TROTTING TRACKS. 199 



not fast enough for a first-class funeral procession. Buf- 

 falo has also a naturally fast track, but it is miserably 

 conditioned. 



A slight grade on a track is far from being a disad- 

 vantage, but it seems to me the descent should be in 

 the last part of the mile. 



The Lexington track has a heavy grade, the descent 

 commencing almost immediately at the wire and contin- 

 uing about three-eighths of a mile; a steep ascent for 

 about a quarter further, then a descent reaching nearly, 

 if not quite, to the wire. Undoubtedly that track would 

 be faster, however, were the grades somewhat reduced. 

 The Cleveland track has an up grade of about sixteen 

 inches to the quarter-pole, and over two feet from that 

 point to the half-mile pole; a descent of about two and 

 a half feet from the half to the three-quarter pole, and 

 from the latter to the wire — the remainder — something 

 over one foot. Whether this slight grade rests any set 

 of muscles and enables a horse to trot faster is very 

 doubtful in my mind, but to the grade our worthy Pres- 

 ident 1 " attributes much of the excellence of the track we 

 all swear by. 



Implements and Conditioning. 



The first requisite to keep a track in condition is 

 water, and when the heavens do not furnish a sufficient 

 supply of that fluid the sprinkling cart must. And right 

 here, let me say, in order to have a fast track during 

 race week, you cannot let it go without care the other 

 fifty-one weeks in the year. The sprinkling wagon 

 should have wheels with a tire six inches wide, to pre- 

 vent cutting up the track with its heavy load. The holes 



*The late William Edwards. 



