84 THE TWO-MINUTE TROTTERS 



trotted the final quarter in thirty seconds. Then he was started 

 at Lexington for a record, and trotted in 2:06^, equalling 

 the then world's record for three-year-old geldings held by 

 Easton. Peter trotted the last half of his mile in 1 :00l^, and 

 the last quarter in 29^4 seconds. The performance created 

 almost as much commotion as a stirring finish, and the sale 

 of the youngster shortly after for $21,000 to Tommy Murphy 

 for Mr. Gleason was announced. The early career of the 

 champion reflects great credit upon a young trainer who has 

 made his way in the world through sheer force of merit and 

 honest methods. 



So far as general principles are concerned there has been 

 no great change in the shoeing and rigging of Peter Manning 

 since he passed from the charge of Harry Putnam. He goes 

 somewhat different in a way, and yet there remains the same 

 peculiarity of gait that was in evidence when he took his colt 

 record. The change in his style of going has come with the 

 increase in his speed capacity; just such a change as might 

 be noted in any trotter that passed from the 2:06 capacity 

 to that of a champion trotter. 



To tell of Peter Manning and not mention John Sum- 

 mers, the highly capable man who cares for him, would be 

 to omit something of importance. John is the ideal care- 

 taker in every respect and he finds Peter a willing and 

 cheerful charge because he knows just what to do with him 

 and when and how to do it. The result is that the champion 

 is always as fit as a fiddle. Perhaps John's plan is to treat 

 Peter just as he would any other good horse and let it go at 

 that. At all events Peter and John were ready when time 

 came for the supreme test and what was done is history. 



Peter is distinctively a product of Lake County, 111., and 

 is another bit of evidence of the neighborliness of the people 

 there. Mr. Wright's farm in Lake County lay between 

 Grattan Farm and the John R. Thompson Farm, home of 

 Azoff". From Grattan Farm, Mr. Wright bought Glendora 

 G. and at Thompson F/arm he bred her to Azoff", and her 

 colt he sent to Harry Putnam, a resident of Lake County, 

 for development. The result was Peter Manning 2:06^, 

 and Tommy Murphy did the rest. 



