AUBUllN HORSE. 341> 



the grey mare ? " He answered, " Faster than behind the grey mare? 

 faster than I ever rode behind any horse." 



This was before Dexter had reached his fastest time, and Hiram was 

 of opinion that Auburn was good for 2:18. I extract the following 

 from his Trotting Horse of America : 



"I had a horse in my stable late last fall that I am satisfied was then as fast 

 as Dexter; and I think it quite likely that he was a little faster. I allude to 

 Mr. Bonner's big chestnut gelding, the Auburn horse. He certainly carried 

 me faster than I had ever before ridden behind a trotter, and he went away 

 from Lady Thorn with the greatest ease. The Auburn horse had just come 

 right, and got to feeling well, after having been out of sorts for some time. 

 His speed and resolute way of going had soon made a strong impression upon 

 my mind ; and I told my friends, Oliver Marshall and Foster, that if I could 

 have him to trot a race I thought I could jDut a mark up so high that it would 

 take a long time to wipe it out. That is my opinion, and the readers of this 

 work have a right to know it. Yet it does not follow that the Auburn horse 

 is equal to Dexter, though he might trot a mile in harness faster. * * 



There is no reason why I should not say here what I have already said to some 

 of my friends : therefore I give it as my opinion, that when the Auburn horse 

 is all right, I can drive him a mile in 2 :18 in harness. This would win a heat 

 from Dexter, I think, but it would not win a race ; and if the Auburn horse 

 came back much in the second or third heat, the little one would probably 

 split the heats, and finally win the race. Of course this is all speculation, as 

 Mr. Bonner will not trot any of his horses in a race ; but having had both the 

 horses, and having driven them on various occasions when they were both 

 feeling fine and trotting very fast, I have formed the opinion that the Auburn 

 horse can trot as fast in harness as Dexter himself can." 



The inclination of the family to amble has been above referred to. 

 I may state in this connection that Lady Kellogg, daughter of King's 

 Champion, a mare that has trotted in 3:27, has raised a colt by 

 Argonaut, that in colthood was a natural pacer — the only one of that 

 way of going to his credit at that date, although he has had one since. 



The Champions appear to be a very evenly sized family of horses — 

 generally about 15f hands, bvit very strong. Some of them show 

 much coarse make-up, and are very rough about the head, but in form, 

 color, in the general conformation, and in the manner of going at trot- 

 ting speed, they are very much alike. 



I have not seen so much uniformity in many other familic s. 



The gait of the Chaiiipions is a little like the Abdallahs and a 

 little like the Clay gait. They extend their feet backward, and 

 trail them out in the rear, but do not go with that unbending 

 appearance of the legs, and with that springy elasticity which marks 

 the Abdallah gait. They make more display of vigor and energy 



