RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



highly gratifying to Mr. Hamlin, because he was the 

 breeder, as well as owner, of both mares. In the 

 autumn of 1890 Belle Hamlin and Justina gradually 

 reduced their double-harness record, the progressive 

 steps being 2.15!, 2.15, 2.13^, and 2.13. In 1892 

 Belle Hamlin was hooked double with Honest 

 George, and established the record at 2.12^. 



The idea of driving three horses abreast occurred 

 to Mr. Hamlin, after a close study of the efforts 

 of three horses hitched this way to the wagons of 

 brewers in the streets of Buffalo. It was at Cleve- 

 land, July 31, 1891, that the successful trial was 

 made with Belle Hamlin, Justina, and Globe, all 

 bred at Village Farm and all by Almont Jr. I re- 

 produce the story that I wrote at the time : 



" Belle Hamlin, Globe, and Justina were hooked 

 abreast to wagon, and their appearance on the track 

 was the signal for applause. In the morning John 

 Splan predicted that the trio would not beat 2.30. 

 I looked the rig over and told Mr. Hamlin if he 

 went a mile in 2.18 he would be lucky. I remem- 

 bered how difficult it was to get two horses to go 

 together, and thought that the third horse would 

 prove a disturbing element. In a pair you must 

 have similarity of gait and temperament, and you 

 have to hunt long and far to find these qualities. 

 It necessarily follows that a harmonious trio is much 

 more difficult to discover. Globe, being thought the 

 slowest horse, was put between the shafts. Justina 

 was hooked^ so as to bring her next to the rail, and 

 Belle Hamlin, being the fastest, was put on the out- 



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