94 THE TWO-MINUTE TROTTERS 



in 1903 at Readville. It is not unlikely that the youth of 

 the performer had much to do with the splendid reception 

 he received as the official time was announced for there must 

 have been many present who were looking for the arrival of 

 the two-minute three-year-old trotter and who felt that, a 

 four-year-old having trotted in time better than two minutes, 

 their hopes would, ere long, become a reality. At all events 

 the performer leaped to great popularity and predictions 

 were freely made that he was more than likely to become the 

 champion trotter. 



On that score his trainer has expressed a conservative 

 belief which will be found in the chapter telling about Peter 

 Manning. He expects that great trotter to get to 1 :56, maybe 

 shade it, though he makes no boast to that effect being con- 

 tent with the belief that the horse is equal to it. That he 

 believes Arion Guy capable of lowering the record for trot- 

 ting stallions goes without the saying. 



And regarding that it may be well to again quote from 

 Markey who records his ideas in this manner: "I heard 

 hundreds of initiated horsemen say that they believed Arion 

 Guy would eventually secure a faster record than would 

 Peter Manning. It wasn't that they failed to appreciate the 

 tremendous achievement of the world's champion, but that 

 the colt, through his more dashing style, had swept them 

 away. Personally I believe that Peter Manning will next 

 season (1922) trot right at or even shade 1:56, but, highly 

 as I regard Arion Guy's capabilities, I have not been able 

 to make myself believe that he will ever trot quite that fast. 

 That he will dethrone Lee Axworthy as the trotting king I 

 have slight doubt." 



No story of Arion Guy would be at all near complete if 

 it omitted mention of the very capable young man who has 

 charge of him. He is George Yax, who has earned a high 

 reputation as a caretaker. He goes about his work after the 

 manner of one who has learned it thoroughly, not only, but 

 who takes a delight in it. Naturally he is proud of his cham- 

 pion but in addition to that he has a genuine affection for 

 him, just as the horse appears to have for him. They have 

 much the same disposition and George handles him much as 



