that Mr. Seavey drove him. His beautiful
trotting action and natural speed attracted the atten-
tion of horsemen and elicited favorable comment from
them all. In the winter of 1837-8, when he was coming
five years old, A. R. Mathes, who had heard of the
colt, went to see him. He found the colt running in
the farm yard with a lot of cows. Mr. Mathes informed
the writer that the colt was then rather thin in flesh
and would weigh only about eight hundred and
fifty pounds, and as he had not been blanketed during
the cold weather his coat was quite long. He appeared
at first glance like an ordinary farm colt. Mr. Mathes
asked Mr. Seavey to harness the colt to sleigh and
drive him. He did so, and Mr. Mathes was so well
pleased with his gait and speed that after considerable
parley he induced Mr. Seavey to let him have the colt
for another horse and $50 in cash. As already stated,
the colt was then coming five years old, or, as ages of
horses are reckoned, was then five years old. Up to
that time no one except Mr. Seavey had ever driven
or ridden Morgan, as he was then called, or Black
Hawk, as he is now known. Mr. Mathes was a natural
horseman and quite an expert reinsman. In his hands
the young horse soon showed great improvement both
in speed and general appearance. He kept the horse
a few months and then sold him to Messrs. William
Brown and Benjamin Thurston of Haverhill, Mass.,
for |200. Mr. Thurston finally bought Mr. Brown's
interest in the horse, named him Black Hawk, used

160

TEE MORGAN FAMILY.

him as a family horse, handled him for speed, and
raced him with considerable success.

Many of the races of that early day were not
published, and undoubtedly several in which Black
Hawk was engaged were among them. Chester's
Complete Trotting and Pacing Records gives but two
of his races. The first was at Boston in 1842, when
he won a wager of $1,000 by trotting five miles in
16 minutes. The other was October 3, 1843, in which
he met and defeated Jim and Dying Sargent in a race
of two mile heats, time 5.43, 5.48, 5.47. The second
heat was won by Dying Sargent. It has been stated
that Mr. Thurston taught Black Hawk to break and
catch, a style of training practiced by many drivers
at that early day. In the winter or spring of 1844
Mr. Thurston sold Black Hawk for $800 to David Hill
of Bridport, Vt., and his son, Noble Hill, then of
Boston. The horse was taken to Bridport. David
Hill finally became sole owner and kept him until
Black Hawk's death, which occurred December 1, 1856.
During the last twelve years of his life Black Hawk
was the most popular and most extensively patronized
trotting stallion then in America. He met with
strenuous opposition, however, from friends of the
Messengers, who derided the "little Morgans," and
also from friends of the Morgan family, who were
owners of rival Morgan stallions which they stood
for service, but Black Hawk's merits had become so
well known that the efforts of his enemies failed to
detract from his popularity.

The high esteem in which Black Hawk was held by
his former owner. Benjamin Thurston, is shown in

101

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

the following extract from a letter written October 7th,
1847, by Mr. Thurston to David Hill, who then owned
the horse: "I bought Black Hawk when he was five
years old; for six years used him as my family horse,
and think him without exception the finest horse I
ever knew. I have owned many horses during the last
twenty-five years, varying from ten to thirty-five at a
time, and have also been in the habit of purchasing
the best I could find for sale; but if the choicest
qualities of all the best horses I ever owned were
combined in one animal, I do not think they would
produce one that would surpass Black Hawk. In
the first place he is the best roadster I ever drew
rein over. I have frequently driven him fifty miles
in half a day, and once drove him sixty-three miles
in seven hours and fifteen minutes. He did it with
perfect ease, and indeed I never saw him appear
fatigued. At the time I owned him, I believe he
could have trotted one hundred miles in ten hours,
or sixteen miles in one hour, or one mile in two
minutes and forty seconds. In the second place, he
has the best disposition of any horse I ever knew,
and is perfectly safe for any lady to ride or drive.
Thirdly, he will draw as kindly as any team horse.
His stock is unequalled."

Early in the season of 1847, some of the friends
of Mr. Hill and his horse, among them Solomon Jewett,
then quite an extensive breeder of fine horses,
persuaded Mr. Hill to publicly challenge any one to
match any stallion in America against Black Hawk on
the following points : "First, perfection of symmetry ;
second, ease and elegance of action; third, best and

162

THE MORGAN FAMILY,

most perfectly broken to harness; fourth, fastest
trotting to single harness" ; the decision to be rendered
by expert disinterested judges at the New York State
Fair that fall. The challenge failed to bring about
a match on those terms, but did result in a match
to harness, between the Morse Horse and Black Hawk,
which was contested at the time and place mentioned
in Mr. Hill's challenge. The Morse Horse had some-
thing of a local reputation as a trotter, and as his
dam was quite strongly inbred to the Messenger strain
the friends of Messenger stock were greatly interested
in the match before the race came off, and sadly disap-
pointed by the result. Black Hawk had been so busy
in the stud that season as to prevent putting him in
racing condition. He received that season a total of
one hundred and eighty-six patrons. He was on the
ground at the appointed time, however, and parties
who were present say that he beat the Morse Horse
easily. This race does not appear in Chester's Com-
plete Trotting and Pacing Records, and there is
probably no account of it in existence that was
published at the time. Some twenty odd years aga
Mr. Solomon Jewett, who was present and remem-
bered the contest, gave the time made. It was not
fast, but was fast enough to win. It was claimed
that the New York papers were then all so friendly
to the Messengers and hostile to the Morgans, that
they did not care to make known the victory of Black
Hawk, but whether the claim had any foundation in
fact we do not know.

Black Hawk got but few foals before he was taken
to Vermont. During the thirteen seasons that he did

163

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

service while owned by Mr. Hill, it is stated upon
good authority that his patrons numbered 1772. In
1850, the number of mares mated with him was twd
hundred. For eight seasons the number of his patrons
ranged from one hundred and sixteen to two hundred,
and the average for those eight seasons was one
hundred and sixty-seven. Some time after Black
Hawk was taken to Vermont, and had become the most
popular trotting stallion in America, some one
started a story to the effect that he was not a son of
Sherman Morgan, but was got by a horse called Paddy,
that was owned by Mr. Bellows, and used as a "teaser'^
for Sherman Morgan. It wa^ claimed that Paddy
was black, that Black Hawk was black, and that
Sherman Morgan never got a black colt or filly. The
story was circulated industriously and was accepted
as fact by many. When Mr. Charles Flint was Secre-
tary of the Board of Agriculture of Massachusetts,
somebody furnished him with the story, so embellished
that he accepted it as fact, and published it in one
of his annual reports. This version of the story was
that, one Sunday night, some boys broke into the
stable where Sherman Morgan, Paddy and the dam of
Black Hawk were kept, and by lantern light, mated
the dam of Black Hawk with Paddy. All that was
necessary to stamp that story as false was the stud bill
for Sherman Morgan for the season of 1832. One
of those bills, framed, hangs in the Editorial room of
the American Horse Breeder. It shows that Sherman
Morgan was at Benjamin Kelley's, Durham, N. H., OTie
night only in each week and that night was Wednesday,
This bill further shows that instead of Paddy, it was

164

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

a son of Sherman Morgan that was Sherman Morgan's
stable companion or teaser that year. Mr. Bellows
at one time owned a stallion called Paddy, but he sold
that horse in 1830 to a man in New Hampshire, who
sent Paddy to Rhode Island. The stnd book of Paddy,
which is now the property of the American Hoese
Breeder, shows that the date when the last mare was
mated with him while he was the property of Mr.
Bellows was July 31, 1830.

So much for the Paddy story, which we have good
reason to believe was started by parties who at the
time were interested in the stallion Gifford Morgan,
an excellent representative of the Morgan family, then
owned and kept in New Hampshire. The only ground
for the story was that Black Hawk was black, but so
was his dam. Mr. J. H. Wallace states in his latest
work, '^The Horse of America," that Paddy was "black
as a crow." Mr. John Bellows, who owned Paddy,
assured the writer that the horse was not black, but
was brown in color. It is immaterial, however, what
Paddy's color was, as he was not within one hundred
miles of the dam of Black Hawk the season that the
latter was begotten. The Stud Book of Sherman
Morgan for 1832, which is now the property of the
American Horse Breeder^ shows that a mare owned
by Benjamin Kelley was mated with Sherman Morgan
May 14, 1832, for which Mr. Kelley was charged ^14.
This is marked paid, and underneath is a note in Mr.
Bellows' handwriting stating that "from this service
came Black Hawk."

In giving the history of Black Hawk in his latest
work, Mr. Wallace has made several errors, some

165

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

trivial, one at least very important. He accepts
Sherman Morgan as the sire of Black Hawk, and
states as evidence that when Ezekiel Twomblj traded
for the dam of Black Hawk with Benjamin Kelley, he
agreed to pay the service fee of the stallion in case the
mare proved with foal, but that when he came to settle
he refused to pay more than $7, which was the price
of Paddy's fee; that Mr. Bellows sued for $14, the
fee of Sherman Morgan, and recovered that sum.
This is a matter of small consequence, but it shows
how careless some able and noted writers are in
recording matters of history. The foundation for that
story is this: Wingate Twombly, a son of Ezekiel,
who lived with his father, took a mare owned by
his father to the stallion Flint Morgan, owned by Mr.
Bellows, and, without authority of his father, had her
mated with that horse. Wingate was then of age. His
father was displeased because he did this, as it was
contrary to his wishes, and he refused to pay the
service fee. Mr. Bellows sued for it and the Court
decreed that Ezekiel Twombly, owner of the mare,
must pay the fee, which he did. We had these facts
from the lips of both Wingate Twombly and John
Bellows. There was never any question about the bill
for the service of Sherman Morgan and the dam of
Black Hawk. No trace of the Paddy story can be
found until some time after Black Hawk became the
property of David Hill.

Mr. Wallace says that when Black Hawk was about
two years old he was sold at auction to Albert Mathes
of Durham, N. H., for $70. This, too, is a harmless
error. The horse was never sold at auction and did

166

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

not become the property of Mr. Mathes until five years
old, when Mr. Mathes gave |50 in cash and another
horse or mare valued at |50 for him. In speaking
of the dam of Vermont Black Hawk Mr. Wallace says,
"The reasonable conclusion seems to be that she was
double-gaited and when speeded she would go from
the trot to the pace, or the pace to the trot, as the
case might be." Had Mr. Wallace investigated this
matter personally he would never have allowed such a
glaring misstatement to have been published in his
work. The man who was mainly responsible for the
error is Allen W. Thompson of Woodstock, Vt., and he
was one of those who argued that Black Hawk was
got by Paddy, the horse that was sold by Mr. Bellows
to George Bothwell of Northumberland, N. H., after
the close of the season of 1830, and was sold or sent
by Bothwell to some one in Rhode Island. Mr.
Bellows stated to the writer that he neither owned nor
even ever saw Paddy again after he sold him to Mr.
Bothwell. Benjamin Kelley, who owned the dam of
Black Hawk when she was mated with Sherman
Morgan, May 14, 1832, stated to Ezekiel Twombly and
others that the man from whom he got this mare
informed him that she was a half-bred mare that was
raised in the Province of New Brunswick. So far
as known Mr. Kelley never made any other statement
concerning her origin and breeding. The writer inves-
tigated this matter very carefully and thoroughly
some twenty years ago and got his facts concerning
the matter from trustworthy men who were well
acquainted with Benjamin Kelley, Ezekiel Twombly,

1G7

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

and the dam of Vermont Black Hawk, and Vermont
Black Hawk himself.

Whatever credit — or otherwise — is due the man who
first gave to the public the story that the dam of
Black Hawk was a pacer, or mixed gaited, and had
white hairs mixed with the black in her coat, belongs
to the above named Mr. Thompson, as will be seen from
the following extract from ''The Horse of America,"
by J. H. Wallace, page 378 :

In 1876 Mr. Thompson visited Albany for the purpose of
examining everything that had been said in The Country
Gentleman newspaper touching on the paternity of Black
Hawk. In tis search for the sire he would necessarily find
many references to the dam, and among those references he
was greatly surprised to find she had been described as a
pacing mare. He goes on to say: "In our visit the same
fall to Dover, Portsmouth, Greenland and Durham, N. H., we
found a number that knew her when owned in Durham and
they said she was then known as the Old Narragansett Mare."
They said Benjamin Kelley, deceased, brought the mare into
Durham, that he had a son John L. living in Manchester, N.
H., and that he would know more about her. * * *

It appears that Mr. Thompson wrote to Mr. Kelley
and got a reply from the latter dated Manchester, N.
H., August 25, 1876. In this letter Mr. Kelley, who in
early life followed the sea, says that he "returned to
Durham from a voyage in 1830; that the following
spring his father traded for a dark hay mare, that the
teamster from whom he got her said she was a
Narragansett mare. She would weigh 1,000 pounds.
This letter was written from memory some forty-six
years after Benjamin Kelley traded for the "dark hay
mare called a Narragansett mare which would weigh
1,000 pounds." It is probable that Mr. John L. Kelley

168

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

may have been correct in his statement that his father,
Benjamin Kelley, traded for a bay Narragansett mare
at the time named, but it is certain that the dam of
Vermont Black Hawk was not a dark bay mare, was
not called the "Old Narragansett mare" by Benjamin
Kelley when he traded her with Ezekiel Twombly, was
never known as such during the eight years that she
was owned by the Twombly family ; had no white hairs
mixed through her coat, and never paced or mixed
a step. The dam of Black Hawk was a solid black
with the exception of a white stripe on the forehead,
stood about sixteen hands high, weighed 1,100 pounds,
was as square gaited a trotter as lived in her day, never
paced or mixed, and was quite speedy.

During a personal interview with Wingate Twombly
in 1885, at Portsmouth, N. H., on the farm of Mr.
Charles H. Hayes, a breeder of premium Ayrshire
cattle, Mr. Twombly stated to the writer that the pedlar
from whom Mr. Benjamin Kelley got the dam of Black
Hawk said that he was from Nova Scotia and that he
brought this mare to the states. Wingate Twombly
w^as a son of Ezekiel Twombly and was born in
Durham, N. H., in 1806. He continued to live with
his parents for several years after he became ''of age."
As he probably never saw the man who brought the
mare from the Provinces, he must have got his informa-
tion concerning the pedlar's statement from Benjamin
Kelley, with whom he was well acquainted. Mr.
Twombly did not say that the mare came from Nova
Scotia, but that the pedlar came from that place. It
is probable that the pedlar may have got her in New

169

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Brunswick. It is certain that he so stated to Mr.
Benjamin Kelley.

After interviewing and leaving Wingate Twombly,
who occupied a dwelling on a part of Mr. Hayes'
farm, we had a talk with Mr. Hayes. The latter did
not claim to know anything about the mare, of his own
personal knowledge, but informed us that a man
named Shadrack Seavey, living a few miles from there,
in Greenland, N. H., could tell us more about the dam
^of Black Hawk, and the early history of Black Hawk
himself, than any other man living. He also assured
us that we could place implicit confidence in every
statement that Mr. Seavey made, for he was a truthful
man and highly respected among his townsmen. We
drove at once to the farm of Shadrack Seavey and
interviewed him. He informed us that Black Hawk
was foaled not later than the middle of April, 1833,
and that he was with the mare and colt within half an
hour after the colt was dropped. We also had several
personal letters in regard to the dam of Black Hawk
from A. R. Mathes shortly after our interview with
Mr. Seavey. Mr. Mathes was then living in Connecti-
<!ut. His description of the size, color, conformation
and gait of this mare agreed completely in every
respect with that of Shadrack Seavey. The latter
informed us that we were the first who had ever
interviewed him to get the facts concerning Black
Hawk and his dam. The testimony of Mr. Seavey and
Mr. Mathes concerning the dam of Black Hawk cannot
be impeached, and no one who ever knew them will
question it. The pacing cross may be a valuable factor
in a trotting pedigree, but Black Hawk got no aid

170

THE MORGAN FAMILY,

in this director! from a pacing dam. Those who believe
and claim that she was a pacer were simply mistaken
in the identity of the mare.

The superior merit shown by the get of Vermont
Black Hawk caused a great demand for his sons and
daughters all over the country wherever road horses
were bred, from Maine to California, and they sold for
high prices. As a family they were unsurpassed
for beauty, style and superior road qualities. Many
of them were beautifully gaited trotters and fast for
their day. There was a peculiar elasticity or springi-
ness to their action, whether walking or trotting, not
exhibited by the descendants of any other horse.
Wherever stallions of Black Hawk descent were kept
the horse stock of those localities soon showed marked
improvement, in conformation, style, gait, speed and
road qualities. Many of the produce of his daughters
or daughters of his sons and grandsons have acquired
great distinction either as performers or producers, or
both. Gambetta Wilkes (2.191-4), a very successful
son of George Wilkes as a sire, is one of them. His dam
was by Gill's Vermont, he by Downing's Vermont, a
son of Vermont Black Hawk. Gambetta Wilkes is
now credited with one hundred and sixty-five that have
made standard records, and twelve of them are in the
2.10 list.

Elyria (2.25 1-4), by Mambrino King, is the sire of a
greater number of performers with standard records
than any other stallion that is a direct descendant in
the paternal line of Mambrino Chief. He is now
credited with eighty-two, and sixty-nine of them are

171

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

trotters. The dam of Elyria was by Bradford's Tele-
graph, a son of Vermont Black Hawk. Nelson (2.09),
by Young Kolfe (2.211-4), was the first stallion to
take a trotting record of 2.10. This record was made
to high wheels and over a regulation track. It has
never been equalled by any other trotting stallion under
similar conditions. He is now credited with fifty-one
performers that have made records in standard time,
a greater number than has been sired by any other
stallion that has ever stood in Maine. The second
dam of Nelson was a daughter of Vermont Black
Hawk. Alcander (2.20 1-2) has sired a greater number
of performers with records from 2.00 1-4 to 2.30 than
any other son of Alcantara (2.23). The third dam of
Alcander was by Vermont Black Hawk.

Ethan Allen (2.25 1-2). The number of standard
performers got by Vermont Black Hawk was four,
and three of them were trotters. The number of hicj
sons that sired 2.30 performers was seventeen. His
daughters produced four that took records in standard
time, and seven stallions that sired 2.30 speed were
from his daughters. The most distinguished trotter
and successful perpetuator of speed, style and beauty
got by Vermont Black Hawk was Ethan Allen. The
latter was bred by Joel W. Holcomb of Ticonderoga,
N. Y., and was foaled June 18, 1849. His dam was a
small but spirited animal, grey in color, that had
been considerably injured by rough, hard usage before
she was used for brood purposes. Mr. Joseph Battell
spent much time and money carefully investigating
her origin and history. He learned that she was bred

172

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

by John Field of Springfield, Vt., and got by a hand*
some Morgan built bay stallion, known as Robin, or
Red Robin. It was believed by good judges of horse
stock who knew this Robin that he was got by the
original Justin Morgan, but no direct proof has been
presented to substantiate the claim, as his breeder
had no doubt died long before Mr. Battell began his
investigation. All who knew her agree in the state-
ment that she was a smart, resolute traveler, and was
a square gaited trotter. Some thought she could show
close to three minute speed. Her dam had the appear-
ance of being a Morgan and her second dam was
believed to be a daughter of old Justin Morgan.

Ethan Allen was a bay in color with black points,
stood about fifteen hands at maturity, and weighed
about one thousand pounds when in good condition.
He was the third foal that his dam prduced by Vermont
Black Hawk. The first was Black Hawk Maid, foaled
in 1846, and she trotted to a record of 2.37. The
second, foaled in 1847, called Red Leg, was not so fast
as Black Hawk Maid, but quite a trotter in his day.

Up to the season of 1848 the service fee of Black
Hawk was |10, but in 1848 it was increased. Mr.
Holcomb left the dam of Ethan Allen at Mr. HilFs
place that season some time after she was mated with
Black Hawk. This fact we learned from a personal
interview in this city some twenty-five years ago with
Mr. Noble Hill, a son of David Hill, who spent part
of the summer of 1848 visiting his father at Bridport,
and remembered seeing the Holcomb mare running in
a field there. When Mr. Holcomb settled with Mr.
Hill, the latter charged him the amount of the advanced

173

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

service fee and also for the keep of the mare. Mr,
Holcomb was dissatisfied with the bill, and held a
grudge against Mr. Hill for several years on that
account. It has been stated by some that David Hill
was an uncle of Mr. Holcomb, but this is a mistake.
He was an uncle of Mr. Rowe, who at one time was
a partner of Mr. Holcomb in the ownership of Ethan
Allen. After Ethan Allen had become somewhat
famous on account of his elegant style, beautiful gait
and speed, Mr. Holcomb, who was fond of a practical
joke and wanted to annoy Mr. Hill, wrote a letter to
Mr. Riley Adams, who then owned a handsome Morgan
stallion called Flying Morgan, stating that he had
made all the reputation for David Hill's stallion Black
Hawk that he cared to, and added that Ethan Allen was
not by Black Hawk, but was by Flying Morgan. This
letter was written in the presence of several men in
Mr. Holcomb's hotel at Ticonderoga. Some of them
remonstrated with Mr. Holcomb for writing a letter
containing so false a statement, simply for the purpose
of annoying Mr. Hill, and he finally added a postscript,
leaving considerable space between that and the letter.
In the postscript, Holcomb stated that Ethan Allen
was not by Flying Morgan, that the latter never
smelled of Ethan Allen's dam, but that Ethan Allen
could beat Flying Morgan. The letter was sent to Mr.
Adams, and was soon exhibited by him to many persons
with the postscript torn off. Flying Morgan bore
some resemblance to Ethan Allen in color and con-
formation, and many believed the false story that he
was Ethan Allen's sire. Among those who argued
strenuously that such was the case was Allen W.

174

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

Thompson, a man who always insisted that Vermont
Black Hawk was by Paddy, instead of Sherman
Morgan, and who discovered (?) that the dam of
Vermont Black Hawk was a pacer and was called
"Old Narragansett."

Flying Morgan was owned at one time by a Dr.
Eussell. Mr. Adams, who afterwards owned Flying
Morgan, and Allen W. Thompson both claimed that,
while Flying Morgan was owned by Dr. Russell, the
latter drove the horse to Ticonderoga, and left him
at the stable of Joel W. Holcomb for a day or two^
while he went across the lake, and that while the doctor
was away Mr. Holcomb surreptitiously mated the dam
of Ethan Allen with Flying Morgan. Mr. Thompson
or some one else obtained an affidavit from a man
who was at one time in Mr. Holcomb's employ sub-
stantiating the statement. Mr. Holcomb finally re-
tracted the statement made in his letter to Mr. Adams,
acknowledged that Black Hawk was the sire of Ethan
Allen, and said that his reason for writing such a letter
was, that Mr. Hill charged him a "big bill on the
old mare" and he wrote the letter to plague him.
This did not change the minds of some, however, and
they still insisted that Ethan Allen was the same color
as Flying Morgan, and that Black Hawk was black,
hence Ethan Allen must have been got by Flying
Morgan. The stud book of Black Hawk was searched
and it was learned from it that Joel Holcomb's mare
was mated with Black Hawk July 9, 1848; also that
she was returned to Black Hawk June 28, 1849. As
she produced Ethan Allen in 1849, and mares are
usually returned on the ninth or tenth day after

175

THE AMERICA!^ TROTTER.

foaling, this proves that Ethan Allen was foaled June
-18th or 19th, 1849.

Mr. Adams and Mr. Thompson claimed that it was
in August, 1848, that Dr. Russell left Flying Morgan at
Joel W. Holcomb's stable in Tieonderoga, and notwith-
standing the facts shown by the stud book of Black
Hawk, continued to assert that Ethan Allen was by
Flying Morgan. It was known that Dr. Russell was a
very methodical man. His accounts were carefully
kept, and he also kept a memorandum book in which
the events of each and every day were chronicled.
Knowing this fact, W. H. Bliss, Esq., of Middlebury,
Vt, aided by a son of Dr. Russell, the latter being dead,
made a thorough search, a few years ago, for the
doctor's old books, and finally found them. The old
ledger of Dr. Russell shows that he bought an interest
in Flying Morgan in 1849, and that he took possession
of the horse in 1850. The doctor's old memorandum
books show that it was August 6 and 7, 1850, when
Flying Morgan was left at the stable of Joel W.
Holcomb, Tieonderoga, N. Y. Ethan Allen at that
time was about thirteen and one-half months old.
These books of Dr. Russell are still preserved at
Middlebury, Vt. They and the stud book of Vermont
Black Hawk so effectually disposed of the Flying
Morgan story that no attempt has been made to resur-
rect it since their discovery.

The reason for stating the above facts here is that
many articles were written several years ago in which
arguments were presented to try to prove that Flying
Morgan and not Black Hawk was the sire of Ethan
Allen. Some of these articles mav come to the notice

176

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

of young students of the breeding problem years hence,
who, not knowing all the facts, might be misled by them
and think that though Ethan Allen is given in the
Register as a son of Black Hawk, articles to the
contrary in regard to his paternity had not come to the
knowledge of the registrar.

When a colt, Ethan Allen showed that he was a
born trotter. Early in life he gave promise of great
speed, and Mr. Holcomb sold a half interest in him
to Orville S. Roe of Shoreham, Vt., a nephew of David
Hill, owner of Black Hawk. When four years old he
w^as matched against a trotter named Rose of Wash-
ington, and beat her in faster time than had ever then
been made by a trotter of that age. He did some stud
service in Vermont in early life, but was also used on
the track, and continued to improve in speed. On
October 28, 1858, he became the world's champion
trotting stallion, by taking a record of 2.28. His beat
record to harness was 2.25 1-2, made at Union Course,
N. Y., July 12, 1860. The performance which gave
him greatest notoriety, however, was his defeat of the
noted Dexter, the world's champion trotter, whose
record was then 2.19, which he afterwards lowered to
2.17 1-4. In hi^ match with Dexter, Ethan Allen was
hitched with running mate. The race occurred at the
Fashion Course, N. Y., June 21, 1867. The time of
the fastest heat was 2.15. The well known horseman,
Dunn Walton, informed us a few years ago that the
day following the above race, Dan Mace drove Ethan
Allen with a running mate a trial mile in 2.14, the last
half in 1.04.

177

THE AMERICA!^ TROTTER.

In 1862, Messrs. Holcomb and Roe sold Ethan Allen
to a Mr. Frank Baker. After keeping the horse awhile
Mr. Baker sold him to Dan Mace and Mr. Walton.
About 1866, Ethan Allen was bought by J. E. Maynard,
who kept a stable for several years in Bowdoin Square,
Boston, on the spot where the Bowdoin Square
Theatre now stands. Mr. Maynard sold the horse to
Eph. Simmons, but soon bought him back again, and
in the Fall of 1868 sold him to Wesley P. Balch, who
bought him for Col. H. S. Russell, proprietor of Home
Farm, Milton, and for several years the efficient and
popular Fire Commissioner of Boston.

In 1869 and 1870, Ethan Allen stood at Mystic Park,
in charge of J. J. Bowen, and was well patronized.
Mr. Bowen has stated to the writer that Ethan Allen
was the best gaited trotter and the best gentleman's
roadster that he ever sat behind. In the fall of 1870,
Col. Russell sold Ethan Allen to Col. Amasa Sprague
of Providence, R. I., for |7,500. Col. Sprague kept
the horse in Rhode Island for a time, but finally sent
him to the breeding farm at Lawrence, Kansas,
owned by Sprague and Akers, and the horse died there
September 10, 1876.

Ethan Allen is credited with six trotters that made
records in standard time, and it is a singular fact
that all of them were begotten before he was retired
from the turf. The fastest of his get was Billy Barr
(2.23 3-4), but his best campaigner was Hot Spur
(2.24), winner of twenty -seven races. The dam of
Hot Spur was by Hale's Green Mountain Morgan.
Ethan Allen is credited with twenty-two sons that
have sired standard speed, the most successful of which

178

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

was Daniel Lambert. Daughters of Ethan Allen are
credited with nineteen that made standard records, all
trotters. As a sire of beautiful, stylish, prompt, cheer-
ful roadsters Ethan Allen had no superior in his day.
Daniel Lambert. Daniel Lambert, the most noted
son of Ethan Allen as a sire, was bred by William H.
Cook, Ticonderoga, N. Y., and foaled in 1858. When
only a few days old he was bought by Uncle John
Porter of Ticonderoga, N. Y., to be delivered at
weaning time four months old for |300, if we remember
correctly. Mr. Porter named the colt Hippomones.
His dam was by old Abdallah, and his second dam by
Stockholm's American Star. The latter was by Duroc^
son of imported Diomed, and it is stated upon good
authority that his dam was inbred to imported
Messenger. Though strongly inbred to Messenger^
his size, conformation, style, road qualities and most
other characteristics were most emphatically Morgan.
He was a light chestnut in color with a white stripe
in his face and left hind foot and pastern white. We
saw him many times and remember him as a remarkably
handsome horse. When in his prime no horse could
be found that equalled him in beauty of conformation,
elegance of style, grace of carriage and poise, ease and
elasticity of gait, excellence of quality and fineness of
finish combined. He was of the Morgan pattern, stood
strong fifteen hands in height, and was a horse of
substance. He had a neat, bony head, large, expressive
eyes, set well apart, short, lively ears always carried
erect, a clean cut throttle, handsomely arched neck
of good length, well set upon strong oblique shoulders,
which gave him an upheaded, lofty appearance. His

179

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

back was of medium length, and very strong, ribs well
sprung from the spine, giving him a round barrel,
which was also deep, of good length and well ribbed
back to the hips. His loin was broad and well muscled,
coupling strong and smooth, hips long and smoothly
turned; croup rather straight, the whirlbone and tail
set high, quarters strongly muscled, hocks well lex
down, forearms long, broad and muscular, canons short,
bones of the leg of good size in proportion to weight of
body. His hind leg was fairly straight, but the lower
part was joined to the hock at something of an angle,
giving the leg a conformation like that found in many
speedy trotters. His pasterns were short and strong,
his feet well shaped and of the right size to harmonize
with his limbs and barrel. The Morgans were the
handsomest horses in the world, and Daniel Lambert in
his prime was the handsomest of the Morgan tribe. Few
horses have ever lived that possessed greater power of
stamping their likeness uniformly upon their offspring
and imparting to them the ability to perpetuate their
good qualities through succeeding generations, than
did this renowned son of Ethan Allen.

Daniel Lambert was a fast, natural trotter. He
showed so much speed as a three-year-old that his own-
er, Mr. Porter, sent the colt to the noted trainer, Dan
Mace, who handled him some and started him in a
three-year-old race at the Old Saugus track, October
22, 1861. Lady Anderson won the first heat in 2.49 1-2,
but Daniel Lambert took the next two in 2.43, 2.42.
After the race Dan Mace went into the stand and an-
nounced that he would match Daniel Lambert against
any three-year-old trotter in the world for $5,000 or

180

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

^10,000 a side. He was a very spirited, "high strung'*^
colt. It has been stated upon good authority that not
long after the above race, while Dan Mace was work-
ing him out one day, Daniel Lambert did something
that displeased Mace and he gave the colt a sharp^
stinging cut with the whip. This roused the old Ab-
dallah spirit in the colt, and, if we were correctly in-
formed, he ran two miles on the track before Mace
could stop him. That injudicious blow spoiled Daniel
Lambert for a track performer, and he was never raced
afterwards.

When Lambert was coming five years old Mr. Por-
ter sold him for P,000 through A. C. Harris, to R. S.
Denny. Mr. Denny spent a portion of the summer
months at Saratoga, N. Y., and had Daniel Lambert
taken there for a road horse, Mr. Harris informed the
writer that the son of Ethan Allen produced a marked
sensation at that fashionable resort, not only on ac-
count of his beauty and matchless style in harness, but
also for his remarkable speed at the trot. He was the
acknowledged king of the best roadsters in the coun-
try, that were owned and kept there by the wealthy
pleasure seekers gathered at Saratoga. Mr. Denny
finally sold Daniel Lambert to Benjamin Bates, pro-
prietor of the famous Bates farm, Watertown, Mass.,
and Cream Hill farm, Shoreham, Vt. The latter was
a dairy farm, stocked with choice Jersey cows and
managed by A. C. Harris, who had charge of Daniel
Lambert when the horse was at Saratoga. Mr. Bates
sent the horse, which had then been named Daniel
Lambert, to Mr. Harris at Cream Hill farm in the
spring or early summer of 1866, with instructions to

181

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

istand him for stock purposes. Lambert made twelve
seasons at Shoreham and received a very generous pat-
ronage. During those twelve seasons upwards of 1,040
mares were mated with him. After the death of Mr.
Bates in the fall of 1877, Daniel Lambert was sent to
the Bates farm, Watertown, Mass., where he stood for
three seasons in charge of that courteous horseman,
William Tourtelotte. In 1880 Gen. W. T. Withers,
proprietor of the world-renowned Fairlawn farm, Lex-
ington, Ky., and then one of the best-posted of all the
trotting horse breeders in America, visited Boston for
the purpose of inspecting Daniel Lambert and his get,
and was so well pleased with the horse that he ar-
ranged with a prominent business man of Boston to
buy him. The General believed Lambert just suited to
the mares at Fairlawn. Before the deal was complet-
ed, however, David Snow of this city bought the
horse, then coming twenty-three years old, for |3,500,
and sent him to his farm in Andover, Mass.

At the close of 1880 Daniel Lambert was credited
with eighteen trotters in the 2.30 list, a greater number
than stood to the credit of any other sire then living,
and of any other sire that had ever lived, except Rys-
dyk's Hambletonian, that was then credited with thir-
ty-three. Mr. Snow advanced the service fee of Dan-
iel Lambert to |200 the first season that he stood him
at Andover. Believing that the horse was the greatest
sire that ever lived, Mr. Snow advanced Lambert's fee
to 1500 the second season. In the fall of 1884 Mr.
Snow disposed of all his trotting stock at auction.
Daniel Lambert was shown to bridle at this sale, with
his groom running by his side, and was that day the

182

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

most elegant, aristocratic appearing and easiest mov-
ing horse that we ever saw shown that way. The bid-
ding on him was spirited and Mr. J. D. Ryder of Mid-
dlebury, Vt., who represented a syndicate of horse-
men, secured him for |1,550. The horse was taken to
Middlebury, Vt., and kept there until his death, which
occurred June 29, 1889. He was then upwards of
thirty-one years old, but was as sound and free from
blemishes as when foaled.

No other horse of his day did as much to improve
the beauty, style and road qualities of the horse stock
of New England as Daniel Lambert. As a family the
descendants of Daniel Lambert are very sensitive ani-
mals. They resent harsh treatment most emphatically.
Rough, loud-voiced persons who are accustomed to
yank their horses by the bit and use the whip freely had
better pass them by and confine themselves to animals
of a more lethargic temperament. Treated gently but
firmly, as all intelligent, high-spirited horses should be
treated, they are as docile and obedient as any reason-
able man can wish. Many of the get of Daniel Lam-
bert were handsome enough and stylish enough to win
blue ribbons in the show ring, and he perpetuated these
desirable qualities through a large proportion of his
sons and daughters. Many of his fastest trotters and
best roadsters were from dams of Black Hawk descent,
as were also his five most successful sons as sires.
Daniel Lambert is credited with thirty-eight that have
made records in standard time, all pure-gaited ti'otters.
He is also credited with thirty-six sons that have sired
one hundred and twenty -two trotters and thirty pacers
with standard records. As a brood mare sire he wa*

183

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

far superior to any other stallion that has ever stood
in New England, and, opportunities considered, will
rank high in this respect among the best that ever lived.
His daughters have already produced not less than
olie hundred and nine that have made records in stand-
ard time, and eighty-nine of them are trotters. The
fastest performers and best campaigners got by many
prominent trotting sires have been from daughters of
Daniel Lambert.

Ben Franklin (2.29). The most successful sons of
Daniel Lambert as sires were Ben Franklin (2.29),
Aristos (2.27 3-4), Star Ethan, Cobden (2.28 3-4), and
Abraham. Ben Franklin (2.29) is credited with thir-
ty-three trotters and three pacers that have made stand-
ard records. He is also credited with ten sons that
have sired 2.30 speed, and his daughters have produced
twenty-five with standard records, sixteen of which are
trotters. The dam of Ben Franklin was Black Kate
(dam of Addison Lambert, 2.27), by Addison, a son
of Vermont Black Hawk.

Aristos (2.27 3-4). Aristos (2.27 3-4) is credited
with twenty-five trotters and five pacers that have
taken standard records ; also with twelve sons that have
sired standard speed, the best of which is Gillig
(2.23 1-2) . Daughters of Aristos have produced twelve
trotters and seven pacers that have taken records in
standard time. The dam of Aristos was Fanny Jack-
son, that also produced Annie Page (2.271-4), M. Y.
D. Colt (2.28 3-4), and Miss Fanny Jackson (2.30).
Four of the sons of Fanny Jackson have sired stand-
ard performers and five of her daughters have produced
trotters that have taken standard records. Fanny

184

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

Jackson was by Stonewall Jackson, a son of William-
son's Black Hawk, by Vermont Black Hawk, and her
dam, Betty Condon, was by North American, a son
of the running-bred Sir Walter.

Star Ethan. Star Ethan is credited with nine
trotters and two pacers that have taken standard rec-
ords; also with one son that has sired and one daugh-
ter that has produced standard speed. The dam of
Star Ethan was Queen of Vermont, by the Churchill
Horse, a son of Vermont Black Hawk.

CoBDEN (2.28 3-4). Cobden (2.28 3-4) is credited
with two trotters and six pacers that have made stand-
ard records, including Helen M. (2.17), that has taken
standard records at both gaits. Helen M. was the first
trotter ever bred in New England to trot to a record of
2.30 or better as a two-year-old. She was foaled in 1887
and astonished the horsemen at the New England
Breeders' meeting. Mystic Park, September 24, 1889,
by winning the stake for New England bred two-year-
olds and taking a race record of 2.29 1-4. Four days
later, at the same meeting, she was started against time
to beat 2.29 1-4 and reduced her record to 2.28. Cob-
den bore a stronger resemblance to his famous sire, in
conformation, color and general characteristics, than
any of the other sons of Daniel Lambert that we ever
saw. He died young and left but few foals. He was
an example of very close inbreeding. His sire, Daniel
Lambert, was by Ethan Allen (2.25 1-2) and from Fan-
nie Cook by old Abdallah. His dam, Clara, w^as also
by Ethan Allen (2.25 1-2), and from the Dr. Nixon
Mare by old Abdallah. This Clara, the dam of Cob-
den, was also the dam of Clara Morris (2.291-4).

185

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Had Cobden lived it is not improbable that he would
have proved the most successful son of Daniel Lambert
as a sire.

Abraham. Abraham is credited with six trotters
and one pacer that have made standard records. None
of his sons sired a standard performer, but his daugh-
ters produced five trotters and two pacers that took
standard records, one of which was Monopole, trotting
record 2.231-4, and pacing 2.081-2. The dam of
Abraham was Polly Cook, by Vermont Black Hawk.
The Ethan Allen branch of the Vermont Black Hawk
family bids fair to become extinct within a few years.
Very few stallions of that family are now kept for ser-
vice, and those few are not receiving as much patro-
nage as their merits deserve.

Gen. Knox (2.311-2). Next to the Ethan Allen
branch of the Vermont Black Hawk family, the Gen.
Knox (2.31 1-2) branch has proved most successful in
producing and perpetuating speed. Gen. Knox was a
black horse with a star on the forehead and snip on
upper lip. His nose, flanks and stifles were brown.
He stood about 15.2 hands high and weighed about
ten hundred and fifty pounds. His conformation
was suggestive of power rather than elegance. He was
a good-gaited, level-headed trotter and fast for his day.
He was also a sound horse and an excellent roadster.
He was bred by David Heustis, Bridport, Vt., and
foaled in 1855. He was got by Vermont Hero, a son
of Sherman Black Hawk, by Vermont Black Hawk.
His dam was by Searcher, a son of Barney Henry, he
by Signal, a son of Sir Henry, by Sir Archy; second
dam a fast runner, that was claimed to be by a Morgan

186

THE MORGAN FAMILY,

horse, and from a mare by Post Boy. The latter was
by Sir Henry, son of Sir Archy; dam Garland, by
Duroc, son of imported Diomed; second dam Young
Miller's Damsel, by Bishop's Hambletonian, a son of
imported Messenger; and third dam the famous race-
winning runner Miller's Damsel, by imported Mes-
senger.

When young, Gen. Knox was named Slasher. He
was bought by D. A. Bennett, Bridport, Vt. Mr. Ben-
nett sold him when two years old to Messrs. Denny
and Bush, and they sold him when three years old to
Col. T. S. Lang, Vassalboro, Me. Mr. Lang took the
colt to Vassalboro and placed him in charge of Foster
S. Palmer, who developed his speed, raced him and
handled him in the stud during all the years that
the horse was kept in Maine. In September, 1864, after
upwards of one hundred mares had been mated with
him that season, and before the season had closed, Mr.
Palmer took Gen. Knox to the New England Fair at
Springfield, Mass., where he won the stallion race with
him in straight heats, time 2.31 1-2, 2.37, 2.34 1-2. The
evening following the race Col. Lang received several
offers for Gen. Knox. The highest was $30,000, but it
was declined. Mr. Palmer won several races with Gen.
Knox, and once drove him a half mile in 1.12.

During the first few seasons that he stood in Maine,
Gen. Knox received only a limited patronage, but after
his merits as a trotter and sire of speed were estab-
lished he did a very large stud service.

Gen. Knox was bought in the spring of 1871 by F. J.
Nodine of New York City, who was acting as agent for
the real purchaser, Henry N. Smith, Esq., proprietor of

187

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Fashion Farm, Trenton, N. J. It was Mr. Smith's in-
tention to race the horse. He was entered in a race
at Buffalo, N. Y., and was conditioned at Prospect
Park, where he trotted a mile in 2.25 1-2, and repeated
well within himself in 2.24. Shortly after this work-
out he was shipped to Buffalo and placed in a new
stall. The floor of the stall was slippery and Gen.
Knox wrenched a fore leg so severely by slipping in his
stall that he was unable to start in the race.

Gen. Knox stood for service the season of 1872 in
Westchester county, N. Y., and in 1873 was taken to
Fashion Stud Farm, N. J., the home of the stallion
Jay Gould (2.21 1-2), also home of the famous trotting
mares. Lady Thorn (2.181-4), Lucy (2.181-4), and
later of the renowned world's champion trotter, Gold-
smith Maid (2.14). The quality and reputation of
Maine horses were greatly improved through the in-
fluence of Gen. Knox, and the sales of his progeny put
a vast amount of money into the pockets of the breed-
ers there. Descendants of his sons and daughters are
still found in all parts of that State. They are excel-
lent family and all-purpose animals ; most of them can
show speed, and some are fast. The produce of mares
of Knox descent when by stallions that are descendants
of Rysdyk's Hambletonian make very desirable animals
for the speedway and race track.

Gen. Knox lived to be upwards of thirty -two years
old. He died at Fashion Stud Farm. Trenton, ]N. J.,
July 29, 1887. He is credited with fifteen that made
records from 2.18 1-4 to 2.30, all trotters. Lady Maud
(2.181-4), by him, was the first trotter to take so fast
a record as 2.22 1-4 as a five-vear-old. He is credited

188

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

with thirty-two sons that have sired eighty-two trot-
ters and fifteen pacers with standard records. His
daughters produced thirty-nine trotters and ten pacers
that made records in standard time.

Charles Cafprey. The most successful of Gen.
Knox's sons as perpetuators of speed were Gen. Wash-
ington and Charles Caffrey. The dam of Charles Caf-
frey was Rosalind (2.213-4) by Alexander's Abdallah,
and his second dam was the Burch mare (dam of Don-
ald, 2.27), by Parker's Brown Pilot. The latter was
by the pacer Old Copperbottom, and his dam was by
Cherokee, a thoroughbred son of Sir Archy. Charles
Caffrey is the sire of nineteen trotters and six pacers
with standard records. The fastest of these is Giles
Noyes (2.051-4). Only a few of the sons and daugh-
ters of Charles Caffrey seem to have possessed the abil-
ity to perpetuate speed. Four of his sons are credited
with 2.30 performers to date, and these four are credit-
ed with only nine performers all told in the 2.30 list,
five of which are pacers. Daughters of Charles Caffrey
are credited with four trotters and three pacers that
have made standard records.

Gen. Washington. Gen. Washington was the most
successful son of Gen. Knox as a speed perpetuator.
His dam was the famous Lady Thorn (2.181-4), the
fastest trotter got by Mambrino Chief. Gen. Wash
ington is the sire of fifteen with standard records, all
trotters. The fastest of them is Poem (2.11 1-2) . The
dam of Poem was Sonnet (dam of Prose, 2.16 1-4, etc.),
by Jay Gould (2.21 1-2). Second dam Martense Maid
(dam of Rumor, 2.20), by Jackson's Flying Cloud, a
son of Vermont Black Hawk. Poem is the sire of

189

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

eleven trotters and six pacers that have made stand-
ard records, the fastest of which to date is Lady
Pauline C. (2.151-4). None of Poem's sons have yet
sired a 2.30 performer, and his daughters have pro-
duced but one, the pacer In Time (2.171-2).

Stranger. The most noted son of Gen. Washing-
ton as a sire is Stranger. The dam of Stranger vras
the world-renowned Goldsmith Maid (2.14) by Alex-
ander's Abdallah. Stranger has no record, but he is
the sire of forty in the 2.30 list, all trotters. The
fastest of these is Colonel Kuser (2.11 1-4), whose dam
was Inez by Jay Gould (2.21 1-2) ; second dam, West-
ern Girl (2.27) by Richard's Bellfounder, a descendant
of the running-bred Blucher by Duroc. Stranger has
doubtless been favored with a better class of patrons
than any other stallion of the Vermont Black Hawk
family, and with the rich trotting and speed inheri-
tance which he received from the renowned Lady Thorn
(2.181-4), the dam of his sire, combined with that
from his own dam, the still more renowned Goldsmith
Maid (2.14), the most wonderful trotter that ever
lived, it is not surprising that he is proving more suc-
cessful as a sire and perpetuator than any other re-
mote descendant in the paternal line of Vermont Black
Hawk. One of the mares that was mated with Stran-
ger was Sapphire. Her sire was Jay Gould (2.21 1-2),
and her dam was Lucy (2.181-4), the fastest trotter
got by the old-time world's champion trotting stallion,
George M. Patchen (2.231-2). Two of the foals that
Sapphire produced by Stranger were the stallions
Nominee (2.171-4), and Nominator (2.171-4). Gold-
smith Maid (2.14), Lady Thorn (2.181-4) and Lucy

190

THE MORGAN FAMILY.

(2.18 1-4) were the three fastest trotters of their day
in the Hambletonian, Mambrino Chief and Clay trot-
ting families. Their blood is all combined with that
of Gen. Knox (2.31 1-2) in these stallions, Nominee-
(2.17 1-4) and Nominator (2.17 1-4) ; also in Syndic,,
whose dam, Sybil, was the sister of Sapphire.

Stranger is credited with ten sons that have sired
performers with standard records. They are Bursar
(2.171-2), foaled in 1891, sire of seven trotters; Mo-
loch (2.17), foaled in 1888, sire of six trotters and one
pacer; Spokane (2.15 3-4), foaled in 1888, sire of five
trotters; Boodle (2.121-2), foaled in 1886, sire of four
trotters and one pacer; Col. Kuser (2.11 1-4), foaled in
1890, sire of four trotters and two pacers; Syndic,
foaled in 1886, sire of three trotters; Nominee
(2.17 1-4), foaled in 1885, sire of one trotter and three
pacers; Nominator (2.171-4), foaled in 1887, sire of
one trotter and one pacer ; and Fashion, foaled in 1885,
sire of one pacer.

The second dams of Bursar (2.17 1-2) and Boodle
(2.12 1-2) are by Ethan Allen (2.25 1-2) and the sec-
ond dam of Spokane (2.15 3-4) by Gen. Knox (2.31 1-2).
The fastest performer sired by Stranger or any of his
sons is Evolute (2.101-2), a full sister of Evolutio
(2.13 3-4), got by Nominee (2.171-4). It would seem
that the only hope of perpetuating the Vermont Black
Hawk line is through some son of Stranger. But
should the Black Hawk family become absorbed or
swallowed up by the Hambletonian family, as seems
probable, the cross will always be recognized as a most
valuable one in a light harness pedigree where beauty,
style and superior road qualities are appreciated.

191

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

That this cross is not detrimental to speed and race-
winning qualities of the highest order has been decis-
ively demonstrated. It is found in the pedigree of
Dan Patch (1.56), that holds the world's champion
pacing record, and in that of Major Delmar (1.59 3-4),
next to Lou Dillon (1.58 1-2) , the fastest trotter yet pro-
duced. It occurs in the pedigrees of Fantasy (3)
(2.08 3-4); Grace Bond (3) (2.091-4) and Alta Ax-
worthy (3) (2.101-2), the three greatest three-year-
old trotters yet produced. It is also found in the ped-
igrees of Tiverton (2.04 1-2) and Sweet Marie (2.04 3-4),
two of the fastest, gamiest and stoutest race trotters
yet produced, as was proven by their performance in
that great Transylvanian five-heat race at Lexington,
Ky., October 6, 1904.

192

Chapter VII.
EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

Seely's American Star. — The Champion Family. — Scobey's
Champion. — Gooding's Champion. — Charley B., (2.25). —
The Benton Family. — Alexander's Norman. — Blackwood
74. — Swigert. — The Royal George Family. — Thomas Jeffer-
son (2.23).

In the preceding chapters an attempt has been made
to give a concise, impartial history of the origin and
progress of the four leading trotting families of this
country. Many families of minor importance have
sprung up in different parts of the country, flourished
for a time and then disappeared, or have been ab-
sorbed by one or the other of the four families de-
scribed. One that contributed largely to the speed and
racing qualities of the Hambletonian family was that
founded by Seely's American Star.

Seely's American Star. The origin and breeding of
this horse have been the subject of considerable con-
troversy, Mr. Joseph Battell believes that he was a
lineal descendant in the paternal line of Justin Mor-
gan, and has presented evidence to show that such was

193

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER,

the fact. We have the highest regard for Mr. BattelFs
integrity and know him to be sincere; but if we re-
member correctly, one of his chief witnesses was a very
estimable lady, who was quite a young girl at the time
that the horse believed by Mr. Battell to have sired
Seely^s American Star was in existence. The testi-
mony of such persons, when given from memory, must
be weighed carefully when it conflicts with the testi-
mony of those who are experts in the business of
tracing and unraveling pedigrees. In his first volume
of the American Trotting Register, Mr. John H. Wal-
lace registered this horse as follows : "American Star
(Seely's), ch. h., foaled 1837, got by Stockholm's
American Star; dam by Sir Henry, 2297; gd by im-
ported Messenger, and claimed to be thoroughbred.
Bred by Henry H. Berry, Esq., Pompton Plains, N. J.
Owned the latter years of his life by Edmond Seely,
Orange Co., N. Y. ; foaled 1861." Mr. Wallace was one
of the most expert trotting pedigree tracers that has
ever lived. On page 43 of the above-named work he
made the following statements concerning the above
horse :

American Star was got by Stockholm's American Star; dam
by Henry (Sir Henry), the competitor of (American) Eclipse,
grandam by imported Messenger. This is getting back to
the fountain very direct, but the pedigree is sustained by such
circumstances as to leave no doubt as to its correctness. He
was bred by Esquire Berry of Pompton Plains, N. J., and
owned several of the latter years of his life by Edmond
Seely, Orange County, N. Y. This horse's history and pedi-
gree have been wrapped in obscurity till, at the expense of a
good deal of time and money, I have traced him step by step
through his whole career. ♦ ♦ * His sire was Stockholm's
American Star, a son of Duroc. Duroc was a son of Diomed^

194

EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

and Henry (sire of the dam of Seely's American Star) was a
double grandson of Diomed. Their blood commingled kindly
with the blood of Messenger and produced some wonderful
race horses, and not a few capital trotters; but no person
ever saw a Henry or a Duroc trot without Messenger blood in
his veins. The Messengers could trot without the Diomeds,
but the Diomeds could not trot without the Messengers.
Hence American Star is indebted to his grandam, the daugh-
ter of Messenger, for the trotting action he possessed and
imparted to his progeny; and he is indebted to Duroc for the
tenderness of limb observable in so many of his descendants.

The volume from which the above is copied was en-
tered according to Act of Congress in 1871. Mr.
Wallace, as all who knew him personally or through
his writings are aware, was a man noted for strong
prejudices; so strong in fact that his better judgment
was sometimes warped thereby. Several years after
the above was published Mr. Wallace became so strong-
ly prejudiced against a thoroughbred or running cross
in a trotter that he undertook to eliminate or suppress
running crosses in several well known trotting pedi-
grees. On flimsy, third-hand, hearsay evidence, he
changed the sire of North American from the running
bred Sir Walter to a large pacing horse that was
used to haul a water cart. He also denied that Seely's
American Star was by Stockholm's American Star and
asserted that even if he were, nobody knew the breeding
of Stockholm's American Star. We believe Mr. Wal-
lace stated the truth in Volume 1 of the American
Trotting Register when he asserted that he had "at the
expense of a good deal of time and money, traced
Seely's American Star through his whole career and
learned that he was by Stockholm's American Star;

195

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

dam by Heury, son of Sir Archy, and second dam by
Imported Messenger.'' It is not probable that a man
of Mr. Wallace's natural ability and great experience
in tracing pedigrees would be deceived or misled in
regard to this important pedigree which cost him so
much time and money to investigate.

But little is known of Stockholm's American Star.
The most complete description of him that we have
ever seen was contained in a letter written to H. T.
Helm, Esq., author of American Roadsters and
Trotters, by Mr. Ambrose Stevens of Batavia, N. Y.,
and is as follows :

Now while my hand is in I will tell you something about
Stockholm's American Star. I saw him run and win his two-
mile race at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1830. He was one of
the grandest horses I ever saw; fine size, splendid dappled
chestnut, quite dark, and dappled beautifully; had a white
foot behind, a star and snip, arched neck, high withers (not
like old Duroc there and most of his get), had a neat head,
level rump, and was altogether one of the grandest horses I
ever saw. His trotting action was splendid and ne had to
be whipped to force him to gallop. Mr. Stockholm (his
owner) told me that his dam was by Mambrino, son of Mes-
senger, and his grandam was by Imported Messenger, and I
made a memorandum of it; and he agreed to consider my
proposition to sell me the horse, but the treaty came to
nothing. Stockholm represented the horse thoroughbred and
the horse showed it. He won a game race, and would in
this day be a trotter of the first class.

The above is very interesting, as it comes from a man
who was a good judge of horse stock and who owned
good horses. Being by such a sire as that, Seely's
American Star had a right to be a good gaited trotter
as well as fast runner.

196

EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

Seely's American Star was foaled in 1837. He was
chestnut in color, with a stripe in his face and two
white stockings behind. He is described by those who
knew him as a racy, blood-like appearing animal, with
a slim tail that was not burdened with a luxuriant
growth of hair. He was trained at first as a runner,
and gained quite a local reputation as a short distance
race winner. Later in life he was converted to the
trot, and was quite fast at that gait for that early
day. He sired a few trotters, the fastest of which by
the records was Widow Machree (2.29). There were
others by him that could show much more speed than
Widow Machree. One of them was a mare called
Peerless, owned by Kobert Bonner. Upwards of forty
years ago Peerless could and did trot a quarter of a
mile at a two-minute gait. The noted old time reins-
man, Hiram Woodruff, says of her in his Trotting
Horse of America, page 84 : "I drove Mr. Bonner's
gray mare. Peerless, a quarter in thirty seconds, and
it was to a wagon. ... It was on the Union
Course. Captain Moore timed her unknown to me or
anybody else. ... To make sure that there was
no mistake in the distance, he went and got his chain
and boy and measured the ground." Very few of the
fastest trotters of today could pull the kind of wagons
in use at that time a quarter in thirty seconds.

Seely's American Star was the sire of four trotters
that took records of 2.30 or better. Seven of his sons
sired standard performers. He was the most noted
brood mare sire of his day. His daughters produced
forty -eight trotters and one pacer with standard
records. They also produced not less than fifty-eight

197

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

stallions that have sired 2.30 speed, the most prominent
of which are Robert McGregor (2.171-2), sire of the
world's champion trotting stallion Oresceus (2.02 1-4,
etc.), Dictator, Aberdeen, Jay Gould (2.21 1-2), Sweep-
stakes, Masterlode, Strader's Hambletonian (also
known as Squire Talmage), Ajax and Arthurton.

The descendants of Seely's American Star were more
noted for courage of the win-or-die stamp than those
of any other trotting stallion, either before or since
his time. His daughters mated with Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian produced the fastest and best trotters of their
day, including the old-time world's champion. Dexter
(2.17 1-4). Dictator, a full brother of Dexter, got the
renowned double-gaited performer, Jay-Eye-See, the
first trotter to take so fast a record as 2.10. Eight
years after Jay-Eye-See trotted to a record of 2.10 he
made a pacing record of 2.06 1-4. A daughter of
Dictator produced the noted ex-champion trotter
Nancy Hanks (2.04). Director (2.17), a son of Dic-
tator, sired the world's champion four-year-old trotter
Directum (2.051-4). This family is now extinct, but
the influence that Seely's American Star exerted
through his daughters upon the Hambletonian family,
in the improvement of speed or increase of speed
ability and other valuable racing qualities, will last
as long as trotters are bred in America.

The Champion Family. Another trotting family
that was quite prominent at one time, but has become
nearly extinct, is that known as the Champion. This
family originated from the same source, in the paternal
line, as Abdallah, the sire of Rysdyk's Hambletonian,
founder of the renowned Hambletonian family. Mr.

198

EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

John Tredwell, who bred old Abdallah, had a pair of
matched mares that he used for his private driving.
They were named Amazonia and Sophonisba. In 1822
Mr. Tredwell mated these mares with Mambrino, a
thoroughbred son of imported Messenger. Both pro-
duced colt foals. That of Amazonia was old Abdallah.
Sophonisba^s colt was named Almack and was kept
for stock purposes. In 1842 a mare called Spirit was
mated with Almack. Spirit was by Engineer 2d, and
her dam was a daughter of the great four-mile race
winner American Eclipse. This Engineer 2d got the
renowned Lady Suffolk (2.291-2), the world's cham-
pion trotter in her day. The following year, 1843,
Spirit produced a chestnut colt with white ankles
behind and a white spot in the form of a diamond
on his nose or upper lip. When this colt was two
years old he was bought by Mr. William R. Grinnell
of New York State for |550. Mr. Grinnell named him
Champion, and he is now known as GrinnelPs Cham-
pion. He was a born trotter. It is a matter of
history that in September, when two years old past, he
was led a mile at the trot on Fashion course, Long
Island, in 3.05 1-2, a performance that had up to that
time never been equalled by a trotter of that age.
GrinnelPs Champion never got a 2.30 trotter, but he
was the founder of the family of trotters known as
Champion.

ScoBEY^s Champion. The most successful son of
GrinnelPs Champion as a sire was known as Scobey's
Champion and also as King^s Champion. He is regis-
tered as Champion 807. He was foaled in 1849. His
dam was by Red Bird, a son of Billy W. Duroc, by

199

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Duroc, son of imported Diomed. Scobey's Champion
got eight trotters that took records of 2.30 or better,
the fastest of which was Nettie Bur lew (2.24). Six of
his sons have sired standard performers and his
daughters produced eight trotters with records of 2.30
or better. His most successful sons as sires are
Charley B. (2.25) and Gooding's Champion.

GooDiNG^s Champion is registered as Champion 808,
and is credited with seventeen that have made standard
records, all trotters. He seemed to lack ability to
perpetuate speed, however, as only one of his sons is
found in the Great Table, and he is the sire of but one
standard performer. The dam of Gooding's Champion
was a fast trotter called Cynthia, whose sire was Bart-
lett's Turk, by Weddle's Turk, a son of Imported
Turk. His second dam was Fanny, by Scobey's Black
Prince; and his third dam by Rock Planter, a son of
Duroc, by imported Diomed.

Charley B. (2.25). The most successful sire in the
Champion family was Charley B. (2.25), a full brother
of the trotting mare Myrtle (2.251-2). He was by
Scobey's Champion and from the great brood mare
Old Jane. The breeding of Old Jane seems to be
somewhat in doubt. It has been claimed that she was
by Nimrod, a grandson of American Eclipse, and her
second dam by Dey's Messenger. The American
Trotting Register gives Old Jane's sire as Magnum
Bonum, but does not give Magnum Bonum's sire. It
is not improbable that Magnum Bonum was another
name, real or imaginary, for Nimrod. Charley B. was
not only a fast game trotter, but he was a winner of
the blue ribbon in the show ring against some very

200

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EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

handsome horses. His owner once offered to back him
with money to raise a heavier weight from a stone
quarry than could be raised by any imported Percheron
or Clydesdale in America. Charley B. does not seem
to have been very successful, however, as a speed
perpetuator, yet it may have been from lack of oppor-
tunity. He was foaled June 16, 1869, and died
November 24, 1896. He is credited with three sons
that have sired four trotters with records of 2.30 or
better and with ten daughters that have produced six
trotters and four pacers that have made standard
records.

Some of the Champions could show wonderful bursts
of speed at the trot. The old-time trainer Hiram
Woodruff speaks of the "Auburn Horse" in the Trotting
Horse of America as even faster for a brush than
Peerless, which he drove a quarter in 30 seconds to
wagon. The Auburn Horse's sire was Champion, Jr.,
a son of GrinnelPs Champion. Many of the Champions
possessed such a highly nervous temperament that
care was necessary in handling them. They were apt
to contract the habit of pulling on the bit so strongly
as to be unpleasant drivers. The family is now prac-
tically extinct, as no direct descendant of Champion
in the paternal line is breeding on.

The Benton Family. The Benton family is another
that possessed wonderful speed, and at one time
seemed in a fair way to make a strong bid for cham-
pionship honors, but has been absorbed by the Ham-
bletonian family. The founder of this family was Gen.
Benton, a horse owned for several years at the
renowned Palo Alto breeding establishment. He was

201

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

bred by Gen. Alfred Benton, Jefferson county, N. Y.,
and foaled in 1868. He was bought by Gov. Stanford,
proprietor of Palo Alto, in 1877, for $25,000, just twice
the sum that he had paid for Electioneer in 1875. At
the time of his purchase it was thought by what he
had shown that Gen. Benton possessed as much nat-
ural speed at the trot as any stallion then living.
With but little handling he had shown a mile in 2.17,
if we remember correctly, and quarters at a much
faster clip on a half-mile track in New York State.

The breeding of Gen. Benton, as given by Gov.
Stanford in the Palo Alto catalogue and also in the
American Trotting Register, is as follows: Sired by
Jim Scott; dam Lady Benton, by Gray's Hambleton-
ian; second dam by Partridge's Blucher, son of the
thoroughbred Blucher by Duroc; third dam by Bush's
Messenger, thoroughbred son of imported Messenger.
Jim Scott, the sire of Gen. Benton, was by Rich's
Hambletonian, son of Spaulding's Abdallah, and he
by old Abdallah, the son of Mambrino by imported
Messenger that got Rysdyk's Hambletonian. The dam
of Rich's Hambletonian was by imported Trustee, and
his second dam was by old Abdallah, making
him quite closely inbred to that famous son
of Mambrino. The dam of Jim Scott, sire of
Gen. Benton, was by Stubtail, a son of Moody's
Blucher, and he by Hungerford's Blucher, son of the
thoroughbred Blucher by Duroc. The second dam of
Jim Scott was by Greenbush Hambletonian, a son of
Mambrino by imported Messenger. The dam of
Spaulding's Abdallah was by Star Gazer, a son of
Engineer by imported Messenger, and his second dam

202

EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

a Canadian. Gray's Hambletonian, sire of the dam
of Gen. Benton, was by Bloomer's Hambletonian, a son
of Andrus' Hambletonian, and he by Judson's Ham-
bletonian, a son of the thoroughbred Bishop'<j
Hambletonian, by imported Messenger. The dam of
Gray's Hambletonian, sire of Bloomer's Hambletonian,
was also by Judson's Hambletonian, mentioned above.
Blucher was by Duroc, son of imported Diomed. His
dam was Young Miller's Damsel by Bishop's Hamble-
tonian, and his second dam was the famous race mare
Miller's Damsel, by imported Messenger, that, mated
with Duroc, produced the successful four-mile race
horse, American Eclipse.

Gen. Benton was probably as strongly bred in Mes-
senger lines as any horse of his day. His pedigree
shows no less than thirteen known crosses of imported
Messenger. The only unknown element in his pedigree
is the Canadian mare, the second dam of Spaulding's
Abdallah, and the dam of Wells' Magnum Bonum.
The latter got the dam of Judson's Hambletonian, and
was a son of imported Magnum Bonum. Gen. Benton
was raced a little in New York State. He won a race
at Watertown, N. Y., September 18, 1874, but no time
was given. He also won two races in 1875, one at
Ogdensburg, N. Y., in which he took a record of 2.37 1-2,
and another at Toronto, Out., the fastest heat of which
he won in 2.38 1-4.

Gov. Stanford evidently believed, at first, that Gen.
Benton would prove a better sire than Electioneer, for
upon his arrival at Palo Alto the son of Jim Scott
was placed at the head of the stud in the trotting
department. Two years later, 1880, Fred Crocker,

203

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

by Electioneer, lowered the world's two-year-old cham-
pion trotting record to 2.25 1-4, and after that Gen.
Benton had to take a back seat. He died at Palo
Alto in November, 1888.

Gen. Benton is credited with nineteen trotters and
one pacer that made records in standard time. The
fastest of these is The Seer (2.15 3-4). The next fast-
est was Sally Benton, that lowered the world's
champion four-year-old trotting record to 2.17 3-4 in
1884. Gen. Benton is credited with seventeen sons that
have sired thirty-three trotters and three pacers with
standard records. The most successful of his sons
as sires are Daly (2.221-2) and The Seer (2.153-4).
The former is credited with eight trotters and two
pacers that are standard performers, and the latter
with five trotters. Gen. Benton is also credited with
thirty-seven daughters that have produced fifty-eight
trotters and eight pacers with standard records.
Among them are Lena N. (2.051-4), Sunol (2.081-4)
and Surpol (2.10). Gov. Benton (2.221-2), sire of
Benton M. (2.10) and others, was also from a daughter
of Gen. Benton, and the sire of Gov. Benton was Maj.
Benton, a full brother of Gen. Benton. The latter, as
will be observed above, was much more successful as
a sire of producing dams than of producing stallions.
The family founded by Gen. Benton has become nearly
extinct. The cause may have been lack of opportu-
nities of his sons. It certainly was not for lack of the
blood of that most famous of all progenitors of trot-
ting instincts of his day, imported Messenger.

Alexander's Norman. Another family that was
quite prominent twenty-five or thirty years ago, but

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EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

is now perpetuating speed only through the female
line, is that founded by Alexander's Norman, registered
as Norman 25. This horse was owned for some time
at Woodburn Farm. He traced directly through his
sire, the Morse Horse, to an imported French stallion,
known both as European and the McNitt Horse, that
was quite a fast trotter himself, though not known to
have any trotting inheritance. The dam of the Morse
Horse was by Harris' Hambletonian, son of Bishop's
Hambletonian, a running bred son of imported Mes-
senger. The dam of Alexander's Norman was a de-
scendant of imported Magnum Bonum, a thoroughbred
horse that was quite strongly inbred to the renowned
Godolphin Arabian. Alexander's Norman was evi-
dently more successful as a sire of extreme speed than
of uniform standard speed. He is credited with but
two in the standard list, viz.. May Queen (2.20) and
Lula (2.15), neither of which derived any trotting in-
heritance from their dams.

Blackwood 74. Alexander's Norman is credited
with four sons that sired fifty-seven trotters and three
pacers that made standard records. The most suc-
cessful of these were Blackwood 74 and Swigert 650.
Blackwood was considered a trotting wonder in early
life. He took a record of 2.31 as a three-year-old in
1869, then the world's champion three-year-old trotting
record, and was sold as a five-year-old for $30,000, if
report was correct, to Mr. Harrison Durkee of Flush-
ing, Long Island, N. Y. He is credited with nine that
made standard records, all trotters, the fastest of which
was Proteine (2.18). The number of his sons which
sired standard performers is thirteen and the total

205

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

number credited to them is seventeen trotters and
seven pacers, twenty-four in all, an average of less
than two standard performers each. Blackwood's
daughters were much more successful as producers
than his sons, as thirty-one of them produced thirty-
five trotters and ten pacers that made standard rec-
ords. No stallion that we can recall, which is a direct
descendant of Blackwood in the paternal line, is now
perpetuating standard speed. Blackwood was foaled
in 1866 and died in 1891.

SwiGERT. The dam of Swigert was Blandina by
Mambrino Chief, and his second dam was the Burch
mare by Old Copperbottom. The latter was by Brutus,
whose sire was the original Copperbottom from
Canada, and whose dam was by Robin Grey, a running
bred son of imported Royalist. The dam of Brown
Pilot was by Cherokee, a thoroughbred son of Sir
Archy. Swigert was foaled at Woodburn Farm in
1866, and was sold as a yearling to Richard Richards
of Racine, Wis. He was never raced, but was handled
for speed in his ten and eleven-year-old form. At the
Wisconsin State Fair in 1877, when eleven years old,
Swigert trotted an exhibition mile in 2.30 and a half
in 1.13. Swigert is credited with forty-six trotters
and two pacers that made standard records. The
fastest of these was Brilliant, that took a record of
2.17 1-4 against time. Swigert's most successful cam-
paigner was Moody, race record (2.181-2), got when
Swigert was seven years old, and before his speed was
developed. Swigert was not much more successful as
a perpetuator of uniform standard speed than Black-
wood. He is credited with thirtv-nine sons that sired

206

EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

a total of ninety-four standard performers, sixty-five
of which were trotters. He is also credited with
thirty-five daughters that have produced thirty-two
trotters and eleven pacers which have made standard
records. Swigert has ceased to perpetuate standard
speed through the male line.

Daughters of Alexander's Norman were more suc-
cessful as speed perpetuators than his sons. May
Queen (2.20), mated with Electioneer, produced May
King (2.20), sire of the popular stallion Bingen
(2.061-4); Lula (2.15), mated with George Wlkes
(2.22), produced a daughter, that mated with Election-
eer, produced Advertiser (2.151-4), a fast trotter and
quite a successful sire of speed. One of his get was Ad-
bell, that holds the world's champion record for yearling
trotters, 2.23. This family has become absorbed by
and assimilated with the Hambletonian family, but it
is a valuable factor in a trotting pedigree. It is sure
to breed on through May King (2.20) and Advertiser
(2.151-4).

The Royal George Family. Thirty years ago the
Royal George family gave promise of becoming quite
prominent. The founder of this family was Royal
George, a son of Warrior, also known as Black
Warrior. The author of the American Trotting
Register gives the sire of Warrior as Tippoo, and that
of the latter as a Narragansett pacer. Some fifteen
or twenty years ago we attempted to investigate the
pedigree of this horse, Warrior, the sire of Royal
George. Among the communications that were re-
ceived in relation to the matter was one from Amos
Barnes, who lived not far from London, Ontario, and

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THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

who owned Warrior for several years. Mr. Barnes
bought Warrior from a Mr. Cushman, and he bought
him when eight or nine years old from a townsman
that bred and raised the horse. This man said that
Warrior was got by a thoroughbred horse owned by an
officer in the English Army, who brought him from
England to Canada, and that this thoroughbred, the
sire of Warrior, was from a family of horses called
Warrior. The officer took this horse to Long Island
and sold him. Mr. Barnes says that the dam of War-
rior was described as a fine brown mare of the Tippoo
breed, and that this was where the Tippoo cross came
into the pedigree. The dam of Royal George came
from the vicinity of Middlebury, Vt., and was said to
be by Harris' Hambletonian.

F. A. Ashbaugh, Esq., of Hamilton, Canada, stated
in a letter dated November 20, 1887, that "Royal George
must have got a good deal of hot blood in his veins,
for he was famous as a quarter-mile runner, and was
the champion of Canada for three miles mixed, viz.,
one milk walk, one mile trot, and one mile run." Mr.
Ashbaugh adds that Royal George must have been "of
good running stock, as he was the sire of Palermo,
winner of the Queen's Plate, then the most coveted
prize in Canada for the gallopers." The above seems
to be quite conclusive evidence that the sire of Warrior
was not a Narragansett pacer.

Royal George is credited with one trotter that made
a standard record. Lady Byron (2.28), and she was
a successful race mare. Five of the sons of Royal
George were sires of standard speed. Among the best
known of these were Chandler J. Wells, Field's Royal

208

EXTINCT TROTTING FAMILIES.

George and Toronto Chief. Some of the mares which
C. J. Hamlin used for the purpose of founding the
noted Village Farm breeding establishment were
descendants of Chandler J. Wells. The best of the get
of Field's Royal George was the stallion Byron
(2.251-2), the sire of Ottawa Chief (2.25).

Thomas Jefferson (2.23). The most successful son
of old Royal George as a sire and perpetuator of speed
was Toronto Chief (2.31), and the best of Toronto
Chief's get was the handsome game trotting stallion
Thomas Jefferson (2.23), bred and owned by William
B. Smith, of Hartford, Conn. During his racing
career, Thomas Jefferson beat some of the best
trotters of his day, including George Wilkes
(2.22), Mambrino Gift (2.20) and Smuggler
(2.1514). He won a $10,000 purse at Buffalo,
N. Y., in 1874, and also won the $10,000 Stallion
race at Mystic Park in 1875. He won in all
thirty-one races and thirty-nine heats in 2.30 or better.
He was the "bright particular star'' in the Royal
George family both as a trotter and sire of trotters.
He is credited with eighteen trotters and one pacer
that made records in standard time. His sons, how-
ever, made a very poor showing as sires. Only two of
them were sires of standard speed, and those two got
but three standard performers all told. His daughters
have produced nine trotters and six pacers that made
standard records.

These are only a few of the trotting families that
have become practically extinct or have ceased to per-
petuate speed directly through the male line. Some of
the others are the Winthrop Morrill, the Eaton, the

209

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Drew, the Brandy Wine, and the Rising Sun, all of
which have flourished in Maine in years past; also the
Harris Hambletonian, and the Morrill of Vermont;
the Columbus, the St. Clair and many others.

It looks now as though the Hambletonian family
may swallow up all the others and finally that the
most powerful and most prolific speed producing
branches of that family may exterminate all the others.
The branches between which the great battle will finally
be fought, judging from present appearances, are those
which sprang from George Wilkes, Electioneer, Alexan-
der's Abdallah, Dictator, Harold and Strathmore. The
chances now seem to favor the Wilkes branch as the
final victor. By absorbing and assimilating the many
extinct trotting families the Hambletonian family has
been greatly improved in conformation, style, road
qualities, speed, courage and endurance.

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Chapter VIII.
TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

Pilot.— Pilot, Jr.— Bayard, (2.31 3-4).— Tattler (2.26).— Daugh-
ters of Pilot, Jr.— Nutwood (2.18 3-4).— Midnight.— Water-
witch.— Tackey.— Wilson's Blue Bull.— Whitehall.— Rhode
Island. — Gov. Sprague (2.201-2). — Blanco. — Tom Rolfe
(2.33 1-2). — Young Rolfe. — Pocahontas Boy. — Pocahontas
Sam.

Several trotting families of greater or less note have
been founded by pacers or sons of pacers. Most of
these families, however, have been of short duration.
They evidently lacked the ability to perpetuate trotting
speed through succeeding generations in the paternal
line, and have become extinct as families. Such were
the Copperbottom, the Red Buck, the Davy Crockett^
the Drennon, the Hiatoga, the Corbeau, the Columbus,
the St. Clair and some other minor families. The only
families of note that were of pacing origin, which are
now perpetuating in the male line, are the Pilot, Jr.,
and Blue Bull. A study of the Great Table in the Year
Book for the past ten years must convince every
unprejudiced horseman that these, too, will soon become
extinct.

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THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Pilot. The founder of the Pilot, Jr. family was a
grey horse, foaled in 1844, whose sire was a fast and
powerful pacer, known as Pilot or old pacing Pilot.
He was a black horse about fifteen hands high and of
Canadian origin, became the property of a pedlar and
was taken as far south as New Orleans, from there
to Kentucky, where he performed stud service for
some time. He was a resolute horse and pulled very
strongly on the bit. It has been stated upon good
authority that he paced a mile under saddle in 2.26.

PiLOT^ Jr. Several of Pilot^s sons were kept for
stock purposes, the most noted of which as a sire of
trotters was Pilot, Jr. The latter, a good-gaited
trotter, showed no inclination to pace, and could trot
a mile in about 2.35 to harness, which but few stallions
of his day could do. The dam of Pilot, Jr., was known
as Nancy Pope. Her breeding was the subject of con-
siderable controversy several years ago, as some of
our readers doubtless remember, and Mr. Wallace
finally persuaded some of the Board of Censors to
believe that her sire was a large bay cart horse of
unknown breeding. Mr. Wm. Pope, the breeder of
Nancy Pope, so far as we have been able to learn,
enjoyed a good reputation for veracity. No one who
knew him has ever gone on record as accusing him
of dishonesty or untruthfulness. He always claimed
while living that Nancy Pope was by a horse called
Havoc, owned by Mr. Peter Funk. The statement of
the breeder of an animal is the strongest evidence that
can be presented of that animaPs paternity. The fact
that Nancy Pope was by a running-bred horse called
Havoc was never questioned until Mr. J. H. Wallace

212

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

had become thoroughly imbued with the idea that
trotting speed could not come from an animal whose
sire or dam was from thoroughbred stock.

The pedigree of Nancy Pope as it now appears in
Wallace's American Trotting Register, rests solely
upon the statements of Mr. Edmund Pearce, who was
a mere youth at the time that Mr. Peter Funk owned
the stallion Havoc, by Sir Charles. The pedigree of
Nancy Pope was not assailed and investigated by Mr.
Wallace until after the death of Mr. Pope, her breeder,
and Mr. Funk, the owner of her sire. When Mr. Wal-
lace registered Pilot, Jr., in Vol. 1 of the American
Trotting Register, he gave his pedigree as follows:
"Got by old Pilot, a Canadian pacer; dam Nancy Pope
by Havoc 1118 ; second dam by Nancy Taylor by Alfred,
53." Mr. Wallace evidently did not know at that time
that there were two stallions called Havoc that were
sired by Sir Charles, but took it for granted that the
Havoc referred to must be the one registered by him in
his thoroughbred Stud Book under No. 1,118.

Mr. Wallace learned that Nancy Pope, the dam of
Pilot, Jr., was foaled not later than 1825. He was
Informed by Attorney General Speed that Nancy
Taylor, the dam of Nancy Pope, became the property
of his father in 1824. Attorney General Speed fixed
upon this date, 1824, from memory, but it was after-
wards discovered that he had made a mistake of nine
years, and that it was not till 1833 that Nancy Taylor
became the property of his father. Mr. Wallace found
upon referring to the registration of Havoc 1,118 that
this son of Sir Charles was not foaled until 1826,
which proved conclusively that as Nancy Pope wpr

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THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

foaled as early as 1825, she could not possibly be by
Havoc 1,118. He soon learned, however, that Havoc
1,118 had never been claimed as the sire of Nancy Pope,
but that her sire was the Havoc by Sir Charles, which
was owned by Mr. Peter Funk. Continuing his investi-
gations Mr. Wallace learned that Funk's Havoc, by
Sir Charles, died about 1827 or 1828. He then found
Mr. Edmund Pearce, a man of unquestioned veracity,
who when a boy lived in the neighborhood of Mr. Funk.
Some fifty years had elapsed between the foaling of
Nancy Pope and the time that Mr. Pearce made his
statements in regard to Havoc, and he relied solely
upon his memory in the matter. He stated that Nancy
Pope was not foaled until 1831 or 1832, and was got by
a large bay cart horse called Havoc, that was owned
by Mr. Funk who owned the Havoc that died about
1828 and was got by Sir Charles, a son of Sir Archy.
All that Mr. Pearce claimed to know about the matter
was that he heard Mr. Frye, who was Mr. Pope's
overseer, say that Nancy Pope was got by a fine draught
horse that stood over on the Shelby vi lie Pike, about
four miles from Mr. Pope's residence. Mr. Pearce
also stated positively that Mr. Funk did have a hay
horse when he (Pearce) was a boy and he was said to
be a blood horse, but he knew he was not the sire of
Nancy Pope.

Now, as already remarked, something like fifty
years had elapsed between the time that Nancy Pope
was foaled, and that when Mr. Pearce made the above
statement. He relied solely upon his memory. The
matter was one which could not have been of the
slightest interest to him at the time it occurred, and

214

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

yet he does not hesitate to state positively that Naney
Pope was not foaled until 1831 or 1832. It was a very
remarkable assertion, and it is not surprising that
though an upright man, who believed he was correct,
he made a mistake in the date as other honest men have
done before. That such was the case has been proven
beyond question, and that Nancy Pope was foaled as
early as 1825 there is not a shadow of doubt.

Mrs. Funk, widow of the man who owned Havoc,
and by events which occurred about the time that the
horse died, fixes the date of Havoc's death as 1827.
She stated that Havoc was a chestnut in color. John
Funk, a son of the owner of Havoc, remembered the
horse well. He was as old as Mr. Pearce, and a more
competent witness because his opportunity of knowing
the facts were superior to those of Mr. Pearce. In
a letter to J. H. Wallace, this John Funk describes
the horse as follows: "Havoc was undoubtedly a
thoroughbred, on one side closely descended from
Diomed, and on the other side Buzzard. My father
did not breed him, but purchased him." Mr. John
Funk also stated that Havoc was a chestnut in color.
This is the horse that Mr. Wallace's witness, Edmond
Pearce, who probably never saw him in his life, de-
scribed as a hay draught horse, for Mr. Funk never
owned but one stallion called Havoc. Mr. Pearce
stated from memory that Mr. Frye, Mr. Pope's over-
seer, said the horse stood ahout four miles from Mr.
Pope's place at Louisville. The actual distance was
eight miles. The matter of distance was of very small
importance, but it shows that the memory of Mr.

215

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Pearce was so much at fault as to cast doubt on all
his other statements.

There was another man whose opportunities for
knowing and remembering the facts in regard to this
matter were better than those of Mr. Pearce. This
was Mr. Charles Anderson, who was a little older than
Mr. Pearce, and who at the time of Havoc, lived within
one and one-half miles of Mr. Funk. Mr. Anderson
was much more intimate with the Funk family and
Mr. Funk's horses than was Mr. Pearce. The contro-
versy in regard to the breeding of Nancy Pope and
the statements in regard to her sire, Funk's Havoc,
were brought to the notice of Mr. Anderson, and he
was urged by parties who were anxious to know the
truth, to state what he knew of the matter. This he
did in a letter to Mr. Wallace. The letter was pub-
lished in Wallace's Monthly, but not till after it had
been decided upon the strength of Mr. Pearce's state-
ments that the sire of Nancy Pope, dam of Pilot, Jr.,
was a large bay cart horse. A part of Mr. Anderson's
letter was as follows:

As far as I am concerned, the reminiscences of my friends,
Speed, Pearce and Gray, as well as your "pet theory" of
breeding, must alike go down before my confidence in the
simple honesty of Major Funk in these transactions. This is
my main motive to this reply; to respond to a call from my
especial friend, Andrew Steele, and to correct the misunder-
standings of my former and forgotten statements, are my
lesser purposes. 1 know very little of this controversy. As
it seems to me, it is only the accidental status of your present
discussion which gives the least significance or interest to
my knowledge.

Our neighbor, Major Funk, one and one-half miles off, in or
about the year 1822, became infected with a violent passion. If

216

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

not mania, for racing and for breeding race horses. He was
alone in his taste or enterprise, of all the citizens of Jefferson
Comity of that time. He bought some stock, laid out a race
track, built stables, etc., and gathered such a crowd of stal-
lions, mares, keepers, trainers, riders and other attendant
persons and things, that his new enterprise became, with
different minds of the neighborhood, a cause of surprise, re-
gret and derision. I do not know or believe that any other
man in the county had a thoroughbred of either sex. I am
sure Mr. Funk then had (as far as he knew) no other sort for
breeding. These appear to me to be important items in this
question as it stands.

Amongst these stallions in training, or standing, there were
Stockholder, Archer (also by Sir Archy), Sea Serpent, by
Shylock (I believe). Conqueror, Whip Tiger, with other less
distinguished juveniles, and at a somewhat later date per-
haps. Havoc, the horse in dispute. I could, if I were not "to
inquire too curiously," give you also the names of sundry
mares, fillies and colts then assembled there.

I remember Havoc very distinctly, more so than if I had
seen him last year, rie was not a bay, but a chestnut (or
"sorrel" as the color was then called), nor was he as dark
or dull colored as Wagner was, but a bright yellowish sorrel.
As to size, he was of the medium size and shape of thorough-
breds. I think about of such proportions as Sir Archy or Sir
Charles may have been, guessing by their pictures in the
Turf Register.

There never was any large bay horse called Havoc owned
by Peter Punk. Be assured of this fact. On this point I
must stand up for my own superiority "of opportunities" to
your other "Beargrass boys." Major Funk's race course was
entirely out of their beat. The Speed boys were good, and
did not habituate such places. And although Ned Pearce and
John Gray (like the writer) were certainly "fast" enough for
any deviltry of that sort, yet I have no idea that either of
them ever saw Stockholder, or Havoc (any Havoc) in their
lives. What then could either of them know of his size or
color?

217

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

He was reputed to be by Sir Charles. As I have almost
ever since kept my knowledge of pedigrees refreshed by
reading in The American Turf Register, etc., I am now imable
to say whether any part of his remaining pedigree (by Sir
Alfred Virgo, by imported Teazle, Castianira, etc.), to be a
matter of memory, derived from the reputation of the neigh-
borhood, or from subsequent studies. But I think the reputed
pedigree then was Havoc, by Sir Charles; dam, by Sir Alfred.
I am quite sure, though, it was by Havoc, by Sir Charles.
Remembering now that I never in my life heard one word in
disparagement of the integrity or honor of Major Funk
(unless the deplorings of the "unco righteous" of this race
horse business may be construed into such impeachment), do
you not see in what a light your present proposition must
appear?

We are required to believe that such a man would bring
from "a trip to Philadelphia" a farm horse of imknown breed-
ing, "a large bay horse, ' and palm him off as a thoroughbred
"Havoc, by Sir Charles, Sir Alfred," and in a county, too, in
which the forged pedigree (if believed) would not have added
one cent to his custom. If, therefore, Mr. Pope did send
Nancy Taylor to Mr. Funk's Havoc (as witnesses affirm) he
must certainly have sent her to the chestnut horse Havoc, by
Sir Charles, — Sir Alfred. Nor will it be pretended that, at
that time, when no portion of this interest (which now lies
in the pedigree of Pilot, Jr.) had attached to this simple
transaction, any of these neighbors' boys were likely to have
known any facts to outweigh these truths and probabilities.

Of the actual breeding of Nancy Pope (the pedigree In
question), I know nothing. All I do know or surmise of its
connection is as follows: My eldest living brother, Larz
Anderson, then, through my father's death, "in loco parentis,"
to me, in June, 1828, married Miss Anne Pope, the only
daughter of Mr. Wm. Pope, who owned these mares. Some
time previously I had become intimate with his boys, though
I had known the family all my life. The family had been
close friends since the period when Louisville was St. Nelson.
And, from the time of that marriage, as long as his family

218

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

occupied the farm, I was as much "at home" there as one
of his own children almost.

Now at the period of the wedding (certainly a marked oc-
casion and date to me), I well remember a grey filly there,
out of Nancy Taylor. She was two or three years old. She was
a dark but bluish grey, i doubt if I am as good a judge of
a horse as my friend and kinsman, Edmund Pearce. Still,
although I remember her as larger than her dam, I could
never consider her as "coarse" in the sense of a likeness
to "large farm horses" nor as being out of the proportions of
thoroughbreds. I certainly did not and do not suppose her
to have been thoroughbred. (In your advertisement of Al-
mont she is "said to be strictly thoroughbred"). I only mean
to say that I have seen a great many true thoroughbreds, es-
pecially in England, which were both larger and coarser than
this grey filly of 1828.

But, "Mr. Pearce is positive in his assertion that about 1831
Mr. Pope bred Nancy Taylor to a farm stallion, and the
produce was a filly larger and coarser than her dam, that
afterwards was called Nancy Pope, and became the dam of
Pilot, Jr." Now, if there be no mistake here, the question is
settled without appeal. But is there no mistake? I repeat
that I am sure Mr. Pope had a grey filly out of Nancy Taylor
in 1828, which he presented to my brother Larz, and that he
sent her for awhile to pasture at Soldier's Retreat, where
I was living (the only son) with my mother. And, further-
more, I cannot recollect any other grey filly out of Nancy
Taylor or any other dam on that place, until it was rented out
to Judge Mclnley of Alabama, and Mr. Pope moved to Louis-
ville. Does anyone remember a second? What does Mr.
Robert Pope, the only remaining son of Mr. Pope (and of
1814, too), remember of there being two grey fillies? or Mr.
Speed, Pearce or Gray (who, by the way, was as often on the
farm as E. Pearce)?

My own recollection is, of course, not conclusive. But, I
submit, is it not of a nature as weighty as Mr. Pearce's recol-
lection of the date X1831) when a neighbor sent a mare to a
common stallion, an event which did not contain the slightest

219

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

import or interest for almost a quarter of a century? The
case of Attorney-General Speed is an example of the native
unreliability of such testimony. He "recollected" the year
18.24-5 as the time when "Mr. Pope presented Nancy Taylor
to his father." It turns out to have been in 1833, nine years
later. (I Have reasons to doubt whether it was not still a
year later, 1834).

Now, this affair of the ownership of a pet mare, by Judge
Speed, must have been one of far more interest to one of his
sons than that of the time when a neighbor sent a mare to a
common farm horse could possibly be to the other. And yet
the attorney-general of the United States (and, let me add,
one of the ablest lawyers and best men in the State) forgets
the date of that transaction by a gap or nine or ten years.
I insist, then, that it is not only no impeachment of Mr.
Pearce, not the least, to express a doubt of his date, but that
his recollection (if there were no counter memories) is per
se of very slight historic weight.

So as the testimony stands then (counting in it, of course,
my own recollection) I must believe that after 1828 Nancy
Taylor had no grey filly; that this filly must certainly have
been begotten by a horse standing some four miles off, be-
tween 1824 and 1828; that Major Funk, then and there, kept
a stallion. Havoc by name, a chestnut in color, and claimed
and reputed to be by Sir Charles — Sir Alfred — and that Mr.
Funk neither had nor stood any large bay or other farm
horse, until long after these dates, when, abandoning his
thoroughbred mania, he did buy and stand such a horse,
named, I think, Pennsylvania Farmer.

All this, sir, may not prove that Pilot, Jr.'s grandsire was
Sir Charles. Indeed, it does not prove it, but it surely
diminishes the probabilities of the contrary supposition to a
very attenuated quantity. And, if the question must be re-
duced to a single point between that pedigree on the one
hand and the allegations of Nancy Pope's sire being a "large,
bay horse" or a "common farm horse, called Havoc" or any
other sort of a horse than that claimed by Peter Funk, on

220

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

the other hand; then, indeed, in my judgment, it is a certainty
that the former pedigree is established.

There is no doubt that this gi*ey filly that was
presented by her breeder, Mr. Pope, to Larz Anderson
in 1828, and was then two or three years old, was
afterwards known as Nancy Pope, and was the dam
of Pilot, Jr. The latter is registered in the Breeders^
Trotting Stud Book, published in 1881, and his pedigree
which is there given as follows is undoubtedly correct :
"Pilot, Jr., gr. h, foaled 1844, bred by Lugerean Gray,
and foaled the property of John T. Gray, Gray-
bolt, Jefferson Co., Ky., got by old pacing Pilot,
a horse of unknown blood that, it is said, was brought
from Canada; dam Nancy Pope by Havoc, son of Sir
Charles (Havoc's dam by Chanticleer; 2nd dam
Camilla by Symme's Wildair, etc.) ; 2nd dam Nancy
Taylor by Craig's Alfred, son of imported Medley.
Sold when four years old to D. Heinsohn, Louisville,
Ky., and soon afterward to R. A. Alexander, Spring
Station, Ky. Died April 14, 1865, at Montgomery,
Kane Co., 111., where he had been sent by Mr. Alexander
along with nearly all his valuable trotting stock, to
escape danger from guerrillas."

There is no doubt that had Mr. Anderson been called
as a witness in the case and his statements been sub-
mitted to the Board of Censors, along with those of
Mr. Pearce, that the dam of Pilot, Jr., would now
appear in the American Trotting Register as Nancy
Pope by Funk's Havoc, a son of Sir Charles, the same
as given in the Breeders' Trotting Stud Book, a work
in which Mr. A. J. Alexander, the proprietor of Wood-
burn Farm, and Mr. Lucas Brodhead, the superintend-

221

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

ent of that establishment, were somewhat interested.
They were both on the committee on rules for registra-
tion by which that register was governed.

Pilot, Jr., was the most successful stallion of his day
as a sire of fast trotters. No other stallion that was
foaled so early as 1844, sired so many that trotted
to records of 2.30 or better as he. The number of his
get that made records of 2.30 or better was eight, and
all of them were trotters. The fastest of these was
John Morgan (also known as Medoc) (2.24), whose
dam. Croppy, was a thoroughbred daughter of Medoc
by American Eclipse, and whose second dam was by
Thornton's Rattler, son of Sir Archy. John Morgan
could probably show as much speed as any trotter of
his day. Geo. P. Floyd, who raced him for a time, once
made a w^ager that John Morgan could trot a quarter
on Mystic Park track in 30 seconds or better, and won
the bet. This horse had enough speed and endurance
when in his prime to beat any trotter then on the turf.
He was also a game trotter, but was such a fearful
puller that he wasted a large amount of energy that
way.

Bayard (2.313-4). Pilot, Jr. is credited with six
sons that sired twenty-six trotters and eight pacers,
which made records in standard time. His most suc-
cessful son, as a sire of standard performers, was
Bayard (2.313-4), that got nine trotters and six
pacers which made standard records. The fastest of
Bayard's get is Kitty Bayard (2.121-4). The dam of
Bayard was by Adam's American, a son of White-
hall, and Whitehall was by North American, the son
of the thoroughbred Sir W^alter, that got the dam of

222

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TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

Strathmore. Bayard's second dam was by Vermont
Black Hawk, and his third dam by Hammond's Mag-
num Bonum, a son of imported Magnum Bonum.
Bayard is credited with thirteen sons that got nine
trotters and ten pacers which made standard records.
None of the direct descendants of Bayard in the male
line that we can recall are now perpetuating standard
speed.

Tattler (2.26). The most successful son of Pilot,
Jr., as a perpetuator of standard speed, was Tattler
(2.26). The dam of Tattler was Telltale, a thorough-
bred daughter of Telamon, by Medoc, son of American
Eclipse; second dam Flea, by Medoc; third dam
Martha Darneal, by Sumpter, son of Sir Archy, and
fourth dam Arminda, by Doublehead, a son of imported
Diomed. One of the sons of Tattler was Rumor (2.20),
that got Edgardo (2.13 3-4), the sire of Tomah (2.10).
Another son of Tattler that is still perpetuating speed
in the male line was Voltaire (2.20 1-4), the sire of
Bessemer (2.13 3-4). The dam of Bessemer was by
Concord, a thoroughbred son of the renowned Lexing-
ton. Besse^ner is the sire of Be Sure (2.06 3-4), that is
now credited with eight pacers that have made records
in standard time.

Daughters of Pilot Jr. The daughters of Pilot
Jr. were more successful in transmitting a high rate
of speed than his sons. The first trotter that ever
took so fast a record as 2.10 was Jay-Eye-See, and his
dam was by Pilot Jr. The first trotter to beat 2.10 was
Maud S., and she finally trotted to a record of 2.08 3-4,
hitched to a high wheel, plain axle sulky and over a
regulation track. The dam of Maud S. was also by

223

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Pilot Jr. The number of standard performers pro-
duced by daughters of Pilot Jr. is forty, and thirty-
seven of Them were trotters. The most noted of his
daughter8 as producers were Miss Russell, Midnight
and Waterwitch. Miss Russell is credited with seven
in the list, and among them are Maud S. (2.08 3-4),
Slavonic (2.09 3-4), and Nutwood (2.18 3-4). Miss
Russell was also the dam of Lord Russell, the most
successful son of Harold as a sire. He was a full
brother of Maud S. (2.08 3-4), and among his get was
the world^s champion five-year-old trotter of his day,
Kremlin (2.07 3-4).

Nutwood (2.18 3-4). Nutwood (2.18 3-4) was one
of the most successful sires and perpetuators of
standard speed that has ever lived. He is credited
with one hundred and thirty-four trotters and thirty-
five pacers, a total of one hundred and sixty-nine that
have made standard records; with one hundred and
forty-one sons that had sired a total of four hundred
and eighty trotters and three hundred and fifty-five
pacers that had made standard records up to the close
of 1903, and also with one hundred and thirty-one
daughters that had up to that time produced one
hundred and sixty-nine trotters and fifty-three pacers,
a total of two hundred and twenty-two that had made
records in standard time. No other stallion that has
ever lived can begin to compare with Nutwood
(2.18 3-4) as a brood mare sire. The dam of Miss
Russell was Sally Russell, and she was a thoroughbred
daughter of the famous long distance race winner Bos-
ton, the most successful race horse of his day on the
runninsr turf.

224

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS,

Midnight. Midnight, by Pilot, Jr., produced three
with trotting records from 2.10 to 2.20 1-2, and one
of them, Jay-Eye-See (2.10), is also credited with a
pacing record of 2.06 1-4. Two of Midnight's sons,
viz., Beaumont and Electricity (2.17 3-4), are proving
quite successful as sires of speed. Among the get of
the latter is the trotter Surpol (2.10). The dam of
Midnight was Twilight, a thoroughbred daughter of
the great four-mile world's record breaker Lexington.
The latter was the most famous son of Boston, sire of
the dam of Miss Russell. The second dam of Midnight
was Daylight by imported Glencoe; third dam Dark-
ness by Wagner, the most noted four-mile race winner
of his day; fourth dam Lady Gray, by Sir Richard
Tonson; and fifth dam Lucy Clark, by Oscar, a son
of Roanoke, by Sir Archy.

Water WITCH. Waterwitch, by Pilot Jr., is the dam
of six trotters with records of 2.30 or better, including
Viking (2.191-4). Five of the sons of Waterwitch
have sired 2.30 speed, and six of her daughters have
produced sixteen trotters and four pacers that have
made standard records. The dam of Waterwitch was
by Kinkead's St. Lawrence, a son of the old trotter
St. Lawrence, that originated in Canada. The second
dam of Waterwitch was Brenda. She was by a thor-
oughbred colt, which, as stated in Volume 3 of
Wallace's American Trotting Register, was believed
to be Oliver, whose sire was the famous old four-mile
racer Wagner, by Sir Charles, son of Sir Archy.
The dam of Oliver was Flight, by imported Leviathan ;
second dam Charlotte Hamilton, by Sir Charles, son
of Sir Archy ; third dam, Lady-of-the-Lake, by imported

225

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Sir Harry; fourth dam by imported Diomed,
and fifth dam by imported St. George. Daugh-
ters of Waterwitch have proved more succes-^ful
as producers than the daughters of any other of the
great brood mares. Six of them have produced twenty
that have made records in standard time, and sixteen
of the twenty are trotters. Her daughter Sprite, by
Belmont, son of Alexander's Abdallah, is the dam of
four trotters with standard records. Three of the four
are the stallions Sphinx (2.201-2), Egotist (2.221-2)
and Electrite (2.281-2). All three are by Electioneer.
Sphinx and Electrite are proving the most successful
sons of Electioneer of their ages as sires of uniform
standard speed.

Tackey. Tackey (2.26), the fastest daughter of
Pilot, Jr., by the records, was mated with Happy
Medium, by Rysdyk's Hambletonian, and the result
was the very successful trotting sire Pilot Medium.
The latter met with an accident when young and was
never trained. He is credited with ninety-nine trotters
and twenty -three pacers that have made standard
records, fifteen of which are in the 2.15 list, including
Peter the Great (2.071-4), Pilot Boy (2.091-4), Wau-
bun (2.09 1-4), B. B. P. (4) (2.09 3-4) and Pilot Me-
dium, Jr. (2.09 3-4). The vast superiority of Pilot
Medium over all other sons of Happy Medium is appar-
ent from the fact that the latter is credited with sixty-
six producing sons which had sired in all, to the close
of 1903, two hundred and sixty-four trotters and one
hundred and twenty-seven pacers with standard
records. Deducting from this number the ninety-nine
trotters and twenty -three pacers got by Pilot Medium

226

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

it leaves one hundred and sixty-five trotters and one
hundred and four pacers to the credit of the other
sixty-five sons of Happy Medium. The dam of Tackey
(2.26) was Jenny Lind, by imported Bellfounder, the
Norfolk trotter that got the dam of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian. Beyond that, the breeding of Tackey was
unknown. The Pilot Jr. strain is undoubtedly the
most valuable of all pacing crosses in a trotting
pedigree, especially when coming through either of
the mares named above, particularly Miss Russell.

Wilson's Blue Bull. The most important of all
the trotting families that sprang from pacers is that
known as Blue Bull. The history of Blue Bull, the
founder of this family, reads more like a romance than
reality. No parallel to it can be found among all the
trotting sires. It has been stated, upon apparently
good authority, that Wilson's Blue Bull began his stud
career in the humble capacity of teaser for a jack.
During the time he was so employed a few mares which
were not considered suitable to raise mules were bred
to him at a fee of |5, and it was through the produce
of such mares that his merits as a trotting sire were
first brought to notice.

According to the American Trotting Register, Wil-
son's Blue Bull was bred by Elijah Stone of Indiana,
and foaled in 1844. His sire was Pruden's Blue Bull,
a horse that never produced any other animal of special
notje. A physician of Dillsboro, Ind., who was some-
thing of a horseman and knew Pruden's Blue Bull well,
gave the following description of him through the
Western Sportsman some years ago, under the nom de
plume "Phipp." The doctor paced a Tom Hal mare

227

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

against Wilson's Blue Bull in 1859, and got beaten.
This doctor says:

He was also known as Old Sam, and is recorded
in the American Trotting Register as Pruden's Blue
Bull. He is described by the doctor in the article
above mentioned as a dun-colored animal, sixteen and
one-half hands high, two white stockings behind and
one forward, the other leg being zebra marked. He
was blind in one eye, had a white face, black mane
and tail, a black stripe down the back, and weighed
about twelve hundred pounds.

The doctor further says:

His appearance was the most peculiar I ever saw. From
a side view one would judge him to be a draught horse, but
a front or rear view would dispel the illusion. His hind legs
were sickle shaped, front knees sprung backwards, legs wide
and thin, very short from knees down, great length of arms,
with muscles long and massive, hips extending so far forward
and shoulders so far backward that there was not length
enough of back for an ordinary riding saddle to be properly
adjusted. He seemed to be made of hips and shoulders, but
had a good length of belly. His only gait was a pace. I have
often seen him pace with a running horse beside him, and
for a few hundred yards he would almost come out ahead.

He was bought of Mrs. Morgan of Butler County, Ohio (she
lived on the dry fork of White Water) by a Mr. Little, and
sold to the Hon. Chester R. Faulkner of Ripley County, Ind.,
and groomed by James D. English in 1851-2-3. In the fall of
1853 Faulkner sold him to a Mr. Griffen of Ohio County, and
about this time he got Wilson's Blue Bull. In the fall of 1850,
Oliver S. Muiford of this place attended the sale of Mrs.
Morgan, and bought Tiger, a full brother of Pruden's Blue
Bull, and two years younger. The pedigree given was: Sired
by Old Tom, the old Blue Bull of Butler County, Ohio, he
by Chester Ball of Pennsylvania, he by a Canadian pacer;
dam by Cadmus.

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TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

This, the doctor tells us in a private letter, was the
pedigree given Mr. Mulford at the time of purchase.
Some few years later the pacer Pocahontas (2.17 1-2)
created a great sensation by her wonderful speed. As
she was by a horse called Cadmu-s, and was raised in
the vicinity where Pruden's Blue Bull and Tiger were
produced, Mr. Mulford got the impression that the dam
of these horses was by the sire of Pocahontas^ and
so stated. This statement was published in the
Western Sportsman. Mr. Mulford must have been
mistaken, however, for in 1838 Cadmus, by American
Eclipse, dam, Di Vernon, by Florizel, son of imported
Diomed, was taken to Lebanon, Warren Co., O., where
he remained a few seasons. In 1839 he was bred to a
daughter of Brunswick, by Sumpter, a son of Sir
Archy, and the result was Iron's Cadmus, foaled in
1840. The latter got Pocahontas, but the Cadmus
which sired Iron^s Cadmus must have been the horse
referred to in the pedigree, for Pruden's Blue Bull,
according to the Trotting Register, was foaled in 1844 ;
hence his dam was probably foaled as early as 1840.
The oldest of Iron's Cadmus' get could not have been
foaled earlier than 1843.

Old Sam, or Pruden's Blue Bull, as he is now known, was
by Herring's Blue Bull, which was described as follows by-
Mr. J. G. Vaughn of Odin, 111., in Coleman's Rural World a
few years since, who states that the dates are given from
memory, and may be slightly incorrect, but the facts can be
substantiated.

This horse. Herring's Blue Bull, was brought from Penn-
sylvania, says Hr. Vaughn, by Henry Snively, to Wayne
Township, Butler County, O., and sold to John Herring of Hor-
gan Township (same county) about the year 1825. Hr. Her-
ring kept him about eight years, and always advertised him as

229

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

"The Ohio Farmer." He was then, sold to some parties in
Dearborn County, Ind., where he remained some twelve to
fifteen years. Between 1845 and 1850 the old horse was
brought back to Ohio, and Kept by Henry Grisley at New
Baltimore, in Hamilton County, a few miles south of Mer-
ring's old place, and here he died, reputed to be considerably
over 30 years of age.

John Wrfght, a noted auctioneer and facetious wag, who
lived within a half-mile ot Merring, nicknamed the horse "The
Blue Bull" on account of his very peculiar color, build and
general appearance, and this name, first applied in derision,
seemed so appropriate that it shortly became the generally
recognized name of the stock.

The horse was a deep mouse color, generally called blue,
blaze face, glass eyes, heavy black mane and tail, black stripe
down his back, legs white to the knees, and from there up
had yellow stripes around them. He was a powerfully built,
heavy-bodied, close-ribbed horse, with an enormous beefy
neck, a natural pacer and clumsy in his gait. And these
characteristics were inherited by many of his descendants.
The majority, I think, were either mouse color or a very
peculiar yellow bay, and striped like the old horse.

Many of them were natural pacers, and but few proved
to be good riding horses, on account of their clumsy and
stumbling gait. They were, however, a strong, tough, hardy
race of horses, and served admirably for heavy teaming in
this hilly country, before the days of turnpikes and railroads,
but they have now given place to a more stylish class of
horses.

During the life of the "Old Blue Bull," I never heard of
any of his stock having much speed or activity, except an
occasional colt from a warmer-blooded mare, but this was the
exception and not the general rule. If exceptional speed has
since been developed in his more remote descendants, it has
probably been derived from some other source. ,

It is evident that whatever characteristics the sire of
Wilson^s Blue Bull may have inherited from th^ above
animal, his speed must have come from his dam, or some

230

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

source other than this strong but clumsy, awkward,
pacing cart horse. Although nothing is found in any
standard work, or any other that we have yet seen, giv-
ing any account of the dam of this Cadmus Mare, the
section of country in which the latter originated ren-
ders it probable that her dam may have been from good
ancestry. Tiger, full brother to Wilson's Blue Bull,
was quite fast for his time, it is said, both at trotting
and pacing.

The dam of Wilson^s Blue Bull, as described by her
breeder, Mr. Elijah Stone, was a sorrel chestnut, about
fifteen hands one inch, with good trotting action and
considerable speed. In a letter published in Wallace^s
Monthly Mr. Stone states that "she was by Young
Selim, a Truxton horse of great power. At one time
she was ridden eighty-seven miles in eleven hours, and
carried a man weighing one hundred and eighty
pounds." Young Selim, according to Mr. Stone, was
a black horse standing about sixteen and one-half
hands, but the old Truxton from which he descended
was a beautiful bay of considerable speed and a natural
trotter.

The Trotting Register does not give any clue to the
origin of this ''Truxton horse of great power," which
was undoubtedly the most potent speed factor in the
pedigree of Wilson's Blue Bull. The most noted
family of Truxton's, however, was founded by General
Jackson's famous thoroughbred race horse of that
name, which is described at considerable length in Vol.
IV. of Wallace's Monthly, from which we quote the
following :

231

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Of all the horses that won distinction under his (General
Jackson's) management, Truxton stood unrivalled in the
affections of a devoted master. Alexander the Great was not
more attached to his beautiful Bucephalus than General Jack-
son was to the great Truxton. After Truxton had performed
prodigies for him upon the turf, he retired to his harem at the
Hermitage, where he was well cared for. From him de-
scended some of the best horses ever known upon the Ameri-
can turf. He sustained, perfectly unihipaired with the public,
the generous opinion entertained of him by his more than
partial owner. A writer of the period says: "Every drop
of his blood is to be prized, wherever it is to be found." As
a curiosity in horse literature, we insert the following as
General Jackson's opinion of his favorite. It was written
after Truxton had retired from the turf:

"Truxton is a beautiful bay, full of bone and muscle, was
got by the imported horse, Old Diomed, and came out of the
thoroughbred mare Nancy Coleman, the property' of Major
John Verrell of Virginia. Truxton, however, is too well
known to require minute description. His performances on
the turf have surpassed those of any horse of his age that has
ever been run in the Western country, and, indeed, it may be
said with confidence that he is equal if not superior to Mr.
Ball's Florizel, who was got by the same Diomed, and who
now stands unrivalled in Virginia as a race horse. Truxton,
by old sportsmen and judges, is admitted to be amongst the
best distance horses that ever ran or had to train.

"His speed is certainly unknown to all those who have run
against him. He has, on the most unequal terms, started
against the very best mile horses in Kentucky and Ten-
nessee, and beaten them with great ease, and in no one in-
stance has ever run with any horse, when he himself was in
order, but he either could or did distance him with ease.
Although four-mile heats is the real and true distance for
Truxton to run, he has beaten Mr. Gordon's fine mile horse,
Jack of Clubs, and Mr. Cotton's Greyhound, both aged horses,
with equal weights of 100 pounds on each, mile heats.

232

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TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

"And lastly, to crown the much doubted speed of Truxton
with his opponents, he beat, on only two sound legs, on April
3, 1806, over the Clover Bottom course, the celebrated horse
Plow Boy, who was never before beaten, and beating him
without the assistance of whip or spur. It is now no longer
for the numerous concourse of people who were present on
that day to say whether or not Truxton be the true bred
racer. Truxton's winnings, from time to time, from the
most correct information, amount to at least $20,000, and his
colts are not inferior to any on the continent.

"(Signed) ANDREW JACKSON."

As Young Selim, which got the dam of Blue Bull,
was a "Truxton horse of great power," it was not
surprising that Wilson^s Blue Bull was fast and sired
speed in spite of the lack of speed displayed by any of
his ancestors, so far as known In the paternal lines.
It is more than probable that he inherited his speed
ability from his own dam and from the Cadmus mare
that waiS the dam of his sire.

The second dam of Blue Bull is described by Mr.
Stone as a bright bay, nearly fifteen hands, and a
trotter. The dam of Blue Bull was said at one time
to have been by Blacknose, a thoroughbred son of
Medoc, by American Eclipse, but according to Mr.
Stone's statement that must be incorrect, unless Young
Selim and Blacknose are two names for the same
animal, which is not probable. The high form and
blood-like quality shown by many of Blue BulPs get are
sure indications that the coarse characteristics in-
herited from his paternal ancestors were overcome by
royal blood from some source. The facts given above
undoubtedly point with great certainty to the real
source from which they were inherited.

2^H

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

In 1857, when three years old, Wilson^s Blue Bull
was sold by his breeder, Mr. Elijah Stone, to Mr. Daniel
Dorrell. In 1865 Mr. Dorrell sold him to Mr. James
Wilson of Rushville, Ind., for $300, on condition that
he should show a mile in 2.45, a feat which he easily
accomplished, with something to spare. It is stated
upon good authority that the reason for keeping him
entire was on account of being what is improperly
termed a ridgling. Only one of his testicles ever
descended to his scrotum. After passing to the owner-
ship of Mr. Wilson he lost an eye, and also got one
knee broken from a kick. He was then thought of so
little value that he was assigned the menial position of
teaser to a jack, and his services were offered to such as
cared for them at five dollars to warrant.

At this time he is described as a sleek-coated, dark
chestnut, standing about fifteen hands two inches, with
a fine muzzle, heavy jowls, good countenance, mild, in-
telligent eye, long and well-arched neck, light, silky
mane and well proportioned body and limbs. He was
remarkably fast for a short distance. Even after
being crippled it is claimed that he showed a half-
mile to saddle in 1.05, and to wagon in 1.07. The
stud career of this wonderful horse extended from
1865 to 1879. He got a few foals prior to 1865, how-
ever, but during the last three years of his life was
limited to very few patrons. His death occurred July
11, 1880, from disease contracted in the performance
of stud duties. He is registered as Blue Bull 75.

Twenty years ago this fall, Wilson's Blue Bull was
the leading sire of 2.30 performers. He was then
credited with thirty-eight trotters that had made

234

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

records from 2.19 1-2 to 2.30, and three pacers with
records from 2.221-2 to 2.241-2. Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian was then credited with thirty-eight trotters
that had made records of 2.30 or better to harness, and
another with a record of 2.33 1-2, to wagon ; and George
Wilkes was then credited with thirty-four trotters and
one pacer that had made standard records. At the
close of the season of 1885, Blue Bull's list of standard
performers included forty-seven trotters and three
pacers. George Wilkes (2.22) was next in rank with
forty-one trotters and three pacers. At the close of
the season of 1886, Blue Bull was still in the lead, with
forty-nine trotters and three pacers to his credit that
had taken standard records, making Blue Bull and
George Wilkes just equal as to numbers of performers,
but giving Blue Bull one more trotter than George
Wilkes. The following year, however, George Wilkes
took the lead and Blue Bull never afterward re-
gained it.

The number of the get of Wilson's Blue Bull that
made records in standard time is sixty, and fifty-six
of them were trotters. The fastest trotter of his get
was Zoe B. (2.17 1-4) and his fastest pacer was
Georgetown (2.161-2). He is credited with forty-
eight sons that to the close of 1903 had sired fifty-six
trotters and eighty-one pacers with standard records.
The most successful of these is Jim Wilson, whose
list of standard record-makers includes sixteen trotters
and sixteen pacers. The fastest of them is Wiltranhy
(2.06 3-4). Up to the close of last season the names
of only five sons of Jim Wilson appeared in the Great
Table of sires of standard performers, and the number

235

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

of the get of these five that were credited with
standard records was eight, three of which were
trotters. No son of either of these fLve stallions was
credited with a standard performer, which indicates
that this family will soon cease perpetuating in the
male line.

Daughters of Wilson's Blue Bull were much more
successful in perpetuating speed than his sons. The
Year Book for 1903 credits him with one hundred and
eleven daughters that have produced eighty-three
trotters and eighty-seven pacers which have made
standard records, a total of one hundred and seventy.
The fastest performer produced by a daughter of Blue
Bull is Roy Wilkes (2.061-2).

It would seem from the best information obtainable
that the breeding of Pilot Jr. and Wilson's Blue Bull
was very similar. Both were by pacing stallions and
the dams of both appear to have been from running
stock. Other stallions bred in similar lines, viz., by
uniting a pacing animal with one from running stock,
have also gained some distinction as perpetuators of
trotting speed. Another instance of success from such
breeding was North American, also called the Bullock
Horse, whose sire was the thoroughbred Sir Walter.
The latter was by Whip and his dam was Nettletop, by
imported Diomed. The dam of North American was
of unknown breeding, but she was a fast pacer.

Whitehall. The only son of North American that
gained distinction as a perpetuator of trotting speed
was Whitehall. This horse is registered in the
Breeder'^ Trotting Stud Book, and his dam is giren
as by Cock of The Rock, a son of Duroc. The dam of

236

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

this Cock of The Rock was Romp, by imported
Messenger. Romp was a full sister of Miller's Damsel,
the dam of American Eclipse. Whitehall got one
trotter that took a standard record, viz., Rhode Island
(2.231-2).

Rhode Island. "The Breeders' Trotting Stud Book"
gives the breeding of Rhode Island as follows : "Sire
Whitehall; dam by Nigger Baby; second dam bred in
New Jersey, breeding unknown." Rhode Island was
bred near Portsmouth, Ohio. Nigger Baby was bred
in Ohio and did stud service in that state. He had
the reputation of being a very fast runner for quarter
and half miles dashes. His sire was known as Tiger
Whip. His dam was by Paragon and his second dam
an Arabian. Wallace gave the dam of Rhode Island
as by Davy Crockett, a Canadian pacer that was taken
to Kentucky and did stud service there, but we are
inclined to believe that the Breeders' Trotting Stud
Book is correct, and Mr. Wallace in error. Whitehall
is credited with three sons that sired 2.30 trotters.
They were Adam's American, sire of Nelly Holcomb
(2.28), Buck, sire of Brown Joe (2.29 1-2), and Rhode
Island, sire of three, viz., Gov. Sprague (2.20 1-2), Jim
Schriber (2.21 1-2) and Wilmar (2.29 1-4).

Gov. Sprague (2.201-2). Gov. Sprague (2.201-2)
was a remarkable horse. As a five-year-old in 1876
he was the world's champion trotter of that age, with
a record of 2.20 1-2. Gov. Sprague was sold that
season to the successful horseman, the late J. I. Case
of Racine, Wis., for |27,500. He was foaled in 1871
and died May 5, 1883. He was not only the fastest
trotter got by Rhode Island, but was also by far the

297

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

most successful son of Rhode Island as a sire and
perpetuator of speed. During his short stud career
Gov. Sprague got thirty-six trotters and two pacers
that made records in standard time. He is credited
with twenty-four sons that have sired seventy trotters
and twenty-seven pacers which have made standard
records, and thirty-nine of his daughters have produced
forty-four trotters and thirteen pacers that have made
records in standard time. The fastest trotter produced
by a daughter of Gov. Sprague is the renowned
McKinney (2.111-4), by Alcyone (2.27), that was
lately sold for |50,000. McKinney outranks every
other stallion of his age that has ever lived, as a sire
of uniform extreme trotting speed.

The success of Gov. Sprague (2.20 1-2) as a trotter,
and also as a perpetuator of trotting speed, is doubtless
largely due to the fact that his dam was the great
brood mare Belle Brandon, that also produced Amy
(2.201-4), etc., Belle Brandon was by Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. Her dam Jenny was by Young
Bacchus, a son of the running bred Cone's Bacchus,
whose sire was Bacchus by Sir Archy. The second
dam of Belle Brandon was the Worden Mare, by Exton
Eclipse, a running bred son of the famous American
Eclipse.

Blanco. The stallion Blanco, sire of the renowned
Smuggler (2.151-4), is another instance of mating a
pacing mare with a stallion bred from race-winning
running stock. Blanco was by Iron's Cadmus, a horse
registered in Bruce's American Stud Book where his
sire is given as Cadmus, a thoroughbred son of
American Eclipse, and his dam by Brunswick, a son

238

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PAGERS.

of Sumpter, by Sir Archy ; second dam by Blackburn's
Whip, a thoroughbred son of imported Whip. The
Cadmus that got Iron's Cadmus has sometimes been
called Beach's Cadmus. His sire was the renowned
American Eclipse, by Duroc, son of imported Diomed
and from Miller's Damsel by imported Messenger. The
dam of Cadmus was Die Vernon, by Ball's Florizel,
a son of imported Diomed.

Col. S. D. Bruce, author of Bruce's American Stud
Book, the standard thoroughbred register of America,
stated in the "Horse Breeders' Guide and Stud Book,''
a work published in 1883, that as a race horse Ball's
Florizel had no equal in his day. He never lost a heat
or paid a forfeit, never knew the touch of a spur or
heard the flourish of a whip. Ball's Florizel got the
dam of the distinguished race horse Boston.

The dam of Blanco, sire of Smuggler, was by Irwin's
Tuckahoe, a horse bred from thoroughbred and pacing
ancestors. Smuggler lowered the world's champion
record for trotting stallions to 2.15 1-4 in 1876, and it
remained there until 1884. Smuggler (2.15 1-4) was
the sire of ten trotters and two pacers that made
records in standard time. He is credited with twelve
sons that have sired fourteen trotters and ten pacers
with standard records. Smuggler's daughters were
more successful than his sons as perpetuators of speed,
as twenty-four of them have produced twenty-four
trotters and eight pacers with standard records, the
fastest of which are the pacer Be Sure (2.06 3-4) and
the trotter Miss Whitney (2.071-2). None of the
direct descendants of Smuggler in the mal« line that
we can now recall is perpetuating standard speed.

239

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Tom Rolfb (2.33 1-2) . Another stallion, whose
ancestors included thoroughbreds and pacers, that
founded a trotting family, was Tom Rolfe (2.331-2).
His sire was Pugh's Aratus, a son of Phare's Aratus,
and he by Aratus, a thoroughbred son of Director by
Sir Archy. The dam of Tom Rolfe was the famous
pacer Pocahontas, that lowered the world's champion
record for pacers to 2.171-2, in a race in 1855, and
pulled a wagon at that. Pocahontas was by Iron's
Cadmus, the sire of Blanco mentioned above. Her
dam was by Probasco's Big Shakespeare, he by
Stoughtenborough's Shakespeare, a running bred son
of Valerius by imported Badger. Pocahontas' second
dam was by James Badger, also known as Probasco's
Badger. He was another son of Valerius by imported
Badger, making the dam of Pocahontas closely inbred
to Valerius, a running bred son of imported Badger.
It will be seen from this that the famous mare
Pocahontas (2.171-2), dam of Tom Rolfe, was bred
largely from running stock on both sides. The dam
of Pugh's Aratus, sire of Tom Rolfe, was by Wallace's
Saxe Weimer, a son of the thoroughbred Saxe Weimer,
by Sir Archy ; by which it appears that the sire of Tom
Rolfe was inbred to Sir Archy, the best son of imported
Biomed. Iron's Cadmus, the sire of Pocahontas
(2.171-2), was also inbred to imported Diomed.
Pocahontas (2.171-2) is in the great brood mare
list. She was the dam of the trotter Young
Pocahontas (2.26 3-4). Two of her sons, viz., Tom
Rolfe (2.33 1-2) and Strideaway, were sires of standard
speed, and her daughters produced the trotters Nancy
(2.231-2) and May Morning (2.30).

2«0

TROTTING FAMILIES FROM PACERS.

Tom Rolfe took a trotting record of 2.331-2. He
was the sire of four trotters with records from 2.12 1-4
to 2.25 and three pacers with records from 2.12 1-4
to 2.23. The most noted of his get was the famous
pacer Sleepy Tom (2.121-4), that, though blind, beat
all the best pacers of his day, and during the season
of 1879 won fourteen races. Three of the sons of
Tom Rolfe were sires of standard speed, viz., Pocahon-
tas Boy, Rolfe Duke and Young Rolfe (2.21 1-4). The
latter died when but eight years old. Could he have
lived till twenty-five years old he would probably have
taken a much faster record than 2.21 1-4 and proved a
very successful sire of uniform trotting speed.

Young Rolfe. Young Rolfe was the sire of nine
with standard records, all trotters, the fastest of which
is Nelson (2.09), that lowered the world's champion
record for trotting stallions to 2.10, at Grand Rapids,
Mich., September 17, 1891. This is the fastest record
ever made by a trotting stallion to high wheels over
a regulation track. The dam of Nelson was the great
brood mare Gretchen, by Gideon, a son of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian, and his second dam was Kate, by Ver-
mont Black Hawk. Young Rolfe got five sons that
are the sires of thirty-six trotters and twenty-three
pacers with standard records. He is also credited
with five daughters that have produced seven trotters
and one pacer which have made standard records. The
most successful of his sons as a sire is Nelson (2.09),
that is credited with thirty-two trotters and nineteen
pacers with standard records, also with eleven sons
that have sired nine trotters and seven pacers which

Ul

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

have taken records in standard time, while hi^ daugh-
ters have produced six that have made standard
records.

Pocahontas Boy. The most successful son of Tom
Rolfe as a speed perpetuator was Pocahontas Boy, but
a large proportion of his get were pacers, and nearly
all the standard performers got by his sons made their
records at the pacing gait. The dam of Pocahontas
Boy was by Jerry, a son of Shropshire's Tom Hal.
The latter was by Bald Stockings (also known as LaiPs
Tom Hal), and he by old Tom Hal, founder of the
noted Tom Hal pacing family. Pocahontas Boy sired
seven trotters and fourteen pacers that made records
in standard time; eleven of his sons have sired three
trotters and fifty pacers with standard records, and
eighteen of his daughters have produced nine trotters
and eighteen pacers that have made standard records.

Pocahontas Sam. The most successful son of Po-
cahontas Boy as a sire was Pocahontas Sam. If
there ever was a pacing-bred stallion that should get
trotting speed with uniformity it is this Pocahontas
8am, for his dam was Fanny, the daughter of Wilson's
Blue Bull that produced Lowland Girl (2.191-2).
The blood of the champion old pacer Pocahontas
(2.17 1-2) is united with that of the renowned Tom
Hal and the famous Wilson's Blue Bull in Pocahontas
Sam. He is credited with eighteen standard perform-
ers, all pacers. Five of his sons have sired seven
pacers that have made standard records. Three of
his daughters have produced two trotters and two
pacers that have made standard records.

242

Chapter IX.
TWO PACING FAMILIES.

Narragansett Pacers. — The Hal Family. — Kittrell's Tom Hal..
Gibson's Tom Hal, Jr. — Brown Hal (2.12 1-2).

Pacers are found in all parts of the United States
where trotters are bred. They appear unexpectedly
and sometimes without any apparent excuse, among
and from animals bred in orthodox trotting lines, often
greatly to the disgust of their breeders. Some have
attempted to account for this on the theory that the
trotting and pacing gaits are practically the same and
are interchangeable. Others who have studied the
subject carefully and whose opinions are entitled to
great weight, believe that the pacing gait is due to
"incongruity of conformation," produced by the unit-
ing of blood elements that are dissimilar, and this, all
things considered, appears the more reasonable of the
two.

So far as we have been able to learn, there have
never been but two families of pacers on this conti-
nent that can justly be called families, and but a very
small proportion of the pacers now found in thia
country can claim relationship with either of those

243

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

families. Most of the modern ones are what maj be
properly termed sporadic.

Narragansett Pacers. Many years ago there was
a family of horses in New England known as Narra-
gansett pacers. They were excellent saddle animals
and admirably adapted to the use of pioneers of the
country when roads were rough and not adapted to
the use of carriages. There are conflicting statements
in regard to the origin of the Narragansett pacers.
They were small animals as compared with the horses
of the present day, and black appears to have been the
prevailing color among them. They were quite numer-
ous in the vicinity of Narragansett Bay one hundred
and fifty years ago, and many of them were undoubt-
edly fast for the early day in which they flourished;
but as the family has long been extinct and especially
as no trotter of note that has ever lived and no pacer
with a fast track record ever traced, through either sire
or dam, to a member of this at one time most numerous
of all families of pacers, the origin of the Narragan-
sett pacer can not be of the slightest interest to prac-
tical breeders of the present day.

The Hal Family. The only family of pacers now
in existence is that known as the Hals, and are descend-
ants of a horse known as KittrelFs Tom Hal, believed
to be a descendant of a horse called Tom Hal, whose
origin has never been clearly established. He wslb
bought in Philadelphia, Pa., by a Dr. Boswell and
taken by him to Kentucky some time in the twenties.
It was claimed that he originated in Canada. He
was a roan in color, not far from fifteen hands high,

244

TWO PACING FAMILIES.

and is described as a smoothly-gaited pacer with con-
siderable speed. He was kept for stock purposes in
Kentucky during the remainder of his life, and died
in that State the property of a Mr. Benjamin N.
Shropshire. Among his get was the chestnut, blaze-
faced, white-legged stallion Bald Stockings, also known
as LaiPs Tom Hal.

Kittrbll's Tom Hal. The Hals that have attained
greatest fame originated in the State of Tennessee.
About 1850 Major M. B. Kittrell bought in Kentucky
a bay pacing stallion called Tom Hal and took him to
Tennessee. This horse is now known as KittrelPs
Tom Hal. The late Judge Halsey of Kentucky, who
for several of the last years of his life was a regular
weekly contributor to the American Horse Breeder,
investigated the breeding and origin of KittrelPs Tom
Hal, and from the facts that he succeeded in obtain-
ing from trustworthy sources, became satisfied that
the sire of KittrelPs Tom Hal was Bald Stockings
(LaiPs Tom Hal).

GiBSON^s Tom Hal, Jr. This Kittrell's Tom Hal
never sired a standard performer, but from Julia John-
son, by Adam's Stump (sire of the dam of the game
trotting stallion Bonesetter, that took a record of 2.19
back in 1879), he got Gibson's Tom Hal, Jr., by far
the most successful sire and perpetuator of uniform
pacing speed that had ever lived up to his time.
Adam's Stump was by a running horse called Stump-
the-Dealer. And that successful breeder of speed, Mr.
Campbell Brown of Spring Hill, Tenn., states that this
Stump-the-Dealer, which got Adam's Stump, was a
thoroughbred son of Timoleon, and he the son of Sir

245

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Apchy, that got the noted long-distance race winner
Boston.

Well informed Tennessee horsemen have stated that
the dam of Stump-the-Dealer was by Potomac, a thor-
oughbred son of imported Diomed. We have never
been able to find any thoroughbred son of Timoleon
registered under the name of Stump-the-Dealer; but
this need not create a doubt in regard to the exist-
ence of a thoroughbred horse of that name and breed-
ing, as there were many horses eligible to registry as
thoroughbreds that were not registered, through
neglect of their owners or the owners of their dams.
There are several horses registered under the name of
Stump-the-Dealer. One of them, that in 1819 was
owned in Virginia, was by Sir Archy ; dam by imported
Diomed, second dam Rosetta by imported Sentinel.
The latter was by Blank, a noted son of the renowned
Godolphin Arabian, and his dam was by Cade, another
of Godolphin Arabian's sons.

Tl^e second dam of Gibson's Tom Hal, Jr., was by
Cummings' Whip, a descendant of the thoroughbred
Whip. It has been stated, upon apparently good
authority, that the dam of KittrelPs Tom Hal was by
Dare Devil, a thoroughbred descendant of imported
Dare Devil ; and his second dam the Luzborough mare
by imported Luzborough. The dam of Bald Stockings,
sire of KittrelPs Tom Hal, was by Ohinn's Cop-
perbottom, and his second dam was by Tarquin,
said to be a son of imported Diomed. Chinn's
Oopperbottom was got by Fenwick's Copperbottom, a
son of Brutus. This Brutus was by the old Canadian
pacer Jowett's Copperbottom, and his dam was by

246

TWO PACING FAMILIES,

the thoroughbred Robin Grey, a son of imported Roy-
alist. The dam of Fenwick^s Copperbottom (sire of
Chinn's Copperbottom) was by Pitt's Ball, a son of
imported Royalist, and his second dam was by Meade's
Celer, the best son of imported Janus. It appears
from this that while Gibson's Tom Hal, Jr., had two
pacing crosses (one through old Tom Hal that never
got a performer with a fast record, and another
through Copperbottom), he was much more strongly
bred in running than in pacing lines.

Gibson's Tom Hal, Jr., was really the founder of
the Hal family. Nearly all of the fast performers of
that family are found among his descendants. He is
credited with sixteen pacers that have made records
in standard time, the fastest of which is that game
campaigner Hal Pointer (2.04 1-2) that Trainer E. F.
Geers raced so successfully several years ago. The
first of the get of Gibson's Tom Hal, Jr., to gain a
national reputation for speed and stamina was Little
Brown Jug that became the world's champion light
harness race winner at Hartford, Conn., August 24,
1881, where he beat Mattie Hunter and Lucy in
straight heats, time 2.11 3-4, 2.11 3-4, 2.12 1-2.

The dam of Little Brown Jug was Lizzie. Her sire
was John Netherland by Taylor's Henry Hal, a son
of Kittrell's Tom Hal. The dam of Lizzie was Blackie,
by John Hal, a misleading name, as he did not have a
drop of Hal blood in his veins. John Hal was by
Smith's John Eaton and he by the running-bred John
Eaton, whose sire was Virginian, a thoroughbred son
of Sir Archy. The dam of John Hal was Melinda by
Whale, probably a son of imported Whale. The

247

THE America:^ trotter.

second dam of Little Brown Jug was Old March by
Young Conqueror, a son of Lafayette. The latter is
registered in Bruce^s American Stud Book. His sire
was Virginian, a son of Sir Archy, and his dam was a
daughter of Sir Archy, the horse that the late John H.
Wallace once pronounced "the Godolphin Arabian of
America."

Brown Hal (2.121-2). Gibson's Tom Hal, Jr., is
credited with twelve sons that have sired standard
pacing speed. The most successful of these is Brown
Hal (2.121-2), and he was a full brother of Little
Brown Jug (2.113-4). His dam was Lizzie, whose
breeding is given above. Brown Hal is the sire of
sixty -one that have made standard records, all pacers,
and the records of eleven of them are from 1.59 1-4 to
2.10. His fastest, Star Pointer, was the first light
harness horse to cross the two-minute line. The dam
of Star Pointer (1.591-4) was the great brood mare
Sweepstakes, that also produced the game campaigner
Hal Pointer (2.041-2), and two others with standard
records. Hal Pointer (2.04 1-2) was by Cribson's Tom
Hal, Jr., the paternal grandsire of Star Pointer
(1.591-4).

Sweepstakes was a direct descendant of KittrelPs
Tom Hal, on her sire's side. She was by Knight's
Snow Heels, and he by Knight's Tom Hal, a son of
Kittrell's Tom Hal. The breeding of the dam of
Knight's Tom Hal is not known, but it has been stated
upon good authority that the dam of Knight's Snow
Heels was by Buckett's Glencoe, a son of imported
Glencoe. The second dam of Star Pointer was Kit by

248

1^

^' f

TWO PACING FAMILIES.

McMeen's Traveler, a son of the thoroughbred Stump-
the-Dealer. that got Adam's Stump, sire of the dam of
Gibson's Tom Hal, Jr.

Brown Hal (2.12 1-2) is credited with fourteen sons
that up to the close of 1903 had sired seventy-two
pacers and one trotter with standard records. The
son that had sired the greatest number is Hal Dillard
(2.04 3-4), that was then credited with twenty-seven
pacers and one trotter that had made records in stand-
ard time, including Fanny Dillard (2.03 3-4). Star
Pointer (1.59 1-4) comes next in rank as a sire, with
eleven to his credit, all pacers, the fastest of which
is Mornmg Star (2.04 3-4), the largest money -winning
pacer out in 1904. Sidney Pointer (2.07 1-4), a son of
Star Pointer (1.591-4), is the sire of Angus Pointer
(2.041-2), that ranks fourth among the greatest
money-winning pacers of the season of 1904.

The Hal family of pacers is a wonderful one for
producing fast game race winners, that train on and
breed on. It is the only family of pacers now in ex-
istence, and bids fair to survive as long as high-class
pacing races are popular. It is a singular fact, how-
ever, that the world's champion pacing records are all
held by pacers that were trotting-bred. The stallion
Dan Patch, that holds the world's champion pacing
record for aged animals, 1.56, is inbred to the Hamble-
tonian strain through George Wilkes (2.22), also in-
herits a Mambrino Chief strain through Mambrino
Patchen, and a Vermont Black Hawk strain through
Joe Young (2.18), that got the dam of Joe Patchen
(2.01 1-4), sire of Dan Patch (1.56).

24^

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

The world's champion four-year-old pacing record —
2.04 — stands to the credit of Online^ and his sire was
the trotter Shadeland Onward (2.181-2), a son of
Onward (2.251-4) by George Wilkes (2.22). The
world's three-year-old champion pacing record —
2.05 1-2 — wa^ made in 1898 by Klatawah, whose sire
was the trotter Steinway (3) (2.25 3-4), and whose
dam was Katie G., by Electioneer. The world's
champion two-year-old pacing record is 2.07 3-4, and
was made in 1894 by Directly, whose sire, Direct
(2.051-2), was by the trotter Director (2.17), and
whose dam was by the standard-bred trotter Naubuc,
a full brother of the trotting stallion Thomas JeflPerson
(2.23). The world's champion pacing record for year
lings is 2.20 3-4, made in 1892 by Belle Acton, a filly
got by the trotter Shadeland Onward (2.181-2), the
same son of Onward (2.25 1-4) that got Online (4)
(2.04). The dam of Shadeland Onward, sire of these
two world's champion pacing record bi"^akers, was by
Mambrino Time, a son of Mambrino Patchen; and
his second dam was Cap, by Ward's Flying Cloud, a
son of Vermont Black Hawk. The yearling colt PauC
D. Kelly, that equalled the record of Belle Acton
(2.20 3-4) the past season, is also trotting-bred on both
sides. His sire, Armont, was by Belmont, son of
Alexander's Abdallah, and his dam, Arabell, was by
AriBtos (2.27 3-4), son of Daniel Lambert. The dam
of Paul D. Kelly was by Edmond, a son of Spragtie
Suberb (2.29 1-4) ; second dam by Haroldson, son of
Harold, and third dam the great brood mare Olive
by Daniel Lambert.

250

TWO PACING FAMILIES.

During the pa^t twenty-five yeara certain turf writ-
ei*s have claimed that the American trotter was
indebted more largely to the pacer for his speed than
to any other source. Years ago it was claimed that
the Narragansett pacer originated before the galloper,
that is, the running race horse. The earliest date of
the existence of the Narragansett pacer, according to
the author of that statement, was 1711. Historians
state that the Olympic Games were established in
Greece 1450 years before the Christian era. On the
second day of these games horse racing was a feature
of the sports, and among the regular exercises on the
fourth day were the chariot and horse races. The
horses that took part in these contests were runners.
From this it appears that there had been gallopers in
existence that were used for racing purposes at least
twenty-five hundred years before the Narragansiett
pacer was known. It is a matter of history that horse
racing at the running gait was one of the sports in
England at least six hundred year*s before the Narra-
gansett pacer first appeared.

251

Chapti» X.
THOROUGHBRED AND PAGING CROSSES

Their Relative Value as Factors in Trotting Speed. — ^Notable
Examples.

When the theorv wajs first advanced that the pacing
cross was the most potent factor of trotting speed, the
writer was greatly interested in the subject and studied
it quite carefully for the purpose of getting the bottom
facts. As the Narragansett pacers were very numer-
ous in this country at least fifty years before any
trotter of note appeared, one would naturally expect
to find that cross in the most famous of the early
American trotters, provided that the trotter was really
the offspring of the pacer. Among the most famous
of the first trotters of note produced in this country
were Top Gallant, Whalebone. Dutchman, Screwdriver
and Lady Suffolk. A careful analysis of the blood
lines of all of these noted old-time trotters failed to
disclose a single cross of the Narragansett pacer in
any of them. It showed, however, that every one of
the five were by sires and from dams both of which
were direct descendants of the running race horse

262

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

imported Messenger, and also that there were otiier
running crosses besides imported Messenger close up
in their pedigrees, but no pacing crosses, either Narra-
gansett or any other. Following down through the
list of world's trotting record breakers from Lady
Suffolk no Narragansett pacing cross can be found in
the pedigrees of any of them, and no pacing cross
whatever until Jay-Eye-See (2.10) and Maud S.
(2.08 3-4) are reached, when a cross of the Canadian
pacer old Pilot appears, through his son, Pilot, Jr.,
in the first dam of each. The dam of Pilot, Jr., was
by Funk's Havoc, a running-bred son of Sir Charles
by Sir Archy. The second dam of Jay-Eye-See was a
thoroughbred daughter of Lexington, a son of Boston
and a four-mile running record breaker. The second
dam of Maud S. was a thoroughbred daughter of Bos-
ton, and Boston won a greater number of four-mile
heat races than any other horse of his day.

Taking all these facts into consideration, it looked
quite as reasonable to an unprejudiced student of the
breeding problem that the unusual speed ability
shown by Jay-Eye-See (2.10) and Maud S. (2.08 3-4)
might have been inherited from those record-breaking
runners as that it came from the Canadian pacer old
Pilot. Knowing that several pacers had originated
in Canada, the idea was suggested that if pacers were
the origin of trotting speed the pedigrees of the fastest
trotters raised in Canada must show a near pacing
cross of some kind. The two fastest Canadian bred
trotters at that time were Phyllis (2.15 1-2) and Moose
(2.191-2). Phyllis < 2.15 1-2) was by Phil Sheridan
/ 2.26 1-2), a son of Young Columbus (2.35 1-4), he by

253

THE AMERICA!^ TROTTER.

Old Colmnbus, a horse of unknown breeding, that was
a natural paeer. The dam of Phyllis was by Tom
Sayers, a son of Canada Grey Eagle, said to be a de-
scendant of old Winthrop Messenger; and her second
dam, Grey Nell, wa;s, according to good authority.
from running stock on both sides. Here is a running
cross close up, but no pacing cross neai*er than Old
Columbus. Moose (2.19 1-2) was by the Washburn
Horse, an animal of unknown breeding, that got no
trotter except this solitary Moose (2.19 1-2). The dam
of Moose was by the thoroughbred imported Trustee

These investigations forced upon the writer's mind
the conclusion that the pacing cross was of little, if
any, value as a factor of trotting speed, unless there
was a thoroughbred cross close to the pacing cross.
A few years later Sunol reduced the world's champion
trotting record to 2.08 1-4. Her sire was Electioneei
by Rysdyk's Hambletonian. Her dam was by the trot-
ter Gen. Benton, and her second dam. Waxy, was a
thoroughbred daughter of Lexington, sire of the second
dam of Jay-Eye-See (2.10). The search for a pacing
cross in the dam of Sunol (2.08 1-4) was fruitless, and
the logical conclusion was that as a son of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian could get a world's record breaker from
a mare that had no pacing inheritance, but whose dam
was by a successful race winning thoroughbred, the
pacing cross as a speed factor had been greatly over-
rated by some writers.

The same season that Sunol reduced the world's
champion trotting record to 2.081-4, Palo Alto, by
Electioneer, reduced the world's champion record for
trotting stallions to 2.08 3-4. An investigation of his

254

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

pedigree showed that his dam, Dame Winnie, was a
thoroughbred daughter of Planet. Further investiga-
tion showed that Planet was one of the most successful
race winners of his day. He was raced for several sea-
sons, won in all fifty -seven races, if we remember
correctly, and when retired from the turf was per-
fectly sound and without blemish. His sire was
Revenue and his dam was Nina by Boston ; second dam
imported Frolicsome Fanny by Lottery. Revenue was
by imported Trustee. His dam was Rosalie Somers by
Sir Charles, son of Sir Archy; second dam by Vir-
ginian, by Sir Archy ; third dam by imported Bedford ;
fourth dam by imported Bellair, and so on to the tenth
dam, which was the imported mare Miss Bell. The
result of these investigations was the conclusion that
extreme record breaking trotting speed was due to
some quality inherited from successful race winning
thoroughbreds.

It is also a significant fact, as those who have inves-
tigated the matter carefully well know, that the pedi-
grees of the fastest pacers show numerous thorough-
bred crosses. After Star Pointer accomplished the
wonderful feat at Readville of lowering the world's
champion pacing record to 1.59 1-4, the interesting and
impartial writer Trotwood, a native of Tennessee,
called attention to the fact that the first Tom Hals
which appeared in Tennessee were lacking in speed
and it was not till after the family had absorbed the
warm blood of the Tennessee race horses that they
became distinguished as race winners. Trotwood also
stated that the pedigree of Star Pointer showed not
less than six crosses of the old Derby winner Diomed,

255

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

the greatest progenitor of race winning record break-
ing runners that was ever brought to America. If he
had pursued his investigations farther he would have
found at least ten crosses of old Diomed in 8ta/r
Pointer, not counting the Tarquin cross in Ohinn^s
Copperbottom, sire of the dam of Bald Stockings.

The thoroughbred race horse is the descendant of
ancestors which have been bred for centuries for speed
and other race winning qualities. He has been bred
with great care and the natural result is a family of
animals the best of which possess the important race
innning qualities in a higher degree than can be found
in any other breed or family of horses. This accounts
for the improvement in speed and other necessary race
winning qualities which has resulted from a thorough-
bred cross in both the American trotter and pacer.

The Pacing Cross. If the pacing cross be so potent
a factor of trotting speed as some tnrf writers have
claimed during the past twenty-live years, then the
surest way to breed uniform and extreme trotting
speed is to breed from pacers. But if this be so why
is it that some of the world^s record-breaking trotters
have not come from the Hal family of pacers? It has
been stated upon apparently good authority that old
Tom Hal was taken to Kentucky as early as 1828 ; but
the early trotters of Kentucky do not show a Hal cross
in their pedigrees. The same is true of all the really
noted Kentucky bred trotting sires, from Almont to
McKinney (2.111-4). It is also true of all the great
brood mares bred in Kentucky that were famous as
producers of trotters. Bome of the ancestors of a part

256

I

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

of them paced, it is true, but they were not the de-
scendants of old Tom Hal, or of any other family of
pacers. The only Hal stallion that has sired a trotter
with a record so fast as 2.11 is Hal Dillard (2.04 3-4),
and the only trotter which he has ever sired that has
taken a record in standai'd time U Hallie Rocket
(2.11). The dam of Hallie Rocket was by Kilbuck
Tom, and her second dam was by Wilson's Blue Bull.

Kilbuck Tom made a record of 2.31 trotting and 2.26
pacing. The sire of Kilbuck Tom was White Cloud.
He was by a horse that was called Dan Rice and
claimed to be thoroughbred. The dam of White Cloud
is given as a Canadian pacer, but nothing is known
of her origin and breeding. The dam of Kilbuck Tom
was a beautiful chestnut mare that came from Ken-
tucky, and it was claimed that she was by the famous
race horse Lexington. She ran several races and was
never beaten. Her spirit and bottom were remarkable.
This Kilbuck Tom got the spotted mare Leopard Rose
that trotted to a record of 2.15 1-4 in 1890. The dam
of Leopard Rose was by Gurney, a son of Wood^s
Hambletonian. Two of the maternal ancestors of the
trotter Hallie Rocket (2.11) paced. Hallie was a good
mare, but she was far from being a record-breaker.
Yet she is the fastest trotter in the Hal family. The
only other trotter that we can now recall that was got
by a Hal stallion is Little Gipsy (2.22), whose sire was
Gray's Tom Hal.

The success of this greatest of all pacing families
in producing extreme and uniform trotting speed does
not seem to have been sufficient to support the claim
made by the late J. H. Wallace, one of the foremost

257

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

writers on trotting horse topics, that the pacing cross,
is one of the most potent factors of trotting speed.
Careful study of the Year Book and Register does not
appear to disclose facts which to an impartial mind
lead to such a conclusion, or support such an opinion.
It is a fact which all students of the breeding problem
must have observed, that those writers who give tlie
pacing cross the highest praise as a factor of trotting
speed, emphatically denounce a near thoroughbred
cross in a trotting pedigree. Their arg-ument is that
a thoroughbred race horse was bred to run and hence
a thoroughbred cross must be detrimental to a trotter.
Mambrino Chief, founder of the Mambrino Chief
trotting family, was bred in the State of New York
and was foaled in 1844. He was kept in that State
until the winter of 1854, when he was taken to Ken-
tucky, where he remained until he died in March,
1862. He was used for stock purposes in New York,
beginning, without doubt, in his three-year-old form.
This would give him seven seasons of service in New
York State, the first two of which were probably
limited to but few patrons, but beginning with his
five-year-old form he was capable of doing full service,
which would give him five full seasons in the North.
Not one of those animals that Mambrino Chief got
in the North ever made a record in standard time.

The fastest trotter that Mambrino Chief ever got
was the famous Lady Thorn (2.181-4), and his most
successful son as a progenitor of speed was Hen's
Mambrino Patchen, a full brother of Lady Thorn. The
dam of these two noted animals was known as the
Rodes Mare. Her sire was Gano and her dam was a

258

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

pacer. Gano was quite a successful race horse and a
fairly successful sire of running race winners. He is
registered in Bruce's American Stud Book, a register
for thoroughbred animals, and the best American
authority. The sire of Gano was American Eclipse,
a famous long distance race winner, sired by Duroc,
a son of imported Diomed, and American Eclipse's
dam was the successful running race mare Miller's
Damsel, by imported Messenger. The dam of Gano
was Betsey Ranson, by Virginian, a son of Sir Archy.
This Sir Archy was admitted to be the greatest four-
mile race horse in the world when he was retired
from the turf. He was the best son of imported
Diomed, and his success as a sire of race winners was
fully equal to his success as a racer on the turf. The
second dam of Lady Thorn and Mambrino Patchen,
as already stated, was a pacer. She is described as
very blood-like in appearance. Her sire is given as a
son of the thoroughbred Sir William of Transport,
and Sir William of Transport was by Sir Archy, his
dam being Transport, by Virginius, a son of imported
Diomed. The third dam of Lady Thorn and Mam-
brino Patchen was also a pacer. She resembled a
thoroughbred in appearance, but nothing is known of
her breeding.

Those who believe that a pacing cross is the main-
spring of trotting speed claim that the speed ability
of Lady Thorn (2.18 1-4) and the success of her full
brother, Mambrino Patchen, as a progenitor of trotters,
were due to the fact that their second dam was a pacer,
though it is not known that either her sire or dam
ever paced. The advocates of the pacing cros^ no

259

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

donbt actually believe that because the second dam of
Mambrino Patchen paced, this distinguished son of
Mambrino Chief was more largely indebted to her
for his speed perpetuating powers than to all his other
maternal ancestors, and perhaps it can't be proven
that he was not.

Those who first advocated this doctrine contended
that the pacing and trotting gaits are interchangeable
and essentially the same. This being the case, if the
thoroughbred cross be detrimental to trotting speed,
as they claim, it follows that the thoroughbred cros»
must also be detrimental to pacing speed. Hence,
according to this theory, the get of Mambrino Chief
that were from pacing mares which did not inherit
a thoroughbred cross should be faster trotters than
Lady Thorn (2.18 1-4) and more successful as pro-
genitors of trotting speed than Mambrino Patchen.
Is this in accordance with the facts found in those in-
fallible guides, the Year Book and Trotting Register?
Let us examine them and see. The second fastest
trotter got by Mambrino Chief was Woodford Mam-
brino (2.211-2). The dam of Woodford Mambrino
was the great brood mare Woodbine, and she also
produced that game campaigner Wedgewood (2.19).
Woodbine was by the thoroughbred Woodford, whose
sire was Kosciusko, and whose dam was Melissa, by
Hancock's Hamiltonian by Hamlintonian. son of
imported Diomed. Kosciusko was a full brother of
Saxe Weimer, to which the great brood mare Dolly,
by Mambrino Chief, was inbred- His sire was Sir
Archy, by imported Diomed, and his dam was Lottery,
by imported Bedford; second dam the imported mare

260

I

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

Anvelina. There were no pacers among the ancestors
of Woodbine, and yet, with the exception of Mambrino
Patchen, Woodford Mambrino (2.21 1-2) was the most
successful son of Mambrino Chief as a progenitor of
trotting speed, and far superior as a race trotter to
any of the other sons and daughters of Mambrino
Chief except Lady Thorn (2.181-4), whose dam, the
Rodes mare, was largely thoroughbred and also bred
in similar lines to those found in the dam of Woodford
Mambrino.

It is interesting to compare the speed producing
and speed perpetuating ability of those sons of Mam-
brino Chief which were from running bred mares
that had no pacing ancestors, with such of his sons
as were from pacing mares that had no near thorough-
bred crosses in their pedigrees. Some writers who
were looked upon as the highest authority on the
breeding of trotters have gone so far as to assert
positively and emphatically that the pacer or pacing
element is the real source of trotting speed. The
same writers, as already observed, have stated with
equal positiveness and emphasis that any thoroughbred
cross is detrimental to trotting speed. This is a
question of deep interest and great importance to
breeders of trotting stock. Now if the claim of the
above named writers be true, then the progeny of any
sire, Mambrino Chief for instance, which were from
pacing dams, or those from pacing ancestors, with no
near thoroughbred crosses in their pedigi'ees, should
have proved much more successful as fast trotters and
progenitors of trotting speed than those sons of
Mambrino Chief which were from dams that were not

2(51

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

pacers, but whose ancestors on the contrary were
thoronghbreds, or running stock. What are the facts ?
Any one can learn for himself by studying the Great
Table in the Year Book. As there are some who may
not have Year Books or may not have time to hunt up
the facts in them, we will give the facts as they appear
there.

The total number of Mambrino Chief's sons that
sired standard speed according to the Year Book is
twenty-three. Five of these twenty-three were from
dams that were either pacers themselves, or were bred
from pacing stock, and had no near thoroughbred
crosses in their pedigrees. They are as follows:

First: — Alcalde, whose dam was by Pilot, Jr., a son
of pacing Pilot, and whose second dam was a trotter.
Alcalde is the sire of four performers which have taken
records in standard time. Four of his sons sired a
total of thirteen standard performers and his daugh-
ters produced fifteen with standard records, making
the total number to the credit of Alcalde, thirty-two.

Second: — Garrard Chief, whose dam was of pacing
stock. Garrard Chief is the sire of one standard
performer. Three of his sons have sired a total of
five in the 2.30 list, and his daughters have produced
seventeen standard performers, making the total
twenty-three.

Third: — Joe Hooker, whose dam was by the pacer
Davy Crockett. Joe Hooker got two standard per-
formers. None of his sons ever sired a 2.30 trotter
or 2.25 pacer, but his daughters produced four in the
list, giving him a total of six.

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING GROSSES.

Fourth: — Mambrino Brave, whose dam wa^ the
pacer Lady Denmark. Mambrino Brave got one that
is in the standard list, but none of his sons ever sired
nor none of his daughters ever produced a standard
performer, so his total is one.

Fifth: — Mambrino Star. The dam of Mambrino
Star was Lady Fairfield, by the pacer Old Red Buck.
The number of standard performers got by Mambrino
Star is two. None of his sons ever sired a standard
performer, and his daughters have produced but eight
in the list, which makes his number ten.

The above are the only five of Mambrino Chief's
sons which were from strictly pacing or pacing bred
dams, and the total number of standard performers
got by them and their sons added to all that were
produced by their daughters is seventy-two.

There were five sons of Mambrino Chief that were
out of running bred dams with no pacing ancestry,
which we will compare with the above five from pacing
dams. They are as follows:

First: — Ashland. His dam was Utilla, a running
bred daughter of imported Margrave. Ashland is the
sire of three in the 2.30 list. His sons have sired one
standard performer, and his daughters produced four,
giving him a total of eight.

Second: — Ashland Chief, whose dam was the'^iley
mare, a running bred daughter of imported Yorkshire.
Ashland Chief is the sire of three in the list. Two of
his sons have sired eight and his daughters have
produced nineteen standard performers, giving him
thirty.

263

THE AMERICA:^ TROTTER.

Third:— Idol (Peck's). The dam of Peck's Idol
was a running bred daughter of the great four mile
race horse American Eclipse. Idol i:s the sire of five
in the standard list. One son has sired three and
his daughters have produced fourteen in all, making
a total of twenty-two.

Fourth i! — Mambrino Chief, Jr. (Fisk's). The dam
of Fisk's Mambrino Chief, Jr., was the second dam
of Mambrino King, and was by Birmingham, a son
of Stockholder, by Sir Archy. His second dam was
by Bertrand, a son of Sir Archy, and his third dam
by Robert Bruce, another descendant of Sir Archy,
Fisk's Mambrino Chief sired six with standard
records. Six of his sons sired in all twenty-three in
the standard list, and his daughters produced twenty-
three standard performers, making in all fifty-two.

Fifth :— Woodford Mambrino (2.211-2). His dam
was Woodbine, by the running bred Woodford, a son
of Kosciusko, by Sir Archy. Woodford Mambrino
sired thirteen standard performers, all trotters.
Twenty-five of his sons are credited with a total of
one hundred and sixty-eight standard performers, and
his daughters have produced forty-three, making a
total of two hundred and twenty -four.

The number of standard performers got by the five
sons of Mambrino Chief, which were out of pacing or
pacing-bred dams, together with those sired by their
sons and produced by their daughters, is seventy-two,
as against three hundred and thirty-six credited to
the five sons from dams of thoroughbred stock.

264

-Pi

,^

■s^-

I-

n-

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

It seems from the above that those five sons,
together with their sons and daughters from running-
bred dams, have produced nearly five times as many
standard performers as those from pacing dams.
Were the quality or capacity for a high rate of speed
to be taken into account it would be found that those
stallions which are from running-bred dams are as
far ahead of those from the pacing dams in that
respect as they are in the number of standard
performers.

Mambrino Patchen was far superior to any other
son of Mambrino Chief as a progenitor of trotting
speed. He is credited with twenty-five that made
standard records, all trotters; also with fifty-three
sons that have sired one hundred and ninety-eight with
standard records, and up to the close of 1903 with one
hundred and two daughters that had produced one
hundred and fifty-two that had made records in stand-
ard time. His dam, the Rodes mare, as already stated,
was by the thoroughbred Gano; his second dam by a
son of the thoroughbred Sir William of Transport,
and his third dam a mare of unknown ancestry that
paced, but it is not known whether she was from
pacing ancestors or was one of the many accidental
pacers — probably the latter.

Now, in the light of the facts shown by the above
comparison of the five producing sons of Mambrino
Chief whose dams were pacers or from pacing stock,
with the five sons which were from dams that were
thoroughbred, or from near thoroughbred ancestors
on both sides, the question is, to what was the superior-
itv of Mambrino Patchen due? Was it to the fact

265

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

that his third dam paced, or was it the result of the
speed ability, the courage, the endurance and the in-
clination to win that he inherited from his thorough-
bred ancestors, which were among the most noted race
winners of their day, and were descendants of the
best racing stock to be found in England? There are
the plain, unvarnished facts. What is the logical
conclusion to be derived from them by those of un-
prejudiced minds?

Let us pursue the inve^stigation a step farther.
From what sort of dams were the sons of Mambrino
Patchen that were most successful as sires of speed,
and those of his daughters that were most successful
as speed producers? What was the character of these
dams and how were they bred? Were they pacers?
Did their ancestors pace, or were they, too, from
mares bred in thoroughbred lines and from the best
of race- winning stock?

It has already been stated that Mambrino Patchen
is credited with fifty-three sons that have sired one
hundred and ninety-eight animals which have made
standard records, and one hundred and fifty-eight of
them were trotters — an average of about three trotters
and one pacer to each of the fifty-three sons. The son
of Mambrino Patchen which stands out prominently
from, and towers far above all others as a progenitor
of standard performers, is Mambrino King. As the
returns for 1904 are as yet incomplete, we
will take the figures shown in the Year Book for 1903.
Mambrino King is there credited with fifty-three trot-
ters and sixteen pacers that had made standard rec-
ords. This is a slight fraction more than one-third

266

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

of the entire number of standard performers credited
to the fifty-three sons of Mambrino Patchen. Among
this number are three trotters and five pacers that
have made records from 2.041-4 to 2.10. An investi-
gation of the blood lines of the dam of Mambrino
King shows that she was by Alexander's Edwin For-
rest, a horse inbred to Watkins' Highlander. The lat-
ter was by the imported English running-bred horse,
Brown Highlander. The second dam of Mambrino
King was by Birmingham, a running-bred son of
Stockholder by Sir Archy ; third dam by Bertrand, an-
other son of Sir Archy ; fourth dam by Robert Bruce,
by Clinton, by Sir Charles by Sir Archy, and fifth dam
by imported Buzzard. There was none of the pacing
element in the dam of Mambrino King. On the con-
trary, she inherited a very large share of the same
kind of thoroughbred blood that is found in the dam
of Mambrino Patchen.

The most successful of the one hundred and two
daughters of Mambrino Patchen as a producer of
trotters was the renowned Alma Mater. Eight of the
sons and daughters of Alma Mater trotted to records
of 2.30 or better, and among them were the successful
sires Alcantara (2.23), Alcyone (2.27) and Alfonso
(2.29 3-4). One will look in vain for pacers among
the maternal ancestors of Alma Mater. Her dam,
Estella, was a thoroughbred daughter of imported
Australian. Her second dam was Fanny G., by im-
ported Margrave, and she was also the second dam
of the great brood mare Dame Winnie, that produced
Palo Alto (2.08 3-4), etc. The third dam of Alma
Mater was Lancess, bv Lance, son of the renowned

267

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

American Eclipse; fourth dam, Aurora by Aratus, a
son of Director by Sir Archy; fifth dam, Paragon by
imported Buzzard, and so on through thoroughbreds
to her eighth dam, which was the famous Slammer-
kin, whose sire was imported Wildair, and whose
dam was the noted Cub Mare, imported from Eng-
land. Slammerkin was the third dam of Mambrino,
sire of old Abdallah.

Now let us see how the dam of that son of Mam-
brino King is bred, which has sired the greatest num-
ber of standard performers. The son of Mambrino
King that has proved the most successful as a sire
of performers with standard records is Elyria
(2.251-4). At the close of 1903 Elyria was cred-
ited with sixty-one trotters and thirteen pacers
that had taken standard records — a total of seventy-
four. His sire, Mambrino King, was then credited
with fifty-three trotters and sixteen pacers, a total of
sixty-nine. His list of standard performers already
exceeds that of his sire. The dam of Elyria (2.25 1-4)
was Maggie Mitchell. She was got by Bradford's
Telegraph, a non-standard son of Vermont Black
Hawk, that was owned and kept for stock purposes
by I. T. Bradford, Augusta, Ky., and died his prop-
erty in 1876. It is stated upon good authority that
the second dam of Elyria was by a thoroughbred called
Prince Edward. There are three thoroughbreds
registered in Bruce's American Stud Book under that
name : one, a chestnut horse, foaled 1828, owned at one
time in Georgia and sired by Muckle John, a ^on of
Sir Archy. Another was a bay horse, foaled in 1834,
sired by Sir Charles, a son of Sir Archy; dam by

268

THOROUGHBRED AND PACING CROSSES.

Randolph's Roanoke, son of Sir Archy. This horse
was also owned in the South. The third, Prince Ed-
ward, was owned in Canada, and was too young to
have got the second dam of Elyria. It is probable
from the date of her birth that she was by the son
of Sir Charles that was foaled in 1834. One thing is
sure. The dam of Elyria was not a pacer and had no
known pacing inheritance. Neither the success of
Mambrino King nor Elyria can be attributed to the
pacing element.

There is no doubt that the pacing gait is more con-
ducive to extreme speed than the trotting gait. It
required no greater amount of nerve force, energy,
or propelling power, to enable Jay-Eye-See to pace a
mile in 2.06 1-4 than it did to trot a mile in 2.10—
probably not as great. There is no doubt that a fast
pacing stallion or mare may transmit fast trotting
ability; neither is there any doubt that slow pacers
which have no speed inheritance cannot do this. It
would be contrary to the law of heredity. Every fast
pacer whose breeding is known has a thoroughbred
inheritance from some ancestor or ancestors. There
are but few instances where a pacing stallion whose
sire was a trotter has been more successful as a sire
of trotting speed than some trotting stallion by the
same sire. Direct (2.05 1-2) is one of them. He was
a trotter at first and took a record of 2.18 1-4 at that
gait as a four-year-old. Moreover, his second dam
was by Jack Hawkins, a thoroughbred son of Boston.
Sidney (2.19 3-4) was another, and he, too, trotted

269

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

when young. It was undoubtedly their speed inheri-
tance and not their pacing gait that made them suc-
cessful sires of trotting speed. There was a stallion
by Alexander's Abdallah that paced. He was known
as Pacing Abdallah and so registered. Many years
ago it was expected and predicted by those who be-
lieved that the speed of the trotter came from the pacer
that Pacing Abdallah would prove the most successful
of all the sons of Alexander's Abdallah as a progenitor
of trotting speed. He got in all two trotters that
made standard records, viz., W. H. B. (2.28 1-4) and
Bay Mate (2.30). The only son of Pacing Abdallah
that had sired a standard performer up to the close
of 1903 was Billy Campbell, and his only performer
was Grace A. (2.161-4).

I

270

Chapter XI.
INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

Blood Lines of Noted Winners. — Top Gallant. — Screwdriver. —
Whalebone. — Dutchman. — Lady Suffolk. — Flora Temple. —
Dexter. — Goldsmith Maid. — Rarus. — St. Julien. — Jay-Eye-
See. — Maud S. — Sunol. — Nancy Hanks. — Alix. — The Abbot-
Cresceus. — Lou Dillon.

There is a decided difference of opinion in regard to
the influence of a thoroughbred cross upon a trotter.
Some contend that as the thoroughbred has been bred
for generations to race at the running gait and can-
not trot fai^t as compared with trotting speed of the
present day, that a thoroughbred cross of any kind
must be, and surely is, detrimental to trotting speed.
They say it is absurd to claim that any benefit to a
trotter can come from a thoroughbred cross from an
animal that can't trot. Some of the advocates of this
idea have attempted to heap ridicule and abuse upon
those who think and argue differently. To many, es-
pecially those who have given but little thought to
the subject and others who have studied it super-
ficially, such statements and opinions seem plausible.
Students of the breeding problem, however, as well as
unprejudiced practical breeders, care little for the

271

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

opinions of any writer. What the man who studies
and thinks for himself wants is facts, not opinions.
Give him the facts and he can form his own opinion.
Now what are the facts in regard to the effects of a
thoroughbred cross on the trotter as shown by the
Year Book and Register? Beginning with the most
noted of the early American trotters and the most sue
cessful sires and dams of such, how were they bred?
What were the blood lines of the most successful speed
perpetuators and of the descendants of these famous
sirs and dams?

Blood Lines of Noted Winners. What combina-
tions of blood lines have produced the world's record
breakers from Lady Suffolk (2.291-2) to Lou Dillon
;^1 58 12) and the record-breaking producing sires
from Rysdyk's HambJetonian, the greatest trotting
progenitor of all time, to Nutwood (2.18 3-4) and Al-
lerton (2.09 1-4), the greatest of their age that have
ever lived? Plain, unvarnished facts must outweigh
in all unprejudiced minds mere theories and opinions
that are not supported by facts. Let us go back to the
earliest of the American trotters and see from what
source they came, then follow along down through
the line of the most famous of the world's trotting
record-breakers and see from what sort of ancestors
they came. Facts gleaned from the study of such
should throw some light upon this subject.

Top Gallant. Four of the most noted and success-
ful of the early trotters whose breeding is known, taken
in the order of the date that they were foaled, were
Top Gallant, Screwdriver, Whalebone and Dutchman.

272

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

Top Gallant was foaled about 1810 and got by Corian-
der, whose sire was imported Messenger, a horse bred
for racing at the running gait, and that was raced for
several seasons in England with fair success. The
dam of Coriander was by Allen's Brown Figure, prob-
ably a descendant of that son of Grey Figure which
won a four-mile running race at Annapolis, Md., in
1766. Coriander's second dam was by Rainbow, a son
of the imported running-bred Wildair. a successful sire
of race winners, both in England and in America.

The dam of Top Gallant was by Bishop's Hamble-
tonian, a running-bred horse and quite a successful
race winner, whose sire was imported Messenger, and
whose dam was Pheasant, by imported Shark, a son
of Marske, the sire of the invincible English Eclipse.
Top Gallant was trotting races of four-mile heats after
he was twenty-two years old and was well up with the
best of the trotters even then. He was inbred to im-
ported Messenger and had several other running
crosses close up. His immediate ancestors, in fact
all of his ancestors so far as known, were from run-
ning-bred stock.

Screwdriver. Screwdriver was foaled in 1819 and
was raced from 1824 to 1828, when he died. He beat
some of the best of his day, including the noted Top
Gallant. Screwdriver was got by American Com-
mander, a son of Commander, by imported Messenger.
The dam of American Commander was by the thor-
oughbred imported Light Infantry. Screwdriver's
dam was by Mount Holly, a son of imported Messenger.
The dam of Mount Holly was by Bajazet, a thorough
bred son of imported Bajazet, and his second dam was

273

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

by Bashaw, a thoroughbred son of imported Wildair.
Screwdriver, like old Top Gallant, was inbred to im-
ported Messenger and also inherited a large amount
of other thoroughbred blood.

Whalebone. Whalebone was foaled about 1820,
hence was about ten years younger than old Top
Gallant. He was a horse of great endurance and once
beat Top Gallant, though he was never so fast as
Top Gallant in his prime. He was only ten years old
when he beat Top Gallant, and the latter was then 20
years old. In 1831 Whalebone trotted thirty-two
miles in one hour, fifty-eight minutes and five seconds.
His sire was Bishop's Hambletonian, a running-bred
son of imported Messenger, and his dam was by
CoflSn's Messenger, by imported Messenger. The dam
of Coffin's Messenger was by Feather, a son of the
thoroughbred imported Light Infantry.

Dutchman. Dutchman was foaled in 1828 and was
the greatest trotter that had ever been produced up to
his time. Hie sire was Tippoo Saib, Jr., a son of Mur-
phy's Engineer, and Murphy's Engineer was by Grey
Mambrino, a son of imported Messenger. The dam
of Dutchman was by Mambrino, a son of im-
ported Messenger that was also known as Fox-
hunter, and this Mambrino's (Fox-hunter) dam
was by Pulaski, a thoroughbred son of Why-
not. The latter was a thoroughbred son of
imported Fearnaught. The second dam of Fox-
hunter was by Wilkes, a thoroughbred son of imported
Figure; third dam a thoroughbred daughter of True
Briton, a son of imported Othello. Dutchman beat

274

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

all the best trotters of his day, including the famous
Lady Suffolk.

Lady Suffolk. The first trotter to take a record
below 2.30 to harness was Lady Suffolk, that won a
race against Moscow at Beacon Course, N. J., October
13, 1845, taking first, second and fifth heats in 2.34,
2.29 1-2, 2.36. Moscow won the second and third heats
in 2.30, 2.34. Lady Suffolk was both a world's cham-
pion trotting record breaker and a world's champion
race winner. She was campaigned for fifteen seasons,
won eighty-one races and received two forfeits. Many
of her races were two-mile heats, and some of them
were four-mile heats. The first race that she won was
on the Beacon Course, N. J., June 22, 1838, and her
last victory was at Union Course, Long Island, N. Y.,
July 5, 1852. This wonderful mare was bred by Leon-
ard W. Lawrence, Smithtown, L. I., and foaled in 1833.
Her sire was Engineer 2d, a son of Engineer by
imported Messenger. The dam of Engineer 2d was
raced successfully at the running gait. Her sire was
Plato, a full brother of Bishop's Hambletonian, the
best son of imported Messenger. The second dam of
Engineer 2d was by Kainbow, a running-bred son of
the famous imported Wildair. The dam of Lady Suf-
folk was by Don Quixote. His sire was Potomac, a
thoroughbred son of imported Messenger, and his dam
was a daughter of imported Messenger. This Don
Quixote is registered in Vol. 1 of the American Trot-
ting Register, where it is stated that he was by im-
ported Messenger, and from a dam of unknown
breeding, but this was discovered to be an error and
was corrected in Vol. 3 of the American Trotting

275

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Register, where his breeding is given as above. The
second dam of Lady Suffolk was by Rainbow, the run-
ning-bred son of imported Wildair that got the second
dam of Engineer 2d, by which it will be seen that Lady
Suffolk was strongly inbred to imported Messenger,
and was also inbred to the imported Wildair
strain. The get of imported Wildair was so highly
esteemed in England that after the horse had been in
this country a few years he was bought by an English
breeder for stock purposes and taken back to his native
land. He was a near descendant of Godolphin Ara-
bian, Darley Arabian and Byerley Turk, the three
horses to which the famous English thoroughbred
race horse is most largely indebted for his speed and
superior racing qualities. Wildair was by Cade, one
of the most successful sons of Godolphin Arabian as
a progenitor of race winners. The dam of Wildair
was by Steady, a noted son of the renowned Flying
Childers, the fastest runner in England in his day
and a son of Darley Arabian. Wildair's third dam
was by Croft's Partner, and he by Jigg, a son of Byer-
ley Turk. Pick's description of this horse has already
been stated. It is as follows: 'Partner was a horse
of great strength, fine shape and beauty. He was the
best racer of his time at Newmarket. This most ex-
cellent horse was allowed to be as fine a stallion as
any ever bred in this kingdom and not inferior to
any foreign one."

Such was all that is known of the breeding of the
renowned race winner and world's record-breaking
trotter. Lady Suffolk (2.291-2). All of her ancestors
whose breeding was known were from race-winning

276

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

running stock, like those of Top Gallant, Screwdriver,
Whalebone and Dutchman. Narragansett pacers were
plentiful when the ancestors of these animals were
bred, and there were undoubtedly some cart horses in
this country at that time, but these noted animals
so far as known did not inherit a cross from either of
those sources.

Flora Temple. During the last year that Lady
Suffolk (2.29 1-2) was raced another trotter that
proved a worthy successor began her racing career.
This was Flora Temple. She was raced successfully
for twelve consecutive seasons, and lowered the world's
champion trotting record to 2.19 3-4 in the third heat
of a race that she won at Kalamazoo, Mich., October
15, 1859. Flora Temple won in all ninety-five races
against the best trotters of her day. At Fashion
Course, Long Island, July 25, 1861, she beat Ethan
Allen and running mate in 2.21 1-4, 2.20 1-2, distancing
the team in the second heat. This was her last victory,
and a fitting climax to a most brilliant turf careii.
Flora Temple was bred by Samuel Welch of Oneida
Co., N. Y., and foaled in 1845. It was stated at one
time, and is still claimed by some, that her sire was
One Eyed Kentucky Hunter, but Mr. Welch, who bred
her, stated in a letter published in Wallace's Monthly
of February, 1878, that her sire was Bogus Hunter.
The latter was by Kentucky Hunter and he by Wat-
kins Highlander, a son of the thoroughbred imported
Brown Highlander. The dam of Kentucky Hunter
was said to be a daughter of the noted four-mile race
horse Sir Henry, by Sir Archy.

277

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Mr. Welch undoubtedly intended to state facts and
believed sincerely that he was doing so when he made
the statement above referred to, that Flora Temple was
by Bogus Hunter. There is very strong evidence,
however, to show that, owing to his advanced age and
the long time that had elapsed after the incident had
occurred, and before he made the statement to Mr.
Wallace, that some important details connected with
the event had escaped his memory. There is direct
evidence to prove that Mr. Welch took the dam of Flora
Temple to the home of Bogus Hunter and had her
mated with that horse, but that she failed to conceive
and was sent back by a boy. Bogus Hunter was so
busy the day that she was returned that his stable
mate, One Eyed Kentucky Hunter, was used instead.
Both were by the same sire, but Bogus Hunter was
considerably larger than One Eyed Kentucky Hunter.
Flora Temple bore a much stronger resemblance in
size to the latter than the former, and the evidence
seems conclusive that One Eyed Kentucky Hunter was
her sire.

The dam of Flora Temple was by a spotted horse
that was claimed to be all Arabian or from Arabian
stock, but we have never been able to learn his breed-
ing. The second dam of Flora Temple was described
by Mr. John L, Peck, who knew her well, as she was
owned by his father. This Mr. Peck says she was a
bay in color, with black points, low set and heavy,
would weigh from ten hundred and fifty to ten hundred
and seventy-five pounds, had a docked tail, and was a
very smart animal, but he knew nothing of her origin
or breeding. The above is all that the writer has ever

278

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

been able to learn of the most remarkable trotter of
her day.

Dexter. The first trotter to beat the record of
Flora Temple was Dexter, by Rysdyk's Hambletonian.
Dexter^s best record was 2.17 1-4, but it is not improb
able that it would have been considerably faster had
the horse not passed to the ownership of Robert
Bonner soon after his record of 2.17 1-4 was made.
Mr. Bonner never raced his horses in public. He
bought the fastest trotters that could be found, paid
higher prices than any other gentleman of his time,
and used them for his private driving. Dexter
(2.171-4), as everyone knows, was by Rysdyk's
Hambletonian, and his dam was by Seely's American
Star. It was claimed at one time that the trotter
Dexter was by Sayre's Harry Clay (2.29), but the
only ground for that claim was the fact that he had
four white feet and some white in his face. Years ago
we wrote to Mr. Jonathan Hawkins, the breeder of
Dexter, asking him if Clara, Dexter's dam, was mated
with Sayre's Harry Clay the year before Dexter was
foaled. He replied that she was never mated with
that horse. Seely's American Star was raced when
young at the running gait. He was afterwards trained
to trot, and showed considerable speed at that way
of going. He was undoubtedly by Stockholm's Ameri-
can Star, whose sire was Duroc and whose dam was
closely inbred to the Messenger strain. The dam of
Seely's American Star was by Sir Henry, a son of Sir
Archy, and his second dam was a daughter of imported
Messenger. This is all that is known of the breeding
of Dexter. If there were any cold-blooded animals or

279

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

any pacers among his ancestors they have never been
discovered.

Goldsmith Maid. The first trotter to beat Dexter' s
2.17 1-4 was the wonderful mare Goldsmith Maid,
foaled in 1857, and she finally lowered the world's
champion trotting record to 2.14 at Mystic Park, Med-
ford, September 2, 1874, being then upwards of seven-
teen years old. She equalled this record, at Belmont
Park, Philadelphia, June 23, 1876. She beat Rarus
in a race at Chico, Cal., May 19, 1877, in straight heats,
time 2.19 1-2. 2.14 1-2, 2.17, and was then upwards of
twenty years old. Goldsmith Maid was bred by John
B. Decker, Deckertown, N. J. Her sire was Alexan-
der's Abdallah, by Rysdyk's Hambletonian. Her dam
wa<? by old Abdallah, the sire of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian, and her second dam was raced at four-mile
heats at the running gait, but nothing is known of her
breeding. Judging from the fact that she was a
runner and was good enough to race at that gait, it is
reasonable to believe that she was not from cold-
blooded ancestors. The dam of Alexander's Abdallah
was said to be by Bay Roman, a son of imported Ro-
man. This has been questioned, and an effort was
made some years ago to trace her breeding, but the
parties knowing to the facts were either dead or so
scattered that they could not be found, and the effort
failed, i^o evidence has ever been presented to prove
that any of the ancestors of Goldsmith Maid were
from cold-blooded or from pacing stock, and no such
claim ha«? ever been made to the knowledge of the
writer.

280

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED,

Rarus. On August 3, 1878, at Buffalo, N. Y., the
world's champion trotting record was lowered to
2.13 1-4 by Rarus. The sire of Rarus was Conklin's
Abdallah, and he was claimed to be a son of old Ab-
dallah. There is little doubt that such was the case,
though, so far as known, his breeder has never been
reached. The dam of Rarus was Nancy Awful by
Smith Burr's Napoleon. The latter was an inbred
Messenger. The second dam of Rarus was Lady
Hunter by Vermont Black Hawk. There are no cold
crosses or pacing crosses in the dam of Rarus so far
as known, though the Register erroneously gives the
dam of Vermont Black Hawk as a pacer. The author
of the Register was unconsciously led into this error
by someone who in attempting to trace the dam of
Vermont Black Hawk got on the trail of the wrong
animal.

St. Julien. The 2.131-4 of Rarus stood as the
world's champion trotting record till October 25, 1879,
when St. Julien reduced it to 2.12 3-4 at Oakland, Oal.
He afterwards reduced it to 2.11 1-4 at Hartford,
Conn., August 27, 1880. St. Julien was foaled in 1869.
His sire was Volunteer. The latter was by Rysdyk's
Hambletonian and his dam was Lady Patriot, by
Young Patriot, whose sire was Patriot, a son of the
thoroughbred Blucher, by Duroc. The second dam of
Volunteer was the Lewis Hulse mare. Nothing is
known of her breeding, but she was a fast runner and
also a fast trotter. It has been stated upon good au-
thority that the owner of the Lewis Hulse mare issued
a standing challenge to run or trot her against any-
thing that could be led into that county. The dam

281

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

of St. Julien was Flora by Sayre's Harry Clay (2.29) ;
second dam by Napoleon, a son of imported Napoleon
and third dam by Cox's imported Arabian. The an-
cestors of St. Julien so far as known were all from
the best of racing stock.

Jay-Eye- See. The first trotter to take so fast a
record as 2.10 was Jay-Eye-See. He trotted to this
record at Narragansett Park, Providence, R. I., August
1, 1884. Jay-Eye-See (2.10) was foaled in 1878. His
sire was Dictator, a full brother of the renowned
Dexter (2.171-4), being by Rysdyk's Hambletonian
and from the great brood mare Clara, by Seely's
American Star. The dam of Jay-Eye-See was Mid-
night, by Pilot, Jr., whose breeding has already been
given. Jay-Eye-See's second dam was Twilight, a run-
ning-bred daughter of the great four-mile race horse
Lexington, by Boston. The third dam of Jay-Eye-See
was Daylight, by imported Glencoe; fourth dam Dark-
ness, by Wagner, a four-mile race record breaker in his
day, whose sire was Sir Charles, by Sir Archy, and
whose dam, Maria West, was by Marion, another son
of Sir Archy. The fifth dam of Jay-Eye-See was Lady
Gray, by Sir Richard Tonson; sixth dam Lucy Clark,
by Tennessee Oscar, a son of Wonder, by imported
Diomed; seventh dam by imported Knowlesly, and
eighth dam by imported Diomed. The dam of Pilot,
Jr., sire of Jay-Eye-See's dam, was by a running-bred
son of Sir Archy, and all the dams beyond that were
from the best of running-bred stock on both sides.

Maud S. The first trotter to beat the record of Jay-
Eye-See (2.10) was Maud S., and she finally lowered
the world's champion trotting record to 2.08 3-4. This

282

I

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

was at Cleveland, O., July 30, 1885. Maud S. was by
Harold, whose sire was the renowned Rysdyk^s Ham-
bletonian and whose dam was by old Abdallah, the
sire of Rysdyk's Hambletonian. The blood lines of
the dam of Maud S. were quite similar to those of the
dam of Jay-Eye-See. Her dam was Miss Russell, by
Pilot, Jr. ; second dam Sally Russell, by Boston ; third
dam Maria Russell, by Thornton's Rattler, a son of
Sir Archy ; fourth dam Miss Shepherd, by Stockholder,
a son of Sir Archy ; fifth dam Miranda, by Topgallant,
son of imported Diomed; sixth dam a daughter of im-
ported Diomed and seventh dam by imported Medley.
With the exception of old pacing Pilot, sire of Pilot,
Jr., all of the ancestors of the dam of Maud S., so far
as known, were from the best of running race horse
stock.

SuNOL. The next trotting record breaker was Sunol,
foaled in 1886. She lowered the world's champion
trotting record to 2.08 1-4 at Stockton, Cal., October
20, 1891. Sunol was by Electioneer, whose sire waa
Rysdyk's Hambletonian, and whose dam, the famous
Green Mountain Maid, was by Say re's Harry Clay
(2.29). The second dam of Electioneer was Shanghai
Mary, whose sire was undoubtedly Iron's Cadmus, and
whose dam was running bred. The dam of Sunol was
Waxana, by the fast trotting stallion Gen. Benton.
Sunol's second dam was Waxy, a running-bred
daughter of the renowned four-mile record breaker
Lexington, by Boston; third dam Keenon Mare, by
Brawner's Eclipse, son of American Eclipse; fourth
dam Mary Streshly by John Henry, a son of Muckle
John, by Sir Archy; and fifth dam Mary Hunter, by

283

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

Harris' Paragon. It will be observed that the breed-
ing of Sunol was quite similar on both sides to that
of Maud S. (2.08 3-4) and Jay-Eye-See (2.10).

Nancy Hanks. The record of Sunol (2.081-4)
stood as the best ever made by a trotter till August
17, 1892, when Nancy Hanks, foaled in 1886, hitched
to a bicycle sulky, reduced it to 2.07 1-4, and finally,
at Terre Haute, Ind., September 28, 1892, lowered it
to 2.04. Nancy Hanks was by Happy Medium
(2.321-2), whose sire was Rysdyk's Hambletonian,
and whose dam was the noted trotter Princess (2.30),
that forced Flora Temple to her record of 2.19 3-4.
Princess was by Andrus' Hambletonian, whose sire,
Judson's Hambletonian, was by Bishop's Hambleton-
ian, a running-bred son of imported Messenger. The
dams of both Judson's and Andrus' Hambletonian
were by a descendant of imported Magnum Bonum,
a horse strongly inbred to the renowned Godolphin
Arabian. Princess' dam was by Burdick's Engineer,
a son of Engineer, by imported Messenger. The dam
of Nancy Hanks (2.04) was Nancy Lee. Her sire was
Dictator, the full brother of Dexter (2.171-4), whose
breeding has already been given. The second dam of
Nancy Hanks was Sophy, by Alexander's Edwin For-
rest, a horse inbred to Watkins' Highlander, a son of
the running-bred imported Brown Highlander; third
dam by Parker's Brown Pilot, whose sire was Brutus,
and whose dam was by Cherokee, a thoroughbred son
of Sir Archy. Brutus was by the Canadian pacer Old
Copperbottom, and his dam was by the thoroughbred
Robin Grey. Nancy Hanks' fourth dam was by Ber-
trand, a thoroughbred son of Sir Archy. Nancy

284

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

Hanks is quite close inbred to the renowned Rysdyk^s
Hambletonian, himself a strongly inbred Messenger.
Princess, the dam of her sire, was inbred to the Mes-
senger strain. Nancy Hanks got a remote pacing
cross through old Copperbottom, and considerable of
the running element all along the line.

Alix. The record of Nancy Hanks (2.04) stood as
the best for trotters until September 19, 1894, when
Alix, then six years old, reduced it to 2.03 3-4, at
Galesburg, 111. Alix was got by Patronage, a son of
Pancoast (2.213-4), and he a son of Woodford Mam-
brino (2.211-2), the fastest son of Mambrino Chief.
The dam of Woodford Mambrino was by Woodford, a
running-bred son of Kosciusko, by Sir Archy. Pan-
coast's dam was the great brood mare Bicara (dam of
six trotters in the list), by Harold, son of Bysdyk's
Hambletonian; second dam Belle (dam of McCurdy's
Hambletonian, 2.261-2, Alexander's Belmont, 64, etc.),
by Mambrino Chief; and third dam by Brown's Bell-
founder, whose sire was the Norfolk trotter imported
Bellfounder, and whose dam. Lady Allport, was very
closely inbred to imported Messenger. She was by
Mambrino, the running-bred son of imported Messen-
ger that got Abdallah. Her dam was by Tippoo Saib,
another running-bred son of imported Messenger, and
her second dam was a daughter of imported Messen-
ger. The dam of Patronage, sire of Alix (2.03 3-4),
was Beatrice by Cuyler, a son of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian. Beatrice was a full sister of Elvira, that
reduced the world's champion four-year-old trotting
record to 2.18 1-2. The second dam of Patronage was
Mary Mambrino, by Herr's Mambrino Patchen; third

285

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

dam Belle Wagner, by Embryos Wagner, a thorough-
bred son of the old four-mile race record breaker Wag-
ner; fourth dam Lady Bell, by Bellfounder, Jr., a son
of imported Bellfounder; fifth dam Multiflora, a thor-
oughbred daughter of Monmouth Eclipse, by American
Eclipse; and sixth dam by Kosciusko, the son of Sir
Archy that got the thoroughbred Woodford, sire of the
great brood mare Woodbine, that produced Wedge-
wood (2.19) and Woodford Mambrino (2.211-2).

The dam of Alix (2.03 3-4) was Atlanta. Her sire,
Attorney, was by Harold, the son of Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian that got the old-time champion Maud S.
(2.08 3-4). The dam of Attorney was Maud (dam of
King Jim, 2.201-2), by Alexander's Abdallah; second
dam the Robert Bruce mare, a thoroughbred daughter
of Robert Bruce; third dam by Muckle John, by Sir
Archy. Robert Bruce was by Clinton, a son of Sir
Charles by Sir Archy, and his dam was by Sir Archy.
The second dam of Alix was Flirt, by Gen. Hatch, and
he was by Strader's Cassius M. Clay, Jr. (22). His
dam was by imported Envoy, and his second dam was
by imported Tranby. Alix's third dam was the great
brood mare Dolly, by Iowa, a thoroughbred son of im-
ported Glencoe. The dam of Iowa was Maria Pearce,
by Veto, a son of Sir Archy ; second dam Mary Stuart,
by John Richards, another son of Sir Archy; third
dam by Ogle's Oscar and fourth dam by imported
Messenger, The fourth dam of Alix (2.03 3-4) was
Dolly Aldrich. She probably originated in Ohio, the
State that produced Shanghai Mary, dam of the fa-
mous Green Mountain Maid. The noted old-time
pacing champion Pocahontas (2.17 1-2) was also bred

286

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

in Ohio. Whether Dolly Aldrich came from the same
stock as Shanghai Mary and Pocahontas is not known,
as her breeding has never been made public. Alix
(2.03 3-4) was a very high-class race mare, as well as
a world's champion trotting record breaker, and her
pedigree is of unusual interest to all breeders of trot-
ting stock.

The Abbot. The Abbot, foaled in 1893, reduced the
world's champion trotting record to 2.031-4, at Terre
Haute, Ind., September 25, 1900. He was got by
Chimes (2.30 3-4), whose sire was Electioneer, and
whose dam was the famous brood mare Beautiful Bells
(2.29 1-2) ; second dam the great brood mare Minne-
haha, by Stevens' Bald Chief; third dam Nettie Claj^
by Strader's Cassius M. Clay, Jr., 22, and fourth dam
by old Abdallah. Beautiful Bells was by The Moor
(2.37), whose sire was Clay Pilot and whose dam was
the thoroughbred Belle of Wabash, trotting record 2.40.

The Abbot's dam was Nettie King (2.201-4), by
Mambrino King, whose sire was Herr's Mambrino
Patchen and whose dam was by Alexander's Edwin
Forrest from a running-bred daughter of Birmingham,
a thoroughbred son of Stockholder, by Sir Archy. The
second dam of The Abbot (2.03 1-4) was Nettie Mur-
phy, by Hamlin Patchen, whose sire, the famous
George M. Patchen (2.23 1-2), was by Cassius M. Clay,
a son of old Henry Clay, and whose dam was by
Head'em, a thoroughbred son of imported Trustee.
The dam of Head'em was Itasca. Her sire was the re-
nowned four-mile race winner American Eclipse, and
her dam was Betsey Ransom, a highly distinguished
daughter of Virginian, by Sir Archy. The third dam

287

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

of The Abbot (2.03 1-4) was by a son of the running-
bred Kentucky Whip. It appears from the above that
Nettie King (2.201-2), dam of The Abbot (2.031-4),
inherited a large amount of the race winning running
element. The Abbot (2.03 1-4) was a very successful
campaigner in the Grand Circuit as well as a world^s
champion trotter.

Cresceus. Next in order of the world^s champion
trotting record breakers is Cresceus, foaled in 1894,
that trotted to a record of 2.021-4 at Columbus, 0.,
August 2, 1901. Cresceus (2.021-4) was by Robert
McGregor (2.171-2), whose sire was Maj. Edsall
(2.29), a son of Alexander's Abdallah. The dam of
Bobert McGregor was Nancy Whitman, by Seely's
American Star, and his second dam was by Young
Messenger Duroc, a son of Lawrence's Messenger
Duroc, he by Sir Archy Duroc, a son of the thorough-
bred Duroc, by imported Diomed. The dam of
Cresceus was the great brood mare Mabel, that also
produced Nightingale (2.101-2), etc. Mabel was by
Mambrino Howard, whose sire was Mambrino Chief
and whose dam was by a horse called Davy Crockett
(Scrugg's), whose breeding we have never been able
to learn. His name does not appear in the Year Book
either as a standard performer or a sire of such. The
second dam of Cresceus (2.02 1-4) was by Allie West
(2.25) that died when but six years old. He was a
well-bred and very promising son of Almont by Alex-
ander's Abdallah. The third dam of Cresceus was
by Victor, a son of Downing's Bay Messenger. The
latter was by Harpinus, a son of the running-bred
Bishop's Hambletonian, by imported Messenger. The

^88

INFLUENCE OF THE THOROUGHBRED.

fourth dam of Cresceus was by Crusader, a thorough-
bred son of the famous Sir Archy. Cresceus (2.02 1-4)
was as greatly noted for gameness and endurance as
for speed. He has the distinction of being the only
stallion whose name appears in the table of world^s
champion trotters.

Lou Dillon. The trotting record was reduced to
2.00 by Lou Dillon at Readville, Mass., August 24,
1903, and at Memphis, Tenn., October 24, 1903, she low-
ered it to 1.58 1-2, where it now stands. In these
performances Lou Dillon was preceded by a running
horse that pulled a cart with a dirt shield suspended
between the wheels and below the axle. She trotted
a mile at Memphis in 2.01 in 1904 without a pacemaker
in front. Lou Dillon was foaled in 1898. Her sire,
Sidney Dillon, was by Sidney (2.19 3-4), a son of
Santa Glaus (2.17 1-2), and from the great brood mare
Venus, whose sire was a son of the thoroughbred Wil-
liamson's Belmont. The dam of Sidney (2.19 3S-4)
was Sweetness (2.21 1-4) by Volunteer, son of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian ; his second dam was by Edward
Everett, a son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, and his
third dam by Say re's Harry Clay (2.29). Santa Claus
(2.17 1-2) was by Strathmore, a son of Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian. His dam was Lady Thorn, Jr., by Wil-
liam's Mambrino ; second dam Kate by Highland Chief,
son of Mambrino Chief; third dam by Magowan's
Halcorn, a son of Peter's Halcorn, whose sire was Hal-
corn, a thoroughbred son of Virginian by Sir Archy.
The fourth dam of Santa Claus was by Cockrell'a
Highlander, whose sire was Scott's Highlander,
a son of Hunt's Brown Highlander, and he

289

THE AMERICAN TROTTER,

by Sir Patrick Highlander, a running-bred son of
imported Brown Highlander. William's Mambrino,
sire of the dam of Santa Glaus, was by Ericsson
(2.301-2), a son of Mambrino Chief; dam by Aratus,
son of Director by Sir Archy; second dam by Timo-
leon, a son of Sir Archy that got the famous race horse
Boston, sire of the second dam of Maud S. (2.08 3-4).
The dam of Lou Dillon (1.581-2) is the great brood
mare, Lou Milton, by Milton Medium (2.25 1-2), whose
sire was Happy Medium (2.321-2) by Rysdyk's Ham-
bletonian, and whose dam was by Sackett's Ham-
bletonian, another son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian.
The breeding of the second dam of Lou Dillon
(1.581-2) has not yet been fully established and the
breeding of the second dam of her sire, Sidney Dillon,
is as yet unknown.

One remarkable fact in the breeding of all the above
mentioned record breakers, from Dexter (2.171-4) to
Lou Dillon (1.581-2), stands out so prominently that
it must impress itself upon the minds of all unpre-
judiced students of the breeding problem. It is that,
with the exception of Rarus (2.131-4), every one of
them has inherited the blood of Rysdyk's Hambleton-
ian, and all except Alix (2.03 3-4) trace directly to
that most renowned trotting progenitor in the pater-
nal line. Another important fact is that in Alix
(2.03 3-4), The Abbot (2.031-4), Cresceus (2.021-4)
and Lou Dillon (1.581-2), the Hambletonian strain is
combined with that of Mambrino Chief. There are
also from one to several strains of the famous Sir
Archv in nearlv all of them.

290

Chapter XII.
THE WINNING COMBINATION.

Kysdyk's Hambletonian possessed both trotting in-
stinct and speed ability. He was a natural trotter and
fast for his day. It is useless for anyone to attempt
to deii/ that fact, for there are excellent judges of
horse stock now living who knew the horse, rode after
him and can testify to it. Mambrino Chief, too, was
one of the fastest trotting stallions of his day. Both
of them got trotters that were much faster than them-
selves, and also got stallions that were more success-
ful than themselves as sires and perpetuators of
uniform and extreme speed. The fastest trotter got by
Rysdyk's Hambletonian was Dexter (2.171-4), whose
dam was by Seely^s American Star, a horse whose
ancestors, so far as known, were running bred. The
two fastest trotting stallions got by Rysdyk's Hamble-
tonian were Jay Gould (2.21 1-2) and Artillery
(2.21 1-2), whose dams were both by Seely's American
Star. The Hambletonian-American Star combination
i» found in the pedigrees of a number of record-break-
ing trotters, among which are Dexter (2.171-4), Jay-
Eye-See (2.10), Directum (2.051-4), Nancy Hanks
(2.04) and Cresceus (2.021-4).

291

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

The fastest of the get of Mambrino Chief was Lady
Thorn (2.18 1-4) . Her dam, the Rodes mare, was bred
in lines that so far as known were almost identical
with those of Seely's American Star. The most suc-
cessful sire and perpetuator of trotting speed of all
the sons of Mambrino Chief was Herr's Mambrino
Patchen, a full brother of Lady Thorn (2.18 1-4). The
most renowned son of Mambrino Patchen as a sire
was Mambrino King, whose dam was by Alexander's
Edwin Forrest, and whose second dam was a running-,
bred daughter of Birmingham by Stockholder, a son
of Sir Archy. Now it is a singular coincidence that
the second dam of Mambrino King traces through
short and direct lines to the same source as that from
which came both Seely's American Star and the Rodes
mare, dam of Mambrino Patchen.

The daughters of Seely's American Star were more
successful as producers of trotting speed than those
of any other stallion of his time. The same is also
true of the daughters of Mambrino Patchen. That
daughter of Mambrino Patchen which has proved most
successful as a perpetuator both of uniform and ex-
treme trotting speed is Alma Mater. The dam of Alma
Mater was Estella, a thoroughbred daughter of import-
ed Australian; second dam Fanny G., by imported
Margrave; third dam Miss Lancess by Lance, a son
of American Eclipse; and fourth dam by Aratus, son
of Director, by Sir Archy. The pedigree of the third
dam of Alma Mater presents a combination of blood
lines very similar to that which produced Gano, sire
of the dam of Mambrino Patchen.

292

THE WINNING COMBINATION.

The above facts are familiar to all who have studied
the Year Book, the Trotting Register and Bruce's
American Stud Book. The most famous son of
Rysdyk's Hambletonian as a progenitor of light har-
ness speed was George Wilkes (2.22). The two grand
sons of George Wilkes that outrank all others as sires
of standard speed are Allerton (2.091-4), foaled in
1886, and now the sire of one hundred and thirty-six
that have made records in standard time ; and Ashland
Wilkes (2.171-4), foaled in 1882, and now credited
with ninety-six standard performers. Allerton
(2.09 1-4) is inbred to George Wilkes. He was got by
Jay Bird (2.313-4), whose sire was George Wilkes,
and whose dam was by Mambrino Star (2.28 1-2), son
of Mambrino Chief, his second dam being the trotting
mare Lady Franklin (2.29 3-4), by Esty's Black
Hawk, a son of Vermont Black Hawk. The dam of
Allerton, Gussie Wilkes, was by Mambrino Boy
(2.26 1-2) ; his second dam, Nora Wilkes, was by
George Wilkes; third dam by the English thorough-
bred imported Consternation, and fourth dam by
Downing's Bay Messenger. Mambrino Boy (2.261-2),
that got the dam of Allerton (2.09 1-4), was by Mam-
brino Patchen, whose dam was by the thoroughbred
Gano, and second dam by a son of Sir William of
Transport by Sir Archy. The dam of Mambrino Boy
(2.26 1-2) was Roving Nelly, a daughter of Strader's
Cassius M. Clay, Jr. ; second dam by Berthune, a thor-
oughbred son of Virginian, by Sir Archy; and third
dam by Thornton's Rattler, by Sir Archy.

Ashland Wilkes (2.171-4) was by Red Wilkes, whose
sire was George Wilkes, and whose dam. Queen Dido,

293

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

was by Mambrino Chief. The second dam of Red
Wilkes was by Red Jacket, whose sire was the closely
inbred Morgan Billy Root, also known as Comet. The
dam of Red Jacket was by Sherman Morgan, a son of
Justin Morgan. The third dam of Red Wilkes was
probably thoroughbred. It was so claimed as stated
in Gen. W. T. Withers' Fairlawn catalogue, and never
disputed by those who knew her, to our knowledge.
The dam of Ashland Wilkes was Daisy B., by Admin-
istrator (2.29 1-2) ; second dam by the English thor-
oughbred imported Knight of St. George; third dam
by Pilot, Jr., and fourth dam by Woodpecker, a thor-
oughbred son of Bertrand by Sir Archy.

Both of the above stallions were strongly bred in
Hambletonian, Mambrino Chief and Morgan lines, but
both inherited a large share of the thoroughbred
element other than that which they derived from
Rysdyk's Hambletonian and Mambrino Chief. Many
other grandsons of George Wilkes were more strongly
bred in trotting lines and inherited much less of the
running element than Allerton (2.09 1-4) and Ashland
Wilkes (2.171-4), yet these two outrank all the other
grandsons of that famous speed progenitor as sires and
perpetuators both of uniform and extreme speed.

Electioneer is credited with a greater number of
standard performers than any other son of Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. He is credited on the books of the
National and American Trotting Associations with
one hundred and sixty-five trotters and two pacers, a
total of one hundred and sixty-seven that made records
in conformity with their rules in standard time. A
few of these records were rejected by the Register

294

THE WINNING COMBINATION.

Association, and the Year Book credits Electioneer
with but one hundred and fifty-eight trotters and two
pacers. The dam of Electioneer, as is well known,
was Green Mountain Maid by Sayre's Harry Clay
(2.29) ; second dam Shanghai Mary, whose sire, un-
doubtedly, was Iron's Cadmus, her dam being running
bred.

The three sons of Electioneer that have sired the
greatest number of standard performers are Sphinx
(2.201-2), Norval (2.14 3-4) and Chimes (2.30 3-4).
Sphinx is now credited with sixty-two trotters and
thirty-four pacers that have made standard records,
a total of ninety-six. The dam of Sphinx was the great
brood mare Sprite by Alexander's Belmont; second
dam, the famous great brood mare Waterwitch, by
Pilot, Jr.; third dam, Fanny Fern, by Kinkead's St.
Lawrence ; and fourth dam, Brenda, by a thoroughbred
colt, believed to be Oliver, a son of the great four-mile
race record-breaker Wagner, inbred to Sir Archy.

Norval (2.14 3-4) is now credited with sixty-five
trotters and nineteen pacers in the standard list, a
total of eighty-four. The number of his trotters that
have made records of 2.30 or better is greater than
that got by any other son of Electioneer. The dam of
Norval was Norma, by Alexander's Norman, 25; sec-
ond dam by Todhunter's Sir Wallace; third dam
Eagletta, a thoroughbred daughter of the renowned
Kentucky-bred four-mile thoroughbred race horse Grey
Eagle, by Woodpecker, a son of Bertrand by Sir Archy.
Todhunter's Sir Wallace, sire of the second dam of
Norval, was by the thoroughbred Sir Albert, a son of
Thornton's Rattler by Sir Archy.

295

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Chimes is now the sire of fifty-two trotters and
twenty-nine pacers that have made standard records,
and eight of them are in the 2.10 list. No other son
of Electioneer has ever had as good opportunities
as Chimes, both as regards the breeding of the mares
mated with him and the development of his get by a
trainer — E. F. Geers, who probably has no superior
as a developer of speed and a race driverr — and no
other son can compare with him as a sire of extreme
speed. Three of the get of Chimes are trotters with
records of 2.06 or better. The fastest of these is the
world^s ex-champion trotter, The Abbot (2.031-4),
whose dam, Nettie King (2.20 1-4), as has already been
stated, was very highly bred, being by Mambrino King
and from a daughter of Hamlin Patchen. His next
dam was by a son of the running-bred Kentucky Whip.
The next fastest of the get of Chimes is The Monk
(2.05 3-4), whose dam, Goldfinch, is by Mambrino
King; second dam by Hamlin Patchen; third dam by
Dorsey's Old Golddust, and fourth dam by imported
Giencoe. Fantasy (2.06) is the next fastest of the
trotters got by Chimes, and her mile in 2.08 3-4 as a
three-year-old still stands as the world's champion
record for three-year-old trotters. Homora, the dam
of Fantasy, was by Almonarch (2.24 3-4), whose sire
was Almont, by Alexander's Abdallah, and whose dam
was Hi, a thoroughbred daughter of Asteroid, he by
the renowned Lexington and from a daughter of im-
ported Giencoe. The second dam of Fantasy (2.06)
was by Hamlin's Almont, Jr. (2.26), whose sire was
Almont and whose dam was by Blood's Black Hawk,

296

(

'^MP. : 1 K

r v..

■ i < hf^ it

I

i

THE WINNING COMBINATION,

his second dam being by the registered thoroughbred
Boner's Saxe Weimer, by Saxe Weimer, a son of Sir
Archy.

The four most successful grandsons of Alexander's
Abdallah as sires of speed are Nutwood (2.18 3-4),
Robert McGregor (2.171-2), Altamont (2.26 3-4) and
Hamlin's Almont, Jr. (2.26). The dams of all four
of these were from mares whose sires were bred in run-
ning lines. The blood lines of all four of the above
except Altamont have already been given. Altamont
was by Almont, 33. His dam was Sue Ford by Brown
Chief, a son of Mambrino Chief, 11; second dam
by the thoroughbred imported Hooten; third dam
by Bertrand, thoroughbred son of Sir Archy^
and fourth dam by imported Buzzard. Altamont
made his record, 2.26 3-4, to wagon. His get
that have made standard records include thirty
trotters and twenty pacers, and seven of them made
records from 2.04 1-4 to 2.09 3-4.

The two most prominent grandsons in the paternal
line of Dictator (sire of Jay-Eye-See, 2.10) as sires are
Direct (2.051-2) and Directum (2.051-4). The sec-
ond dam of Direct was by Jack Hawkins, a thorough-
bred son of Boston, and the dam of Directum was
by Venture (2.271-4), a running-bred horse that was
got by Williamson's Belmont, a son of American Boy,
and whose dam was by American Boy, Jr., another son
of American Boy.

Now from what source, or from which of their an-
cestors, is it probable that all the noted animals above
named, derived their speed capacity and their ability
to perpetuate the same that made them superior to all

297

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

others got by the same sires? Was it from those that
had been bred by careful selections for many genera-
tions expressly for extreme speed and the best of other
racing qualities, or was it from such of their ances-
tors, if they had any, as were not bred in racing lines
and were never distinguished as winners? There are
the facts ; now what is the logical conclusion to be de-
rived from them? Is it probable that the improve-
ment which has been made in trotting speed from the
earliest times to the present is due wholly to the in-
tensifying of the instinct or inclination to stick to
the trotting gait, that has resulted from education,
and by breeding from animals whose ancestors for
many generations in every direction have been trained
at the trotting gait? Is it not more probable that
they inherited from some ancestors not noted for
trotting instinct a greater amount of some quality or
qualities upon which speed and race winning ability
depends, than was possessed by their trotting ances-
tors? Perhaps no one may be able to explain to the
satisfaction of all why this is so, but that it is so every
one can see for himself.

298

Chapter XIII.
THE THOROUGHBRED ELEMENT.

Though it may appear incredible to some that a
horse whose ancestors have been bred for centuries to
run, and have been raced -successfully at that gait, can
transmit any quality that will improve the speed and
other race-winning, record-breaking abilities of a trot-
ter, yet it cannot be denied, without misstating facts,
that nearly all the famous trotters whose breeding is
known which have held world's champion trotting rec-
ords, from Dexter (2.171-4) to Lou Dillon (1.581-2),
have inherited a greater share of the thoroughbred
than of any other known element.

It has already been learned from the Year Book
and Trotting Register that the sires, in the Hamble-
tonian, Mambrino Chief and Clay families, which
have proved most successful as perpetuators of uni-
form, standard speed, also show quite close thorough-
bred crosses in their pedigrees, as does also Sidney
Dillon, sire of the present world's champion trotter,
Lou Dillon (1.581-2), and several others of extreme
speed.

The eminent author, Herbert Spencer, once remarked
of a certain matter, "It seems difficult to conceive that

299

TEE AMERICAN TROTTER.

this can be so, but we see that it is so." This remark
applies to the thoroughbred cross close up in so many
of the fastest American trotters, the most successful
sires and such famous producing dams as Alma Mater,
Miss Russell, Midnight, old Dolly, Nell, Dame Winnie,
etc. It is probable that if horsemen generally pos-
sessed a more thorough knowledge of the subject of
heredity, the mystery would appear to them less diflS-
cult of solution. A little reflection must convince
everyone that race-winning, record-breaking runners
and race-winning, record-breaking trotters must and
do possess several qualities in common. Some of them
are speed ability, endurance and courage, or a dispo-
sition to win, to beat an opponent in a contest, or die
in the attempt. These are inherited qualities that
are transmitted from parent to offspring.

The ability to go fast at any gait depends largely
upon the attribute that is known generally to horse-
men as nerve force. Some of the most eminent writers
on the breeding of trotting stock have failed to call
attention to this fact. The late John H. Wallace de-
voted columns of space in Wallace's Monthly to "in-
stinct," the inclination to stick to the trotting gait,
but not a single column, and so far as the writer can
remember, not even a single paragraph, to this most
important of all speed qualities — nerve force. The
late Dr. Elwood Harvey was the first author who
explained the nature and working of this important
quality in a chapter of the work entitled "Every
Horse Owner's Cyclopedia." His remarks on this sub-
ject are worthy of careful study by every practical

mo

THE THOROUGHBRED ELEMENT.

breeder of trotting stock and every student of the
trotting problem. We quote from the above work as
follows :

A horse may be lazy and yet trot fast when called on; or
he may be very spirited, always willing to do his best, and
not be able to trot in four minutes. A very strong horse
that can trot off with a loaded market wagon behind him at a
good gait, and keep it up for miles, may not be a fast trotter
at any weight. Or a horse may have most excellent bottom —
may take two men in a wagon over common roads sixty miles
a day, and repeat it every day in the week; or he may be
good for ten miles an hour under the same circumstances, and
not be able to trot a single mile in four minutes.

Speed, then, does not depend entirely on the form, nor
on the way of going, nor on the strength, nor on
the spirit of a horse. The value of a fast trotter may depend
greatly upon these qualities, but not his speed. Any form,
and any style of going, may do, if he can step fast enough;
and the power to step fast does not depend on form, spirit,
strength, nor stamina — ^though all of these do modify the
manifestation of that power upon which speed does depend.

Let us now consider the essential element of speed at any
gait, whether ft be running, pacing or trotting. All the
movement is effected by the contraction of those masses of
lean meat called muscles. The muscles of voluntary motion
are each attached to two bones by its two extremities, and
the bones being attached to each other by a movable joint
when the muscle contracts one or both of the bones must
move; and, of course, the rapidity of the movement depends
on the rapidity of the contraction. An animal wills the move-
ment of a limb; that will, which originates in the brain, is
transmitted through nerves to the muscles; they contract
and the limb moves.

It would seem, then, that if a horse desired to go fast, and
his muscles were large enough, and his joints supple, he
must needs do so whenever he tries; for if the muscles obey
the will, and the will is that they shall contract quickly, the

301

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

whole thing would be accomplished. Speed would then de-
pend on the size of the muscles, and the willingnoss of the
horse to contract them rapidly. But the facts are clearly
against such a theory; for all have noticed that a highly
spirited horse that is very strong to pull a load may not be
able to go fast in any gait.

The truth is that all power to move lies not in the brain
which is the seat of the wha, nor in the muscles which are
the place of the movement, but between the two, in the spinal
cord, which is the centre of the nervous system, and the
generator of the power. The spinal cord lies in the back
bone, filling the canal or hole that extends through its whole
length, and giving off nerves from every part of it that go
to all parts of the body. It is connected to the brain, and
appears like a prolongation of it from the cavity of the skull
along the cavity of the spine; but the rational view of the
spinal cord, and the one that is sustained by comparative
anatomy, is that which considers it the centre of the nervous
system; the brain being an extension of it in one direction,
and the nerves an extension of it in another direction, the
whole constituting the nervous system.

The brain is the seat of all mental manifestations — of
thought, memory, love, fear, emulation, courage, etc. The
disposition and character depend upon the brain, but it is not
necessary to animal life. The nerves extend to every part of
the body; some of them convey sensations to the brain, as of
heat, or cold, or pain; others of them go to the muscles, and
convey to them the power that is generated in the spinal cord
by which they contract. The will to move is conceived in the
brain, and goes to the spinal cord, which then generates the
power to move. The power, which for convenience of lan-
guage we will call nerve force, is sent through the nerves and
expended in the muscles, effecting their contraction and a
consequent movement of the bones to which they are
attached.

The brain may be compared to a telegraph operator, the
spinal cord to his galvanic battery, and the nerves to the
wires. A chicken with its head off kicks and flutters with

302

THE THOROUGHBRED ELEMENT.

strength enough to fly over a barn, or to run around it. The
spinal cord generates the power for a short time, and would
do so longer but for the loss of blood; but the brain, that
gives intelligent direction to the power, is not there. The
battery is sending its electricity along the wires without the
control of the operator.

If enough of the nerve force is sent to the muscles to move
the body a mile in six minutes, it is six minutes in being
generated. If the same amount of nerve force can be gen-
erated and sent to the muscles in three minutes, we might
suppose that the body would be moved the same distance in
three minutes; and herein would appear to lie all the differ-
ence of speed. But the amount of force generated by the
nervous centre, and expended by the muscles, in a given
time, does not exactly explain the difference of speed.
One horse may expend as much nerve force in pulling
a load a quarter of a mile in three minutes as
another does in trotting a whole mile in the same time, and
yet not be able to trot a mile in four minutes. The speed
depends on the ability of the spinal cord to generate and
send to the different sets of muscles concerned in locomotion,
the required amounts of nerve force in a quick succession of
discharges, and on the capability of the nerves to transmit it
to the muscles in large quantity in a short time.

The difference between trotting fast and drawing a heavy
load is not in the amount of force used, but in the manner
of using it. In one case, the nerve force is sent to a muscle
during the whole time of taking a slow step with a heavy
load; and in the other, it is all expended in an instant, causing
the muscle to contract quickly, and thereby projecting the
horse rapidly forward — ^the acquired momentum continuing
after the muscle ceases to contract. It is like driving a nail
by a succession of blows, that could not be moved by the
same aggregate amount of pressure diffused and continued
over the whole time of driving.

The essential quality of speed, at any gait, is therefore a
certain organization of the nervous system, and this is the
one thing needful in every case. This is what we breed for
when we breed for speed.

303

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Nerve force is an inherited quality. The more of
it that an animal possesses the greater will be his or
her speed ability. It was the larger amount of nerve
force and the unusual capacity for generating it rap-
idly and applying it quickly that made Flying Child-
ers and Eclipse the fastest horses of their day in
England, and Sir Archy, Wagner, American Eclipse,
Boston and Lexington the fastest runners and most
successful race horses of their days in America. It
was this same quality that enabled Flora Temple
(2.19 3-4), Dexter (2.17 1-4), Goldsmith Maid (2.14),
Rarus (2.131-4), St. Julien (2.111-4), Jay-Eye-See
(2.10), Maud S. (2.08 3-4), Nancy Hanks (2.04), Alix
(2.03 3-4), The Abbot (2.031-4), Cresceus (2.021-4)
and Lou Dillon (1.581-2) to become world's record-
breaking trotters. These wonderful record-breakers
must have inherited the valuable quality or qualities
that enabled them to perform these remarkable feats
from some thoroughbred ancestor or ancestors, near
or remote, that possessed speed ability. It would be
as unreasonable to suppose that these qualities were
inherited from cold-blooded ancestors destitute of speed
as it would be to attempt to heat a house by filling
the fire-box of the coal furnace with ice or cobblestones
instead of coal.

The qualities necessary to enable a trotter or pacer
to become a noted race winner and world's record-
breaker are precisely the same that are required in a
thoroughbred runner in order to enable him to become
a noted race winner and world's record-breaker. Such
animals differ in no material respect except gait. Now
gait, or the habit of action, is more easily modified by

ao4

THE THOROUGHBRED ELEMENT.

education and training than either nerve force and
endurance, which are physical qualities, or courage,
which is a mental one. Any competent authority on
heredity or any one familiar with the -subject knows
this to be a fact. So does every intelligent, experienced
horseman who is capable of reasoning from cause to
effect.

Horses were bred for racing purposes and were
raced at the running gait for centuries before the breed
now known as thoroughbred race horses was estab-
lished. The qualities which now distinguish the
noted race winners were undoubtedly improved during
all those centuries by a careful selection of the most
successful winners for breeding purposes. These
valuable qualities — speed, courage and endurance —
have been greatly improved since the thoroughbred
came into existence and records have been carefully
kept, because the greatest care has been used in the
selection and mating of them. The turf registers
have shown to all who were interested in the subject
what horses were most successful as winners, and the
Stud Book has shown the blood lines of the winners
just as the Year Book and Trotting Eegister have shown
the most successful trotters and their blood lines. Now
as running race horses have been bred a longer time
than those of any other gait for the highest rate of
speed, most noted courage and greatest endurance,
and with the greatest care to avoid the admixture of
any element detrimental to these most important race-
winning qualities, any one capable of reasoning can
see that the lest thoroughbreds of the present time
must necessarily possess a larger amount of nerve

305

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

force, a greater capacity for generating it rapidly and
applying it quickly than any horses which are not
strictly thoroughbred.

By a careful selection and mating for generations of
those racing stallions and mares which have shown
the strongest inclination to win and to keep on trying
when racing against an adversary that outclasses him
in speed, the 'best thoroughbred race horses of the
present time uniformly possess a higher degree of
courage — ^that grim, unyielding determination to win
or die — than any family of horses can possess uni-
formly that is not thoroughbred, and the same is true
of endurance. The law of heredity, which includes
atavism and modification by variation, is such that
some horses which are not thoroughbred — some trot-
ters for instance — may themselves possess those quali-
ties which they inherited from some thoroughbred an-
cestor, near or remote, in as high a degree as the best
of their thoroughbred ancestors, but if there be any
deteriorating influence or element, such as a slow or
cart horse cross, in their composition, such animals,
though exhibiting as high a degree of these valuable
qualities themselves, will not, as a rule, be able to
transmit them to their offspring with so great uni-
formity as the thoroughbred animal in whose compo-
sition no deteriorating element is found. There is a
great difference in thoroughbreds in regard to speed
capacity, courage and endurance, and ability to per-
petuate the same. Some may excel in respect of one
or two of these qualities, and for some cause be some-
what deficient in the others. It has been argued that
some thoroughbreds are quitters. Very true. Any

306

THE THOROUGHBRED ELEMENT.

horse will quit when not in proper condition to race
When the nerve force and the ability to generate it are
exhausted, the speed of the animal must slacken the
same as the speed of a locomotive propelled by steam
when the steam is exhausted.

The trotters which hold the fastest records in this
country today are largely indebted to some thorough-
bred ancestor for the improvement in trotting speed
Tvhich has been made for the past ten or twelve years.
In order to effect a still greater improvement it will
be necessary to increase the speed capacity or nerve
force by introducing a cross of some animal that pos-
sesses a larger amount of this quality and that
transmits it with greater uniformity than any trotter
can do that numbers among his or her ancestors ani-
mals that were deficient in speed. We believe that the
speed of the American trotter may and will be im-
proved in the future as in the past, by means of a
first-class thoroughbred race-winning cross.

Every one who has studied the subject and carefully
analyzed the pedigrees of the fastest trotters must
have observed that the thoroughbred crosses in tticir
pedigrees were confined to animals belonging to but
few families. These are what some horsemen hari
termed plastic thoroughbreds, because when crossed
with trotters they readily yield to trotting influences
or habit of action, and at the same time retain their
most valuable qualities unimpaired, so that they im-
prove the speed and other valuable qualities of the
trotter. The most prominent of these running strains
are the Sir Archy and Duroc branches of the Diomed
family; the Trustee, Margrave, Bonnie Scotland,

307

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Glencoe, Consternation, Williamson's Belmont and a
few others. It would seem best, then, when attempt-
ing to improve the trotter by means of a thoroughbred
cross, that the animal selected should be a direct de-
scendant of one or the other of the above-named
horses, or, better still, that like Dame Winnie, Colum-
bia and Estella for example, should combine the blood
of several of them. It is generally believed that the
sire has more influence in controlling the action than
the dam. This may account for the fact that the best
results from thoroughbred crosses have been obtained
by mating thoroughbred mares with good trotting
stallions, animals that had good action and were level-
headed, fast trotters.

The breeder who is content with only a fair rate of
speed need not go to the trouble to experiment with
the thoroughbred cross. But the man who is am-
bitious to breed a record-breaker or improve the speed
of the American trotter should continue to breed
along those lines from which improvement has resulted
in the past. The time may come when it will not be
possible to effect more improvement in this manner,
but it will not be until we have a family of trotters
that are bred purely from the best of thoroughbred
racing stock. Many of the trotting stallions and
mare« of the present day approximate that quite close-
ly. Analyze their pedigrees carefully, and it will be
found that so far as known there is little dross or cold
blood in their composition. Such stallions as Nut-
wood (2.18 3-4), Lord Russell, Anteeo (2.161-2), Del-
march (2.111-2), his sire, Hambrino (2.211-4),
Expedition (2.15 3-4), Kremlin (2.07 3-4), Directum

308

THE THOROUGHBRED ELEMENT.

(2.051-4), Direct (2.051-2), Sidney Dillon and many
others do not come so far from it as may appear at
first glance. Rysdyk's Hambletonian and Mambrino
Chief had but very little of the element that can be
proved as cold blood.

It is generally conceded that Messenger, an import-
ed running horse, was the founder of the present
American trotter. There have been other trotters in
this country outside of his descendants, but nearly all
the 2.10 trotters and all of the world's champion trot-
ters since Dexter's time have been descendants of
imported Messenger. It has been claimed that Mes-
senger was not a thoroughbred. It cannot be denied
that he was running bred and was raced with fair
success in England. There were better bred, faster
and more noted race horses in his day both in England
and America, and several in this country were much
more successful as sires of race winners than he. Mes-
senger, however, was one of the most plastic of thor-
oughbreds. Some of his near descendants had beautiful
natural trotting action, and when trained to trot
would readily stick to that gait. The two of his sons
that were most prominent in the foundation stock of
the American trotter were Mambrino and Bishop^s
Hambletonian. The dam of Mambrino was better
bred than imported Messenger himself, yet Mambrino
was a failure as a running race horse, and this fact
would indicate that he threw back to some ancestor
of Messenger that was not a thoroughbred. In look-
ing up the ancestors of those record-breaking trotters
that had a thoroughbred inheritance through their
dams, it will be found that the thoroughbreds from

309

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

whom they derived their inheritance were better bred
than imported Messenger and hence possessed a
higher degree of valuable racing qualities than did
Messenger himself.

It has been alleged by some turf writers that the
effect of a near thoroughbred cross in a trotter will
make the animal rattle-headed, liable to break and run
when urged to a high rate of speed. This seems
plausible, especially to the unsophisticated, and it may
have proved so in some, perhaps many, cases. It does
not require many trotting crosses as a rule, however,
to overcome this tendency to be unsteady in most thor-
oughbreds that are from the plastic f.imilies. Tw.
good strong trotting crosses on a thoroughbred mare,
bred from the plastic strains, will generally suffice.
Alcantara (2.23) was bred that way. Mike Bower-
man, who trained Alcantara and drove him to a race
record of 2.23 as a four-year-old, informed us by letter
several years ago, in reply to an inquiry, that Alcan-
tara was very level-headed and seldom made a break.
His dam. Alma Mater, was from the thoroughbred
Estella, and Mambrino Patchen, sire of Alma Mater,
was from a daughter of the thoroughbred Gano.

The veteran trainer, Charles Marvin, has probably
had more experience in training trotters that were
from thoroughbred mares and from mares whose dams
were thoroughbred, than all the other trainers in
America. Speaking of the thoroughbred cross in his
excellent work entitled "Training the Trotting Horse,"
Mr. Marvin says : "I want all the good thoroughbred
blood that can be controlled." He also says: "My

310

THE THOROUGHBRED ELEMENT.

experience has been in training horses from thorough-
bred mares, that their heads are as good as the average
trotting-bred horses^ heads/^ Mr. Marvin's experience
was mostly with the get of Electioneer, a horse that
has been held up by turf writers as possessing greater
action controlling power than any other trotting sire;
but how they really know this, or upon what grounds
they account for it, we have never been able to learn.
It seems certain that Electioneer's second dam was
by Iron's Cadmus, a running-bred son of Beache's
Cadmus, by American Eclipse, and if so it is certain
that his third dam was running bred. It has been
stated upon good authority that the filly believed to
have been Shanghai Mary, by Iron's Cadmus, that Mr.
Coffein's son took with him when he left his father's
place in Ohio, was from a running-bred mare. The
fact is that no other trotting stallion ever had such
opportunities as were given Electioneer, hence it is not
possible to know what they could have done in the way
of getting trotters from thoroughbred mares, and
mares that were from thoroughbred dams. Another
fact that those who have examined the Palo Alto cat-
alogues know is that Electioneer, as a rule, got faster
and better trotters from mares with the thoroughbred
cross close up than from those most strongly bred in
what is termed trotting lines.

There has been so much prejudice against the intro-
duction of the thoroughbred cross and so much bitter-
ness and abuse by theorists who have written in oppo-
sition to it that very many are ignorant of the facts
bearing upon this question that are contained in the

311

THE AMERICAN TROTTER.

Tear Book and Kegister. Had it not been for the
death of Leland Stanford, the adoption of the standard
rules, and the~prejudice against a thoroughbred cross
in a trotting pedigree, created by the writings of the
late J. H. Wallace, there would probably now have
been not less than ten two-minute trotters, and the
two-minute line would have been passed without the
aid of the wind shield.

The future is full of promise for the American
trotter. We believe that it will be many years yet be-
fore the limit of his speed is reached. Of course, the
reduction will be more gradual as the record is low-
ered and the intervals longer between the clipping off
of a fraction of a second. As breeders of trotting
stock become more enlightened, some of the most pro-
gressive of them will experiment systematically and
judiciously with the thoroughbred cross as did the
late Gov. Stanford at Palo Alto. They will continue
to breed up as fast as the Hambletonian, Mambrino
Chief, Clay and Black Hawk trotters can assimilate
the racing blood, until finally every element of dross
has been eliminated from the American trotter. The
result will be an animal that will possess all the
racing qualities of the thoroughbred runner, and in
as high a degree as they exist in the best of that breed.
They will stick to the trot as tenaciously as the best
of trotters have ever done. They will be uniformly
handsome, stylish, docile animals, and possess as much
finish and quality as the best thoroughbreds that have
ever been produced. Two-minute trotters will then be

312

THE THOROUOEBRED ELEMENT.

as plentiful as 2.10 ones are now. It may take half a
century to accomplish this, perhaps more, but its ac-
complishment is among the possibilities and so is a
record of 1.55 or better for a mile without artificial
aid, by a trotter so bred.

END.

313

INDEX.

Abdallah (Alexander's), 52, 54,

74, 76, 78.
Abdallah (Old), 52, 53.
Abdallah (Pacing), 270.
Aberdeen^. 62, 90, 93.
Abraham, 186.
Alcalde, 262.
Alexander, 137.
Alexander Button, 138.
Alix, 285.
Almack, 199.
Alma Mater, 114.
Amazonia, 53.

Amazonia and Sophonisba, 199.
American Clay, 135.
American Girl, 133.
American Star (Seely's), 193,

194, 195, 196, 197, 198.
American Star (Stockholm's),

194, 195, 196.
Andrew Jackson, 123.
Andy Johnson, 138.
Arabian (Markham's), 13.
Arion, 65.
Aristos, 184.
Ashland, 263.
Ashland Chief, 263.
Ashland Wilkes, 293.
Atlanta. 286.

Bald Galloway, 24.
Bayard. 222.
Bay Chief, 77.
Bay Roman, 75.

Belle of Wabash, 130.

Bellfounder, Imported, 38.

Ben Franklin, 184.

Benton Family, The, 201.

Betsy Baker, 54.

Betsey Trotwood, 88.

Bicara, 118.

Blackwood, 205.

Blanco, 238, 239.

Blaze, 18, 20.

Blood Lines of Noted Winners,

272.
Blucher, 79.

Blue Bull (Pruden's), 229.
Blue Bull (Wilson's), 227. 228,

229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234». 235.
Bonnie Scotland, Imported, 42.
Boston Blue, 44.
Boston Horse, 45.
Breeding in the Future, 212.
Brown Hal (2.12 1-2), 248.
Buckhunter (Carlisle Gelding) ,

25.
Byerley Turk, 15, 17, 18, 22.

Cade, 18, 24.

Cassius M. Clay, 126.

Cassius M. Clay, Jr. (Amos'),

133.
Cassius M. Clay, Jr. (Neaves').

128.
Cassius M. Clay, Jr. (Strader's),

134.
Catton. 39.

315

INDEX.

Champion Family, The, 198.
Champion (Gooding's), 200.
Champion (Grinnell's), 199.
Champion (Scobey's), 199.
Champion Pacing Records, 250.
Charles Caffrey, 189.
Charles Kent Mare, 57.
Charley B., 200.
Childers (Bartlett's), 21.
Childers (Flying), 18.
Chimes, 296.
Clara, 86, 279.
Clark Chief, 120.
Clay Family, The, 121.
Clay Pilot. 129.
Cobden, 185.
Consternation, 42.
Coriander, 51.
Cresceus, 288,
Croft's Partner, 22.

Daniel Lambert (Hippomones),

179, 180. 181, 182, 183.
Dame Winnie, 255.
Darley Arabian, 15, 17.
Dauntless, 101.
Dexter, 279.
Dictator, 62, 85, 297.
Diomed, Imported, 32, 33, 34, 35,

36.
Direct, 89.
Director, 89.
Dolly, 136.
Dolly Spanker, 66.
Durango, 134.
Dutchman, 48, 274.

Eclipse, 14, 24.
Egbert, 61. 94, 95, 96.
Electioneer, 61, 62, 294, 311.
Elyria, 171, 268.
Enchantress, 82.
Engineer, 18.
Engineer 2nd, 50.
England, Horse Racing in, 11.

English Eclipse, 20.

English Race Horse, The, 11.

Ericsson, 120.

Estella, 114.

Ethan Allen, 66. 172, 176, 178.

Expedition, 42.

Extinct Trotting Families, 193.

Fantasy, 296.

First Consul (Bond's), 121.

Fleetwing, 131.

Flora Temple, 277.

Florizel, 32, 35.

Flying Childers, 18.

Flying Morgan, 174, 175, 176.

Fred Crocker, 64.

Garrard Chief, 262.

Gen. Benton, 202, 203, 204.

Gen. Hatch, 136.

Gen. Knox, 186, 187, 188.

Gen. Stanton, 102.

General Stud Book (England),

Established, 17.
Gen. Washington, 189.
George M. Patchen, 127, 128.
George M. Patchen, Jr., 137.
George Wilkes, 61, 65, 293.
Glencoe, Imported, 41.
Godolphin Arabian, 15, 17, 18, 23.
Gohanna, 39.

Goldsmith Maid, 55, 77, 280.
Golumpus, 39.
Gov. Sprague, 237.
Grand Bashaw, 121.
Gray Diomed, 33.
Gray Mambrino (Foxhunter), 49.
Green Mountain Maid, 63.

Hal Family, The, 244, 251.
Hambletonian (English), 40.
Hambletonian (Andrus'), 70.
Hambletonian (Judson's), 71.
Hambletonian (Rysdyk's), 55,
58, 104. 291.

316

INDEX.

Hambletonian's (Rysdyk's)
Stud Book, Figrures from, 60.
Hambletonian Prince, 103.
Happy Medium. 61, 70, 72, 73.
Harold, 62, 82.

Harry Clay (Sayre's), 132, 139.
Havoc, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218.
Helen M., 185.
Henry Clay, 124, 125, 126.
Highflyer, 14.
Hip, 19.
Hobgoblin, 23.
Huntress, 82.

Idol (P«ck'«), 2«4.
lola, 107.

Jane, Old. 200.
Jay-Eye-See. 282.
Jay Gould, 103.
Jenny Lind, 227.
Jersey Kate, 126.
Jigg, 22.
Jin Black, 56.
Joe Hooker, 262.

Justin Morgan, 140, 141, 142. 143,
144, 145, 146, 147. 148, 149, 150,

Katy Darling, 74.
Kentucky Clay, 135.
Kilbuck Tom, 257.
King Herod, or Herod, 22.

Lady Benton, 202.

Lady Patriot, 79.

Lady Suffolk, 49, 152, 275.

Lady Surrey (Surrey Mare), 124.

Lady Sutton, 151.

Lady Thorn, 189, 258, 259.

Lady Waltermire, 97.

Lath, 23.

Little Brown Jug, 247.

Long Island Black Hawk, 124.
Lou Dillon, S8f.

Lou Milton, 290.

Mabel, 288.

Mac (2.27), 152.

Magrnum Bonum, 42.

Mambrino, 18, 38, 52, 58.

Mambrino Brave, 263.

Mambrino Chief Family, 106, 110.

Mambrino Chief. 258, 261.

Mambrino Chief, Jr. (Fisk's),
119, 264.

Mambrino Chief and Mambrino
Patchen Compared, 260, 266.

Mambrino King, 113, 268.
Mambrino Patchen (Herr's), 111,
112.

Mambrino Paymaster, 106, 107.

Mambrino Pilot, 119.

Mambrino Star, 263.

Margrave, Importe<^ 40.

Marske. 21.

Masterlode, 102.

Matchem, 24.

Maud S.. 85, 282.

Messenger (Imported), 19, 28, 29,

46, 309.
Messenger Duroc, 104.
Midnight, 226.
Miller's Damsel, 64.
Miss Russell, 224.
Mixbury Galloway, 28.
Moody, 206,

Morgan Family, The, 140.
Morse Horse, 163.
Moscow, 49.
Muley, 40.

Nancy Hanks, 284.
Nancy Pope, 212, 213, 214, 221.
Nancy Taylor, 219, 220, 221.
Narragansett Mare, 168.
Narragansett Pacers, 244.
Nelson (2.09), 172.

317

INDEX.

"Nerve Force," 300.
Nettie King, 287.
Norman (Alexander's), 204.
North American, 98.
Nerval, 295.
Nutwood, 224.

One Bye, 57.
Orville, 40.

Pacing Cross, The, 266.

Paddy, 164.

Pancoaat (2.21 3-4), llg.

Paymaster, 42,

Partner (Croft's), 22.

Pilot, 212.

Pilot, Jr., 212. 222.

Pilot, Jr.'s, Daughters, 223.

Plato, 51.

Pocahontas, 240.

Pocahontas Boy, 242.

Pocahontas Sam, 242.

Princeps, 118.

Princess, 70, 71, 72.

Rarus, 281.

Regulus, 24.

Rhode Island, 237.

Robert Fillingham (George

Wilkes), 67, 68, 69, 70.
Rodes Mare, The, 134.
Roxana, 23.
Royal George Family, The, 207,

208.

St, Julien, 82, 281.
St, Victor Barb, 25.
Santa Claus, 99.
Sampson, 18, 19, 21.
Sam Purdy, 138,
Screwdriver, 273.
Seely, Jonas, 56.
Shales, Old, 20.

Shanghai Mary, 63.

Sherman Morgan, 152, 153, 154.

155, 156.
Sidney Dillon, 289.
Silvertail, 56.
Sir Archy, 35.
Slammerkin, 31.
Smuggler, 238.
Sour Crout. 38,
Spiletta, 21.
Squire Talmage (Strader's Ham-

bletonian), 103.
Stamboul (2.07 1-2), 131.
Star Ethan, 185,
Star Pointer, 249, 255,
Steinway, 99,
Stranger, 190, 191, 192.
Strathmore, 62, 97, 98, 99, 100.
Stump-the-Dealer, 246.
Sultan, 41, 130.
Sunol, 283.
Sweepstakes, 101.
Swigert, 206.

Tackey, 226.

Tartar, 22.

Tattler, 223.

Telltale, 223.

The Abbot, 287.

The Moor, 130.

Thomas Jefferson,. 209.

Thoroughbred Element. The,
299.

Thoroughbred, Influence of the,
271.

Thoroughbred and Pacing
Crosses, 252,

Thoroughbred Stallions Import-
ed to This Country, 37,

Thoroughbreds in England, 15.

Thoroughbreds in England,
Rules for, 16.

Tom Hal (Kittrell's), 245.

Tom Hal, Jr. (Gibson's), 245,
246, 247.

Tom Rolfe. 240.

318

INDEX.

Top Gallant, 272.
Traveller (Morton's), 87.
Trotting Families from Pacers,

211.
True Briton, 145.
Trustee, Imported, 39.
Truxton, 232.
Two Pacing Families, 243.

Vermont Black Hawk (Morgan),
167, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163,
164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170.
171, 172, 173, 174, 175.

Vermont Black Hawk's Dam, 27.

Victor Von Bismarck, 102.

Volunteer, 79, 80.

Waterwitch, 225.

Whalebone, 48, 274.

Whitehall, 236.

White Turk (Place's), 13.

Whynot, 26.

Widow Machree, 90, 91, 92.

Wildair, Imported, 31.

Woodbine, 116, 117, 260.

Woodford Mambrino, 111, 116,
264.

Woodruff, Hiram, Writes on
"The Trotting Horse of Amer-
ica^" 46.

Yankee, 45.
Young Rolfe, 241.
Young Bashaw, 122.

319

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