TROTTING FAMILIES. 57 



horses, are distinguished more through their sons than 

 through their daughters. Now Mambrino Patchen 

 and Pilot Jr. excelled in nervous energy which they 

 derived from the thoroughbreds in their ancestry ; 

 whereas Hambletonian excelled in gait and structure, 

 and was deficient in nervous energy. Hence it would 

 seem to be true that the outward form is derived 

 chiefly from the sire, and the inward energy from the 

 dam, inasmuch as Hambletonian's sons, inheriting 

 his superior structure and gait, surpass his daughters ; 

 and Mambrino Patchen's daughters, inheriting his 

 superior nervous .system, surpass his sons. However, 

 these general rules are subject to many exceptions. 



But there is one principle in relation to trotting 

 horses which is, I think, admitted on all sides. The 

 single quality that the " record breakers " have in 

 common is nervous energy, — that mental or physical 

 trait, or that relation between the mind and the body, 

 which enables or compels the muscular system to 

 accomplish the utmost of which it is capable. A 

 good shape, good lung power, good action, — these of 

 course are indispensable, and they are found in many 

 a trotting-bred horse : but the motive power which 

 lies back of the mechanism ultimately determines 

 the animal's speed for a mile, if not for a quarter; 

 and it is chiefly in this power that the record-breakers 

 excel their contemporaries. 



Now, if, as we may safely assume, it is nervous 

 energy and courage that make a horse trot superla- 

 tively fast, and if, as may reasonably be conjectured, 

 these qualities are derived chiefly from the maternal 

 side, then we shall believe that the dam and grandam 

 in a pedigree are of more consequence than the sire 



