THE HACKNEY HORSE. 



action of the Hackney was like during the earlier years of 

 the present century, whilst, as regards a still more antecedent 

 period, there is plenty of evidence to hand to bear witness 

 to the abilities of the then existent trotting horse. For 

 instance, it is recorded of old Shales' son Driver that he 

 was the sire of a mare that trotted 15 miles within the hour, 

 carrying 15 stone, whilst the old horse himself is credited 

 with having accomplished 17 miles within the same period 

 of time. According to an advertisement in the Norwich Mer- 

 cury in February, 1806, Pretender, who was therein alluded 

 to as being for sale by public auction, is stated to have done 

 his 1 6 miles within the hour, with 16 stone upon his back, 

 when five years old ; whilst Read's Fireaway won the second 

 prize given by the Agricultural Society to the best trotter, in 

 the year 1801, and after the victory trotted one mile in 2 mins. 

 49 sees. At a much earlier date, however, there were 

 records forthcoming to prove the ability of the English 

 trotter, amongst which is one held by Phenomena, a mare by 

 the trotting stallion Othello, out of a Norfolk trotting mare, 

 who is credited with a record of 17 miles in one hour. 

 Phenomena, although under 14-2 hands, when 12 years old, 

 in the year 1800, trotted 17 miles in 56 minutes in the Hun- 

 tingdon Road ; and, the performance being questioned, re- 

 peated the achievement in fact, excelled it by negotiating 

 the distance in a few seconds under 53 minutes. Subse- 

 quently she was matched to complete ig| miles within the 

 hour for a stake of 2,000 guineas ; but her opponents paid 

 forfeit when they discovered that in a trial she had trotted 

 4 miles under n minutes. It is also recorded of this famous 

 Hackney that, when 23 years old, she did her 9 miles in 28| 

 minutes. Phenomena owned several masters in the course 

 of her career, amongst them being the Duke of Leeds, who 

 was content to pay 1,800 guineas for her when in the zenith 

 of her fame ; but her old age was not respected by those she 

 served, for she was eventually disposed of in one of the 

 London sale yards for the wretched price of seven pounds : 



