THE TROTTING-IIORSE OF AMERICA. 73 



horses with which I have had to do in the course cf my 

 career, I shall have more to say about them. Fourth of 

 July, a gray horse by Abdallah, was another good trotter 

 at five years old. Medoc was another of his get that was 

 justly noted ; and there was Brooklyn Maid, a very fast 

 mare, and a noted sticker. In 1840, when she was only 

 five years old, this mare trotted a fifth heat in two minutes 

 and thirty-six seconds. Considering that this was twenty- 

 five years ago, it must be regarded as a capital performance. 

 The Abdallahs came on early, and lasted long. They were 

 commonly full of spirits, wild and playful as kittens, with 

 first-rate stamina, and always ready to trot. Through this 

 grandson of his, the strain of old Messenger was diffused 

 east and west in this country ; and at this day it seems to 

 have parted with none of its blood-like, speedy, and endur- 

 ing qualities. His son Hambletonian also gets produce 

 which stand work early, and promise to be in nowise defi- 

 cient in endurance. During the time he was in Kentucky, 

 Abdallah did a great deal for the trotting-horse out there ; 

 and they have wisely re-enforced the infusion by further 

 importations of the Messenger blood. 



When it is considered that their trotting-stallions have 

 been very often well-bred, and then put to thoroughbred 

 mares, it must go far to account for the extraordinary feats 

 performed there by colts that were only four years old. I 

 see no absolute reason to deny the statement made, that Mr. 

 Alexander's colt Bay Chief, by Mambrino Chief, out of a 

 thoroughbred mare, trotted half a mile, at four years old, in 

 one minute and eight seconds. It is to be regretted that 

 the wounds he got in the battle with the guerillas have 

 ruined him. Ericsson's mile the fourth heat in two 

 minutes thirty and a half seconds was an astonishing thing 

 for a four-year-old, especially when it is added that it was 

 done to a wagon. It does not appear upon the record that 

 this was the case, for the way of going is not set down; 

 but I learn from a gentleman of unquestionable veracity, 



