124 Dynamic Evolution 



which led to the production of families of 

 early speed is instructive. 



The first time a four-year-old trotted in 

 public was in 1863. In i860 the four-year- 

 old stallion Ericsson was driven a mile in 

 2 : 3014, and Hiram Woodruff, the most 

 famous driver of his time, called it "an 

 astonishing thing." 



During the 70's a large breeder of trotters, 

 Mr. Welch, owned a pacing son of Hambleto- 

 nian known as Strathmore. This horse was so 

 despised by Mr. Welch that he was not shown 

 to visitors at the farm except on special 

 request. During the years Mr. Welch owned 

 him he was used for drudgery and got only 

 three foals. One of these was a colt called 

 Santa Claus and out of a mare owned by a 

 neighboring farmer. This mare was a grand- 

 daughter of the Ericsson before mentioned. 

 Santa Claus was such a poor specimen that 

 Mr. Welch offered his owner another and free 

 service of Strathmore if he would only kill 

 the colt. The offer was declined and the colt 

 was trained and raced as a three-year-old. 



