CHAPTER XXVI 



THE DAWN OF SYSTEMATIC BREEDING: TRACK GOV- 

 ERNMENT 



Prior to Hambletonian, Mambrino Chief, Pilot, 

 and Clay, there was no systematic breeding of the 

 trotting horse. Much was left to chance, and 

 darkness ruled. Pedigrees were not accurately 

 recorded, and there was no intelligent guide. 

 With these foundation sires, the light spread, and 

 the star of evolution began to run its course. In 

 January, 1871, the first compilation of 2.30 per- 

 formers in harness was handed to me by Nicholas 

 Saltus for publication in the Ttirf, Field, and 

 Farm, and a start in classification was thus made. 

 This table afterwards became the keynote to reg- 

 istration. The first volume of Wallace's Trot- 

 ting Register was issued in 1871, and there was 

 no suggestion in it of a 2.30 speed basis. The 

 National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders 

 was formed after the Centennial Trotting Meet- 

 ing in 1876, and its constitution was amended in 

 December, 1882. Henry W. T. Mali was presi- 



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