532 THE HORSE. 



There exists but a scanty record of the early trotting horses and 

 their achievements. The first sporting-paper published in Ame- 

 rica, " The Turf Register/' was first issued September 1, 1829. 

 This monthly journal was almost entirely devoted to the thorough- 

 bred running horse and racing; and, during the first two or three 

 years of its existence, trotting was barely mentioned in its pages. 

 As has been stated, the first public trotting race took place in 

 1818. In that year the horse Boston Blue trotted at Boston, in 

 a match against time, a mile within three minutes (the exact time 

 is unknown), which was reckoned a very great performance. In 

 1824 Albany Pony trotted a mile on the Jamaica turnpike in 2 m. 

 40 s., which shows a considerable advance in speed in the six 

 years which had intervened. 



The performances of Top Gallant were so extraordinary, and he 

 was in every respect such a superior horse, that a more complete 

 record of him has been handed down than of any of the old-time 

 trotters. He was foaled in 1808, but trotted his principal races 

 after he was twenty years old. Hiram Woodruff, who rode him 

 at his exercise, thus describes him : " Top Gallant was a dark bay, 

 fifteen hands three inches high; plain and raw-boned; but with 

 rather a fine head and neck, and an eye expressive of much 

 courage. His spirit was very high, and his bottom was of the 

 finest and toughest quality." In 1828, in a four-mile race against 

 Whalebone over the Hunting Park Course, Philadelphia, he 

 'trotted four heats* of four miles each, in 11 m. 16 s., 11 m. 6 s., 

 llm. 17 s., 12 m. 15 s., the whole sixteen miles in 45 m. 44 s. 

 In 1830, when twenty-two years old, he trotted twelve miles over 

 the same course in 38 minutes; and in 1831, on the same ground, 

 two miles in 5 m. 19 s. 



A correspondent of the " English Sporting Magazine," writing 

 of the trotting horses at the Hunting Park Course in 1829, men- 

 tions Top Gallant first, as follows: 



"Top Gallant, by Hambletonian, he by Messenger, trotted twelve 

 miles in harness in 38 minutes; and three miles, under saddle, in 

 8 in. 31 s. He is now nineteen years old, and can trot a mile with 

 one hundred and fifty pounds in 2 m.' 45 s. 



" Betsey Baker, by Mambrino, he by Messenger, beat Top Gal- 

 lant three miles, under saddle, carrying one hundred and fifty 

 pounds, in 8 m. 16 s. This mare, when sound, could trot twenty 

 miles within the hour. 



" Trouble, by Hambletonian, a horse of good bottom, trotted two 

 miles in 5 m. 25 s. 



" Sir Peter, by Hambletonian, trotted three miles in harness in 

 8 m. 16 s. 



* A heat is one continuous effort, either in running or trotting. 



