EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IX. 427 



brought forward to Monday, the opening day, and in most cases each 

 breed has had a judge of its own. The parades of horses in front of 

 the grandstand each afternoon were highly interesting features of the en- 

 tertainment provided for the crowds. 



THE PERCHERONS. 



An exhibit of history-maldng character came forward under these col- 

 ors. There have been stronger rings of aged stallions, but it quite taxed 

 memory to recall so uniformly excellent a collection of three-year-olds — 

 a class so even in strength and so free from sub-standard animals. All 

 through the male classes there was a capital exhibit, and it is hazarding 

 nothing to write that so great a show of Percheron females has not before 

 been assembled in America. Herein is found great cause for congratula- 

 tion, and the results of the contest emphasize again what is so generally 

 known, that we can breed the big horses just as good on this side as on 

 the other, if we have the right material. The adjudications fell to the 

 seasoned and discriminating eye of Alexander Galbraith, Janesville, Wis., 

 and left small ground for criticism or revision. 



Among the aged stallions Mr. McMillan's well known Olbert was the 

 leader. He is somewhat drawn of middle, but an all round estimate would 

 set him at the head, with his grand size and bone and his free stride. 

 The Singmasters' gray Alger, second at Nogent this year, was counted 

 on to win this class, but many of the importations of the season have 

 shipped quite badly and he was among those that have had trouble. He 

 will need time to pull himself together again, when he should certainly 

 prove a very formidable contestant in any company. Banquet has a 

 grand top, a draft horse middle and back and Guignol is also splendid in 

 his top and an easy goer. The three-year-olds numbered twenty and 

 cut out the work for the judge a plenty. The Singmasters were particu- 

 larly stout in this sensational company and three of their colts landed on 

 the prize list. No attempt at individual comment is made, but the class 

 is left with a repetition of the compliment that it was of very unusual 

 excellence. The two-year-olds appeared to be quite well grown, some of 

 them so far forward that the "vets" took a look at their teeth, but none 

 was disqualified. 



In the collection of aged mares there appeared two Paris winners in 

 the pair with which the Singmasters got second and third honors here. 

 The pick of the company was found in the beautiful black Victorine, 

 which Mr. McMillan bred — one of the real Percheron type, with sym- 

 metrical body, rare quality and superb finish, and a weight around a ton. 

 The Singmasters were in the front rank among the three-year-olds with 

 capital specimens of the breed, winning the blue ribbon, while the red 

 went to Patterson & Erickson of Minnesota on a choice filly. The two- 

 year-olds continued the excellence of the females and its head also came 

 from the Singmaster farm, a black of most admirable sort. The second 

 prize filly in this class was also of splendid character. Along down the 

 lines, through all the group prizes and specials, appeared the most gratifj'- 

 ing evidences of a determination to acquire the best of the French stocks 

 of mares and of marked success in mating them. 



