326 TRAINING THE TROTTING HORSE. 



is growing — was wont to proudly call him " The Great 

 Sire of Trotters," and the lofty distinction was not 

 undeserved ; but when Electioneer's days are done, 

 justice will record that in his grave lies The Greatest 

 Sire of Trotters. 



Gen. Benton was what may be called an action- 

 controlling sire. He was speedy himself, and trans- 

 mitted high rates of speed. His force in controlling 

 action is shown by the fact that out of the thorough- 

 bred Dame Winnie he got Big Jim, 2:22^, and out of 

 other thoroughbred mares he got daughters that are 

 producing speed. From the race-mare Waxy, he got 

 Waxana, a mare that was never regularlj^ trained, but 

 could show about a 2:40 gait. By Electioneer she pro- 

 duced Sunol, 2:10J. The Bentons have about the 

 average order of action in front, but behind they go 

 low and wide, indeed somewhat " sprawling." They 

 come to their speed quickh^, but, as a rule, they were 

 too growthy to train young. The blood of Gen. 

 Benton will be valued more in the future than it has 

 been. It carries speed, finish and resolution. The 

 daughters of Benton, I predict, will yet rank among 

 the most fashionable brood-mares. 



Piedmont, 2:1 TJ, is just beginning to make his 

 reputation as a sire. He was a great race-horse, fast 

 and game. It is the fortune of some horses to be over- 

 rated on the turf, but Piedmont was alwaj^s under- 

 rated when he was campaigning. He won in 1881, in 

 Chicago, the greatest race ever trotted between a lot 

 of stallions, and he outlasted and defeated the greatest 

 field of campaigning stallions that ever faced a starter. 

 But even his trainer, Peter Johnston, had no idea he 



