From 2.10 to Two Minutes and Better 17 



forbidden in a race. Unless every heat is con- 

 tested by every horse in the race and every horse 

 is driven to a finish, the race degenerates into a 

 farce. The chronic trailer, according to my way 

 of thinking, invites suspension or expulsion. I 

 regard it a mistake to make time records easier 

 of accomplishment than race records. Time is 

 the basis of the standard, and care should be 

 taken not to revive the old prejudice against 

 horses that obtain records in competition against 

 the watch. If the two-minute horse is allowed 

 favors in a contest against time, why not the 2.31 

 or 2.32 horse? And then we may look for shoals 

 of the newcomers, until the speed standard is 

 debased. I am not opposed to progress ; I have 

 never proclaimed the impossibility of the two- 

 minute horse ; I should rejoice to see the trotter 

 equal the runner, but we cannot make rules 

 for one performer which do not apply to all 

 performers at the same gait. This fact must be 

 clear to every intelligent mind, and I have asked 

 a few questions of you because you occupy official 

 position and have established a reputation for 

 clearness of thought and terseness of statement." 

 I received an invitation by telegraph to come 

 to the October meeting at Lexington and discuss 



