ORIGIN OF AMERICAN TROTTING HORSES 143 



breeder, Mr. G. H. Ketcham, of Toledo, trotted as a seven- 

 year-old in 2.2|-, at Columbus, Ohio, August 2, 1901, gaining 

 thereby the then record of the world, and placing his owner 

 on the highest pinnacle of fame as combining in his own 

 person the owner, breeder, and driver of the champion. 



It is noteworthy that these three record-holders all trace 

 back in tail male to Hambletonian, and so from Messenger, 

 and, with many other famous names in their pedigrees, afford 

 convincing proof of the rewards to be gained by careful 

 selection in breeding, and the truth of the old proverb that 

 "like begets like." 



There is need, however, to guard against too close 

 inbreeding to any animal, however illustrious, though such 

 method is frequently unavoidable at the beginning, when 

 there are few distinguished sires at the disposal of breeders ; 

 but, while it fixes a type and also often produces exception- 

 ally brilliant individuals, it is yet apt to sacrifice sterling 

 qualities, and result in the decadence of a race, by occasion- 

 ing weak constitutions and nervous, excitable temperaments. 

 Such has to a large extent been frequently the portion of 

 breeders of British race-horses, carried away by the glamour 

 of a great name. In a critical examination of the pedigree 

 of Lou Dillon it will be seen how frequently the lines run 

 back to Hambletonian, though in her case there has been 

 safety in the extreme out-crosses of her two grandams, 

 Venus and Fly. Others who seek to follow on the same 

 lines may, perhaps, be less careful, and be disappointed in 

 their expectations, through breeding in too closely to one 

 famous animal. It is a principle that requires the utmost 

 care to bring to a successful issue, so as to carry on the 

 excellence through successive generations. 



