ORIGIN OF AMERICAN TROTTING HORSES 139 



the same time taking more after the type of the Barb in his 

 forehand, carrying his head well up, with a well arched 

 neck and a considerable crest. He appears an active, well 

 poised horse, likely to have been an excellent saddle-horse, 

 but from his short forearms and long cannons he would 

 apparently bend his knee too much for great pace, although 

 as a matter of fact he was credited with trotting very fast 

 indeed. 



An important element in the American trotter is the 

 blood of Duroc, who was a large and powerful chestnut 

 horse, by imported Diomed, the first winner of the Epsom 

 Derby. Duroc was foaled in 1806 in Virginia, and the 

 breeding of his dam, Amanda, is especially interesting to 

 Englishmen in general and to Yorkshiremen in particular, 

 for she was by Grey Diomed (no relation to imported 

 Diomed), son of imported Medley, who was by the renowned 

 Gimcrack, in whose honour the celebrated Gimcrack Club 

 at York give an annual dinner (the last was the one hundred 

 and forty-second in direct succession), when a large number 

 of the most prominent turfites in England are their guests. 

 It is at this banquet that any great innovations in the Rules 

 of Racing, or other important coming events, are fore- 

 shadowed in the speech of the principal guest of the evening, 

 a member of the Jockey Club, and usually one of the three 

 Stewards. 



The chief features of the Duroc family were a large and 

 powerful frame, long powerful thighs and gaskins, with 

 good bone. The American Star and Mambrino Chief 

 families all inherit the blood of Duroc, and with it the 

 characteristic long thigh, 24 inches in horses of 15.2. In 

 England the blood of Gimcrack has almost if not quite died 

 out, but it shows much vitality in America, chiefly by aid of 

 the great trotting strains. It was, however, also inherited 

 by Ogden's Messenger, a thoroughbred horse, by Messenger 

 out of Katy Fisher, by imported Highflyer, who was by 

 Highflyer out of a mare by Gimcrack. Ogden's Messenger 

 was the reputed sire of Tipoo, who through his son Black 

 Warrior founded the family of Royal Georges. A further 

 thoroughbred line from the celebrated little grey horse can 



