xxxiv Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



from the equation, and some horse, usually in rivalry with 

 another, will perhaps in a single year, put the horse ahead of 

 this computed speed. 



In 1853 the horse was about three seconds behind the 

 computed speed. In that year Highland Maid advanced one 

 second, and from 1856 to 1859 Flora Temple had carried the 

 record ahead six and a quarter seconds more. This placed 

 the horse 2.3 seconds ahead of the computed speed. 



In 1867 Dexter found the horse again about 1.25 behind, and 

 in two races during that summer, placed the horse 1.25 ahead 

 of the computed speed. In 1871 Goldsmith Maid found the 

 horse behind nearly a second, and by 1874 put the horse ahead 

 of the computed speed by about 2.25 seconds. When Rarus 

 appeared in 1878, the horse was again nearly a second behind, 

 and Rarus, St. Julian, Jay Eye See were in rivalry with Maud 

 S. during seven years. They not only kept the record from 

 falling still further behind, but in 1885 Maud S. finally sent 

 the record ahead of the computed speed about 1.5 seconds. 



In 1891 Sunol again found the horse slightly behind the 

 computed speed and advanced him half a second. During the 

 next year Nancy Hanks appeared and sent the horse ahead 

 again. During this year appeared also a marked discontinuity 

 in the evolution of the running gear. Improvements had 

 been constantly made in the sulky during all of the time from 

 1840 to 1892. At this latter date the modern sulky with 

 pneumatic tire, 28-inch wheel and ball bearings was first used. 

 With this running gear Nancy Hanks placed the horse a little 

 over three seconds ahead of the prediction, and in 1894 Alix 

 lowered this record a quarter of a second more. 



Six years later the present generation of trotters began. 

 The Abbott lowered the time of Alix by half a second, and 

 then began the contest between Crescens and Lou Dillon, 

 which has resulted in putting the trotting horse 4.5 seconds 

 ahead of the predicted speed. 



These successive generations of horses have changed the 

 record as follows : — 



Flora Temple.... 7.25 Maud S 5.25 



Dexter 2.50 Nancy Hanks 5.0 



Goldsmith Maid. . 3.25 Lou Dillon 5.25 



