BREEDING THE TROTTER 



strain and once offered twenty-one thousand dol- 

 lars for Dictator when he was twenty-one years 

 old. Mermaid founded a family and is the fourth 

 dam of Dare Devil (2.09). Dictator Maid is the 

 grandam of Globe (2.14%). 



WEEDING OUT. 



On a rainy day in July, 1880, Mr. Hamlin 

 visited the farm, and, calling me into the office, 

 said : 



" Bradburn, what do you think of my horses? 

 I want your candid opinion. A horse is a horse, 

 and a man is a man, be he good man or bad man." 



My reply was, " Mr. Hamlin, what I would say 

 to you about your horses would make you angry." 



He said, " No, it will not. Spit it out." 



Then I told him that were I a wealthy man 

 breeding trotters, with the exception of four or 

 five mares and Almont Jr., I wouldn't take his 

 horses as a gift. 



He studied over this awhile and then he asked 

 me which ones I would take. 



I replied that I liked Almont Jr. very much, on 

 account of his style, finish and his having a great 

 deal of natural speed for those days. My choice 

 of the brood-mares was Bay Hambletonian, 

 Miranda, Toy and Black Golddust. Among the 

 fillies I liked Belle Hamlin, her sister, Belle Sloan, 

 and Justina. 



Naturally my selections out of fifty head were 

 a matter of argument. Many of those I rejected 

 were by Hamlin Patchen and Royal George. 



26 



