INTRODUCTION. 23 



name of their own. This whole theory of claiming names 

 in the sporting papers is a ham bug, as heretofore practiced ; 

 for, in the very number in which the name is claimed and 

 given, perhaps another animal bearing the same name is 

 recorded in a race. Now, until editors will protect a name 

 in the racing calendars, and every other place, it is but little 

 use to claim it. Just as soon as editors will invariably 

 draw their pen through every illegitimate name that appears 

 in race reports, the evil will be measurably overcome ; 

 and I will here give gentlemen timely notice that, if spared 

 to prepare another volume, I will then enforce the rule 

 which I here suggest to others. The suffixes of " Young," 

 "Jr.," &c., as well as all initials and titles, such as 

 c ; Capt. , " " Col. , " " Gen. , " &c. , are extremely obj ectiona- 

 ble, for the horse is often reported without these suffixes or 

 prefixes, and hence confusion. Names should consist of a 

 single word, and that word not inconveniently long. No 

 difference what language it conies from, so that it is new and 

 pronounceable. 



Aside from performance, there has been no rule of admis- 

 sion to a place among the trotters. But among the young 

 and untried I have required either trotting or running blood 

 on both sides ; and from among the names claimed in the 

 sporting press I have selected pretty liberally from what 

 appeared to be the best. 



It is proper to say that, in exploring the trotting field. I 

 meet with many animals called thoroughbred that cannot be 

 so recognized. They are new acquaintances, and, if really 

 thoroughbred, we would probably have met them before 

 in more aristocratic company. It is to be regretted exceed- 

 ingly that, so far as the blood of this trotting supplement is 

 concerned, there is so much that is wanting, and so much 



