RACE-HORSES. 



831 



they are too ardent, too excited, from the moment they appear on the 

 track until the end of the race. 



Fig. 335. — Trotter in harness. 



Fazan, Russian stallion of the Orloff variety. (Reproduced from a photograph Jjelonging to M. 



Delton.) 



Preferred Coats. — Properly speaking, there are not, among 

 trotters under harness, any preferable coats. It may simply be said 

 that the dark colors, bay or sorrel, are always the most esteemed. 



Price. — The price of geldings and mares varies from $600 to $2000 

 and even $40,000. Stallions are much more expensive ; to our knowl- 

 edge there are some which have brought as much as $105,000 in 

 America. Here, again, the differences of price result from causes of 

 the same nature as those which influence the value of race-horses in 

 general ; such are the pedigree (genealogy), the conformation, the gaits, 

 the performances (trials undergone), races won, etc. We will dwell no 

 further upon these. 



Origin. — Several countries are renowned for their trotting-horses. 

 The United States, England, Russia, and France furnish the most 

 remarkable examples. The American trotter has only lately been im- 

 ported into Europe ; the English is bred mostly in Norfolk and also in 

 Yorkshire ; the Russian is found in the stud of Orloff ; as to the French, 

 he comes especially from Normandy, more rarely from the Ardennes. 



