RACING, OR TURF HORSES. 447 



most celebrated horses that early gave fashion to this style of going, and 

 a full list of animals and performances, that the reader may see at a 

 glance the growth of this passion for trotting horses. 



EARLY TROTTERS. 



Until 1823 we have but little authentic information that regular trot- 

 ting courses were established, and not until 1830 were fast trotting 

 courses established. According to Porter's Spirit of the Times, the first 

 public trotting in America for a stake was a match against time for $1,000. 



In 1824, A. M. Giles trotted his horse 28 miles in one hour and fifty- 

 seven seconds. The same year Topgallant and Betsey Baker were 

 matched to trot three miles in harness for $1,000 a side. The race was 

 won by Topgallant by 40 yards, in 8 minutes, 42' seconds. Topgallant 

 also trotted 12 miles on the road in 39 minutes. The "Albany pony" 

 did a mile in 2 minutes, 40 seconds. The Treadwell mare did one mile 

 in 2 :34 ; and Boston Blue trotted 18 miles within the hour. Boston 

 Blue is reported to have been the first horse that trotted a mile in three 

 minutes ; it having been done in 1818. So that it will be seen that the 

 Treadwell mare in 1824 had reduced the time to 2 :34. Yet for many 

 years after a 2 :40 horse was considered extraordinary, as also was any 

 horse capable of going on the road in 3 minutes. 



In 1827, on the Hunting Park Association of Philadelphia, Screwdriver 

 won two heats at two miles, beating Betsey Baker in 8 :02 and 8 :10, the 

 three best time on record. Dutchman afterwards accomplished the same 

 distance in 7 : 32 1-2, and Lady Sui¥olk in 7 :40 1-2. 



In 1840, on the Long Island course, Jerry beat Whalebone in a three 

 mile trotting race, in 8 :23 the first heat, and 8 :15 the second. The best 

 time for 2 mile heats that year was 5 :22, 5 :21 ; for 3 miles, 8 :26, 8 :27, 

 8:41, 8:56. On long distances Sweetbrier accomplished six miles in 

 18:52. 



In 1834 Edwin Fon'est, as yet an unentered horse, trotted his mile in 

 2 :31 1-2, beating Sally Miller. The course Avas 1 mile and 10 yards in 

 length. 



In 1835 Dutchman made four miles, under the saddle, in 11 :19 and 

 10 .51, and Dolly, by Messenger, out of a thoroughbred mare, five miles 

 to wagon, carrying two men, weighing 310 pounds, in 16 :45 ; and imme- 

 diately was started again to do 10 miles more, which she accomplished in 

 34 :07. The same year the horse Daniel D. Thompkins, under the sad- 

 dle, trotted three mile heats in 7 :59 and 8 :10. 



In 1842 Ripton beat Lady Suffolk, at 3 miles in harness, in 5 :07 and 

 5:17. 



In 1843 Lady Suffolk made mile heats in 2 :28 1-2, 2 :28, 2:28, 2 :29 



