THE NARRAGANSETT PACER. 67 



To the latter extract is attached a lengthy note, a portion 

 >f which we give. "The breed of horses, called 'Narragansett 

 pacers,' once so celebrated for fleetness, endurance, and speed, 

 has become extinct. These horses were highly valued for the 

 saddle, and transported the rider with great pleasantness and 

 sureness of foot. The pure blood could not trot at all. For- 

 merly, they had pace races. Little N'eck Beach, in South 

 Kingston, one mile in length, was the race-course. A silver 

 tankard was the prize, and high bets were otherwise made on 

 the sperd. Some of these prize tankards were remaining a 

 few years ago. Traditions respecting the swiftness of these 

 horses a-je almost incredible. Watson, in his ' Historical Tales 

 of Oldeu Times,' says: 'In olden time, the horses most valued 

 were pacers^ now so odious deemed. To this end the breed 

 was propagated with care. The Narragansett pacers were in 

 such repute, that they were sent for, at much trouble and ex- 

 pense, by some who were choice in their selections.'" ■ 



The most natural reason assignable for the extinction of this 

 breed, would seem to be somewhat as follows. Up to the be- 

 ginning of the present century in this country, — much as it was 

 half a century yet farther back in Englaijd, — the roads were 

 so bad, as to be, except in the finest weather, utterly imprac- 

 ticable for wheel-carriages; and that, except on the great turn- 

 pike-roads, and in the immediate vicinity of the larger towns, 

 private pleasure-vehicles were almost unknown; all long jour- 

 neys, with few exceptions, all excursions for pleasure or for 

 ordinary business, and all visitings between friends and neigh- 

 bors being performed by both sexes on the saddle. At that 

 time there was, therefore, a demand, as an actual necessity, foi 

 speedy, and, above all, for easy and pleasant-going saddle-horses. 



