552 THE HORSE OF AMERICA. 



events of almost inestimable influence on the future of the business 

 transpired. 



In the autumn of 1876 there was formed at New York the National 

 Association of Trotting Horse Breeders, an organization in which Mr. 

 Wallace's influence predominated from its inception until a short time 

 before its dissolution, for lack of an excuse for existence. This organiza- 

 tion was broadly representative of the best elements in the breeding busi- 

 ness in its virile and useful days, and accepted a sort of advisory and 

 supervisory control over the "Trotting Register;" and Volume III. and sub- 

 sequent volumes were compiled under its authority. Questions of dis- 

 puted pedigrees and other such issues affecting breeding and the record 

 of pedigrees were decided by a Board of Censors appointed by this associa- 

 tion; and, aside from its usefulness in connection with the " Trotting 

 Register," it contributed largely to the advancement and encouragement of 

 breeding by inaugurating colt stakes, and other stakes designed more 

 especially to attract the breeder than the professional campaigner. 



Before the third volume was through the press the need of some meas- 

 ure for restricting registration became apparent to Mr. Wallace. The eco- 

 nomics of the "Register" demanded it, but beyond this the need of system- 

 atizing and establishing a specific breed called for some definition as to 

 what rightfully belonged to that breed. Up to this time the only rule was 

 the indefinite provision that "anything well related to trotting blood" 

 might be acceptable as eligible by the compiler of the "Register." The 

 problem that confronted those who took a broad and comprehensive view 

 was to educate public opinion up to that point where the possibility of 

 establishing a breed of trotters would be appreciated. As early as April, 

 1878, Wallace's Monthly strongly urged the necessity of a standard, and 

 this was the first suggestion of one that had been made. At the Novem- 

 ber meeting of the National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders that 

 year the Board of Censors in their report presented a letter from Mr. 

 Wallace advising the adoption of a standard, a recommendation which the 

 Board indorsed. Meanwhile the matter was being agitated and discussed 

 in Wallace's Monthly, and affairs were gradually shaping for action. In 

 the March, 1879, number of the Monthly a standard formulated by certain 

 Kentucky breeders and forwarded by Major H. C. McDowell was printed 

 and commented upon. It was fair on its face, but under discussion its 

 weak points were made clear. For instance, its fourth rule made stand- 

 ard "Any mare the dam of any mare or stallion that has produced or 

 sired a horse, mare, or gelding with a record of 2:30." It was pointed 

 out that under this rule the celebrated English thoroughbred mare 

 Queen Mary would become a standard trotter, for her son, the race horse 

 Bonnie Scotland, had sired the trotter Scotland. As other provisions 

 made the sisters and brothers of standard animals standard, the defects of 

 the Kentucky standard were made patent, and the Breeders' Association 

 failed to approve it. Instead, at a meeting at the Everett House, New 



