THe 2-. lO Trotters 99 



are bred at an older average age than stal- 

 lions without records, but that is not neces- 

 sarily true of mares. Outside of the stud, 

 stallions are rarely used except on the race 

 track, while many mares do not get records 

 to show their road work. The dams of 

 stallions are commonly brood mares from an 

 early age, while the dams of geldings more 

 commonly are road mares. 



The average of these dams without records 

 is very close to the average age of all dams in 

 breeding operations and signifies that the 

 work performed by a dam after sexual ma- 

 turity has no bearing upon the qualities of 

 her gelded son. The low average age of the 

 dams with records, when such dams ordina- 

 rily produce their offspring at a higher average 

 age, may be explained by the general practice 

 of gelding the earlier sons and not reserving 

 any sons entire until the dam demonstrates 

 her ability to transmit speed to her offspring. 

 It is a common practice for breeders to train, 

 at their own expense, the first foals of both 

 sires and dams for the purpose of learning 



