THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. 611 



generation had been kept, and had left plenty of trotting-bred 

 mares. His wonderful procreative power, and his long life, both 

 tended to increase the number of his fast get by increasing the 

 whole number of his foals. 



Of the 1324 of his foals about 30 have trotted in 2 m. 30 s., 

 leaving 1290, or more, that have not attained that distinction. 

 The reputation once made that sent the price of his service up to 

 $500 for each foal brought none but good mares to his embrace, 

 and almost every colt was trained for all that was in it. 



With all of these advantages this most popular sire begot more 

 horses that were not worth what was paid for the begetting of them 

 than any other horse that ever lived. 



This statement detracts nothing from the merit of a good mem- 

 ber of the family, but it is made to put breeders on their guard 

 against being entrapped into a losing speculation, in any case, by 

 the bait of a popular name. 



A Hambletonian that is well bred on the dam's side, and is a 

 good performer on the road or track, is as good as a similar horse 

 by some other trotting sire, but no better for either trotting or 

 breeding. Some of the fastest sons of the old horse have failed to 

 beget trotters, and his daughters are somewhat distinguished as 

 failures in the stud, though about a dozen out of a probable four 

 hundred that have been tried have produced foals that have fulfilled 

 the popular expectation. 



That Hambletonian is a name of great significance in the trotting 

 world is justly true. It is a great family, more distinguished 

 than any other by the number and quality of its performers. And 

 it is also equally true that among both horsemen and the public 

 the Hambletonians are greatly overrated as compared with other 

 trotting families. The same thing was once true of the Black 

 Hawks. 



Abdallah and Vermont Black Hawk have, both been mentioned 

 before. They were both the founders of families of trotters, and 

 were both distinguished. Abdallah blood is a strong element in 

 several breeds, and his influence as a progenitor was never more 

 fully appreciated than now. 



The Black Hawks suffered an eclipse after years of great popu- 

 larity, but not because they were inferior so much as because they 

 had been overrated. They are increasing in favor again. 



The Bashaws originated in Bucks county. Pa. A very stylish 

 horse named Grand Bashaw was brought from Barbary, and among 

 the mares bred to him was a granddaughter of Messenger. The 

 produce was a horse called Young Bashaw, and in him the trotting 

 element derived from Messenger seemed combined with qualities 

 derived from the Barb that made a fortunate conjunction. 



