LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 269 



and Toe Weights" to every man who owns a horse in this 

 country. No man that owns a horse or takes an interest in 

 one, should be without this book. I o\vn one, and study 

 it every time I liave a chance and always learn something 

 new. 



Speaking of newspaper men, brings to my mind a few 

 other writers who have taken a prominent part on the turf, 

 H. D. McKinney who writes over the name of '"Mambrino," 

 has given to the reading public a great many jjleasant and 

 valuable newspai)er articles; has been a trainer and driver 

 and owner, has invented several useful and practical appli- 

 ances for trotting horses; and one, his jDatent check-hook, is 

 . the best thing of the kind I ever saw. 



M, T. Grattan has jDroved himself by his works a capa- 

 ble breeder, a good trainer and driver, and one of the best 

 Judges I ever saw in the stand, and as a writer I think if he 

 had taken to romance and described a scene between some 

 young lady and her sweetheart as well as he did the race 

 between Edwin Thorne and Clingstone, his book would have 

 had a greater sale than "The Quick or the Dead." 



The next man, E. C. Walker, who writes over the name 

 of "Veritas" and has been connected for a long time with 

 the Chicago Horseman, has also served his time as a breeder, 

 owner, trainer and driver of trotting horses, and with a suc- 

 cess that any man might be j)i'oud of. As a writer on all 

 subjects connected with the horse he has made himself a 

 trade-mark that many try to imitate, but none excel. There 

 is one thing in connection with his writings that I never saw 

 but one other man who could do anything like as well, and 

 that is, the fact that he can sit down in a chatty way and 

 without pen or paper interview you on any subject in the 

 world and write it u}), and have his article contain the exact 

 language and meaning that you had used with him in your 

 conversation. This certainly must be a gift, as I ne^er saw 

 but one or two men who could do it with anything like ac- 

 curacy. 



The newspaper business must be bred in the Walker 



