MAMBRINO CHIEF AND HIS FAMILY. 317 



arrival of Mambrino Chief. This pacing element was a very 

 valuable element upon which to build up the trotter, but unfor- 

 tunately and wherever it was possible, a running pedigree was 

 tacked on to the pacer, and thus, in the estimation of Kentuck- 

 ians it was the running blood that did it. 



The six years of his services in Kentucky gave sufficient time 

 to establish his value as a trotting sire, but not sufficient to build 

 up a large family. This limited period must be further re- 

 stricted, in estimating his value, by the fact that the war broke 

 out in 1861, at the very time when the larger part of his offspring 

 were just at the right age for development. This important fact 

 has been very generally overlooked when estimating the true 

 value of this horse. The question has often been asked why 

 this horse succeeded in Kentucky when he had not succeeded in 

 the North? This is too broad a question to be considered in this 

 historical sketch, but will be considered at another place in this 

 volume. In passing it, some very intelligent writers have at- 

 tributed it to what is called "the climatic outcross," and there 

 may be some real value in this point, but the great cause, aside 

 from the new surroundings and expectations of his progeny, may 

 be found in the fact that his own speed was never developed 

 until the very eve of his transfer to Kentucky. His instinct to 

 trot and to trot fast had remained dormant, practically, during 

 the whole period of his Northern service, and when he reached 

 Kentucky he was, in a sense, a new horse and conscious of his 

 powers as a trotter. The salutary effects of development, at 

 whatever gait, have been shown in ten thousand instances and 

 will continue to be shown as long as the interests and ambitions 

 of man shall prompt him to strive to surpass his neighbor. 



At one time it was maintained right vehemently by the owners 

 of the stock of Mambrino Chief, as well as some others, that as a 

 stock horse he was not only equal but superior to Hambletonian. 

 In 1867, when the battles were raging between Dexter and Lady 

 Thorn, this view showed little abatement, and notwithstanding the 

 gelding was beating the mare all the time, they still maintained 

 that in the end she would be the conqueror. When Lady Thorn 

 was seriously crippled and retired from the turf, there were many 

 sad hearts in the Mambrino family and many wonderful stories 

 were told, privately, of what Dan Mace had seen her do, and that 

 he was keeping very quiet till an opportunity came to show the 

 most wonderful flight of speed that the world had ever seen or 



