EDITOB'S PEEFACE. 



THE composition of this work was first suggested 

 by Mr. ROBERT BONNER, who fully appreciated 

 the original views and vast experience of HIRAM 

 WOODRUFF in all matters pertaining to the art of 

 training and driving the trotting-horse. At the 

 earnest solicitation of Mr. GEORGE WILKES (the editor 

 of " The Spirit of the Times "), and of some other of his 

 friends, HIRAM agreed to undertake it. They believed, 

 and their arguments induced him to believe, that such 

 a work from him would be a public benefit to the 

 owners of horses, and a service to the horse himself. 

 From the nature of the avocations to which he had 

 devoted himself with unparalleled success for forty 

 years, HIRAM WOODRUFF was not a ready penman ; and 

 therefore it was not until the writer of this introduc- 

 tory preface had promised to act as his amanuensis, 

 and to edit the work, that he consented to go on with 

 it. Its reception, when some chapters had been pub- 

 lished, was such as to establish its value; and all those 

 who had been long acquainted with the author clearly 



