Introductory. 



I have noticed for a long time this question appearing in 

 different papers devoted to equine matters : " Where can I 

 buy a book which teaches how to condition, develop, train 

 and drive a trotter or pacer ?'' The answer usually is, "There 

 is none that teaches the art." As the inquirer is usually some 

 one that is making a small beginning or venture in the breed- 

 ing line, and cannot afford to place their stock in the hands of 

 a first-class trainer for development, it has occurred to me 

 that it would be a kindness to many thousand small breeders 

 to tell them in plain horse talk all that is known, and all that 

 I have learned in my thirty years' experience in the stable 

 and on the track, filled in with illustrations of certain points 

 which I wish to impress by personal experiences with certain 

 horses which I have handled and driven in races through the 

 Grand Circuit and elsewhere. 



It has been twenty-one years since any work of this kind 

 has been attempted, and in that time the changes have been 

 such that the methods then in use have become obsolete and 

 have been retired to " inoccuous desuetude." There has been 

 such an advance and improvement over the days of Hiram 

 Woodruff, that if he were now on earth he would hardly rec- 

 ognize his loved art, the improvement has been so great. I 

 do not expect this work will be above criticism as a literary 

 production, as that is not in my line, but I do mean its Jiorse 

 talk to be comprehensive, instructive, and adapted to those 

 readers whom I expect will profit by its perusal. 



Any man that has horses in training can by studying this 

 work see that they are properly handled, and if necessary can 

 oversee and direct their preparation. This work will also con- 

 tain the 2:30 list complete up to Jan. 1st, 1889, as I believe 

 this work will go into the hands of many farmers who would 

 never see it in any other book. 



A. J. PEEK, 

 Jan. 1st, 1889. Syracuse, N. Y. 



