CHAPTER SIX 



RYSDYK'S HAMBLETONIAN AND THE STANDARD 

 BRED TROTTERS 



AFTER Dexter, in 1867, took away from Flora 

 Temple the trotting record by doing a mile in 

 2.17J, his reputed sire, Rysdyk's Hambletonian 

 was held in such high esteem by those trying to 

 breed fast trotters, that they considered any horse 

 not by him or of his breed to be not in the least 

 worth while in any attempt to improve these 

 light harness horses. So it is quite impossible to 

 treat of the Standard Bred Trotters without also 

 treating of Rysdyk's Hambletonian. There are 

 many who do not, and never have, agreed with 

 the Hambletonian admirers, and as I am one 

 who once believed in the fictions as to his breed- 

 ing and other excellences, I propose to be per- 

 fectly fair by giving both sides of the story of a 

 horse that cuts a most considerable figure in 



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