62 THE TROTTING-IIOnSE OF AMERICA. 



looked like a thoroughbred four-miler ; but I would not tiike 

 it upon me to affirm that the likeness came from such a 

 remote ancestor. Shepherd Knapp and Jessie were another 

 pair that were trained early, and with no ill-effect, even 

 •ihougli their race was one of uncommon severity. They 

 were four years old, and trotted five heats, the best of which 

 was two minutes and forty seconds. It was the second 

 heat, and was won by the filly after she had previously won 

 the first. Upon seeing the time of this heat, I concluded 

 that the colt could beat her ; and he won the three subse- 

 quent heats, the best of them being in two minutes forty- 

 one seconds. But though, in view of his recent doings in 

 France, it cannot be said that this severe race did the colt 

 any permanent injury, it would be too much to affirm that 

 it did him any good. Next year, while in training for his 

 match with Harry Clay, he continually hit himself in the 

 elbows, by reason of excessive knee-action as it appeared ; 

 and this prevented the bringing of him up to the mark. 

 This horse recently trotted two miles and a half in France, 

 in six minutes and fourteen seconds ; which is a trifie better 

 than the rate of two-thirty to the mile. 



The mare Cora was another very fast trotter at an early 

 age. She went in two minutes and thirty-seven and a half 

 seconds, at three years old, in Kentucky ; and her improve- 

 ment since has been very marked. She was sent to me by 

 her then o\vner in 18G6, but did not remain long enough 

 to be put in condition. Within a week or ten days, she 

 was sold for a very large sum to a gentleman of great ex- 

 perience and knowledge in respect to trotting-horses. Like 

 Lady Emma, this mare is noted for bottom as well as speed, 

 — a proof, I tliink, that her early training never hurt her 

 stamina. But I do not say that she would not have been 

 just as good without quite so much of it as she had at three 

 years old ; and, unless there is some great object in vie\v, I 

 should not subject a good three-year-old to a strong prepa- 

 ration. If, lowover, a man can sell a colt at three or foui 



