XViii HIRAM WOODRUFF. 



of the world ; and which, from the familiar, affectionate, and 

 almost universal use made of him on this continent, and from the 

 growing demand which is made for him in other countries, has 

 already become an American commercial product, of vast impor- 

 tance and proportions. It is certain that this animal is an 

 American production ; as much so, in fact, as the thorough-bred 

 horse, which disdainfully gives weight at Goodwood and Ascot to 

 the purer descendants of his Arabian ancestry, is a creation of the 

 English breeding-stable and the English race-course. And it is 

 also certain, that the development of the American trotter to its 

 present marvellous pre-eminence over all other breeds of horses 

 used for harness and road purposes is more due to Hiram Wood- 

 ruff than to any, if not than to all other men who ever lived. 

 Those who know the history of trotting in this country, and who 

 recall to mind the average speed of the fast harness-horse when 

 Hiram identified himself with its advancement, will not hesitate 

 to say, that he doubled the value of the original element on which 

 he worked, and, at the end of a few years, gave a, great animal to 

 the country, in place of what had been only a good animal before. 

 It is recognized by those who are versed in the origin and char- 

 acteristics of the American trotter, that the highest type of that 

 invaluable breed descends from the English thorough-bred horse 

 Messenger, which was imported into this country in the latter part 

 of the last century. Indeed, so widely is this fact acknowledged, 

 that breeders of experience, in view of the excellence of which he 

 was the founder, and of the vast extent of the interest which has 

 proceeded from his loins, have been heard to declare, that, when 

 that old gray came charging down the gang-plank of the ship 

 which brought him over, the value of not less than one hundred 

 millions of dollars struck our soil. If that be true, the man who 

 developed Messenger's value through his progeny can hardly be 

 regarded as less than a genius, as well as a public benefactor. It 

 cannot be doubted, therefore, that HIRAM WOODRUFF was the 

 man of his period for the development of the interest with which 

 he identified himself; and in proportion to the importance of that 

 interest will his merits be valued by posterity. In all the future 

 of our particular turf-history, his figure will loom up to the contem- 

 plation of its followers, as the sole great man who had been pro- 

 duced, in connection with that interest, down to the day of his de 

 cease. 



