RYSDYK'S HAMBLETONIAN 131 



me to visit him, saying he should like to have the 

 pleasure of kicking me across the state. I re- 

 quested him to have a survey made so that I 

 might know how far I would have to be propelled 

 by the toe of his boot, as I did not care to put him 

 to an undue amount of trouble. He has not re- 

 plied, so, I presume the survey is not yet com- 

 pleted. But breeders in Kentucky, in Vermont, 

 and in Illinois wrote in complimentary terms, 

 saying that they had paid dearly for their belief 

 in false pedigrees and false principles of breeding. 

 I am thoroughly persuaded that these false notions 

 have cost the breeders of America millions and 

 millions of dollars, for a Standard Bred Trotter 

 that does not go fast is a pretty poor specimen of 

 a horse and worth very little, while the amounts 

 spent in trying to develop speed which does not 

 exist are colossal. 



But the records have unquestionably been 

 lowered until the horse that can trot a mile in two 

 minutes is one of the wonders of the world. Look 

 at the record of progression. 



Boston Blue, black gelding 1818 3 . 00 



Bull Calf, bay gelding 1830 2.47} 



