INTRODUCTORY, 



'"T^ RAINING horses for races, and the development 

 j^ of speed, are arts almost as old as history itself, 

 and, while different people at different epochs 

 in the past have employed different methods for 

 accomplishing the common object, the reader, in order 

 to form a correct judgment as to the success and 

 merits of one who has devoted the best years of his 

 life to the accomplishment of developing the light- 

 harness horse to his present high standard of excel- 

 lence, must necessarily understand and appreciate the 

 conditions surrounding his undertaking, and hence a 

 brief summary of the conditions which existed in 

 Tennessee at and prior to the time of my entering the 

 arena would seem to be desirable. 



When Tennessee was settled, the lands were taken 

 up by comparatively few people. These few land 

 owners were a sport-loving people, and, to gratify their 

 pleasure, imported large numbers of thoroughbred 

 horses, some of which were among the best and most 

 distinguished race horses of their day. There were 

 very few regular racetracks in that State in those days ; 

 but these large land owners nearly all had private 

 tracks, or " rings," upon their vast estates, where the 

 neighbors of a community would occasionally meet in 

 friendly contests. It was soon demonstrated that, 

 owing to the hilly country and stony and muddy 

 roads, locomotion could best be accompHshed by 

 the use of the saddle horse, and hence it was that 



