THE AMERICAN 'TROTTING HORSE. 32 
THE AMERICAN TROTTER. 
THE TRUE MODERN TROTTING HORSE is a most remarkable instance of 
what may be done by keeping an animal to one kind of work for genera- 
tions, and selecting the specimens best fitted for it to breed from. In this 
country a thoroughbred horse, or even one of nearly pure blood, could 
not be found at any price to trot a mile in three minutes, yet in America 
there are plenty, of blood almost entirely derived from the English turf 
horse, which will perform the distance in two minutes and forty seconds, 
and some in considerably less time. In America private and public 
trotting matches in harness have been for many years the chief amuse- 
ment of the town population, and, until very recently, when flat racing or 
running, as it is called there, has been more developed, a fast trotter 
fetched a higher price than any other description of horse. Trotting 
matches are, in fact, the national sport, just as racing is that of our own 
country. Latterly, however, the amusement has been somewhat on the 
decline, the aristocratic classes holding themselves aloof, and patronising 
the turf in preference. Still there is no diminution in the pace of their 
trotters, and, on the contrary, the celebrated Flora Temple has recently 
made the best time on record, having, on the 15th of October, 1859, when 
fourteen years old, done a third mile heat in two minutes, nineteen and 
three-quarter seconds, and having, in June of the present year, per- 
formed three separate mile heats in the wonderfully short time of seven 
minutes, six and a half seconds. The most extraordinary performances of 
these trotters, as recorded in the American Racing Calendar, are as 
follows :— 
FASTEST TROTTING ON RECORD. 
MILE HEATS. 
7 : min. sec. 
Flora Temple, b. m. in harness . Kalamazoo, Mich. . . Oct.15,1859. 2 192 
Ditto ditto Cinemmnatin, = js  Octs7, 1859 <2 1k 
Ditto ditto Eclipse Course, L. I. . Aug. 9,1859. 2 214 
Tacony and Mack in 1853, Lancet in 1856, and Patchen in 1859, each inharness. 2 25} 
EthanAllen,stallion,105lb.waggon Union Course,L.I. . Oct. 28,1858. 2 28 
TWO MILE HEATS. 
Flora Temple in harness. . . . LI... ~~... . Aug. 16,1859, 4 503 
IDK) WO WAYRONG 5 G6 5 WIGS 6 6 5 6 6 5 dhllkeGhalcht) fa 7 
Lady Franklin, ro.m. to waggon. L.L. . . . . uly 30) 185s) eon mln 
THREE MILE HEATS. 
Dutchman, b. g. under saddle . . Beacon Course, N. J. . August 1839. 7 322 
Ditto in harness . . Beacon Course, N. J. July 1889. . 7: 42 
FOUR MILES. 
mrusteeschagdnharmess jo 0) Eel 2 5 3 3 2 4 dune to 1S49neienG 
Sally Green, br. m. 250lb. waggon. L.I.. . . . . . . May 6,1850 .13 56 
FIVE MILES. 
Mary Warren, b.m.toroad waggon L.I.. . . . . . . July 5,1854.14 42 
Eady Agnes, gr.m.inharness. . LI. .... . .. Nov. 25,1850. 15 18 
TEN MILES. 
Prince, ch. g. in harness, driver to ) i z 
Sie ks WR + Ooh an isi, oe 8y 
