218 



OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 



the same track in straight heats ; best time, 2.25 ; and six days 

 after beat her to wagons at the same place in straight heats ; 

 time, 2.27, 2.25, and 2.25f. 



During his trotting career he also beat the noted trotters, 

 Ehode Island, 2.23J, Lucy, 2.18, and American Girl, 2.16£. 

 His record, 2.22, was made in a race trotted at Narragansett 

 Park, E. I., October 13, 1868, against Ehode Island and Duroc 

 Prince. 



Having had the honor of occupying a position in the judge's 

 stand on this occasion, I know that his record at that time was 

 by no means considered to be the limit of his speed. I was 

 confident that had he " been sent " for all that was in him at 

 the time, he could have lowered it some three or four seconds. 

 During his trotting career he won twenty-seven races, getting 

 $50,150 in purses. In all he won fifty-six heats in 2.30 or bet- 

 ter. In the stud he imparted his natural trotting qualities and 

 his own resolute will to his offspring to a degree seldom equaled 

 by any other trotting sire. 



J And by so doing he placed himself at the head of the great 

 "Wilkes family of American trotters, which may be justly con- 

 sidered as among the leading speed-producing families of the 

 world. 



George Wilkes died in Kentucky in 1882, at the age of 

 twenty-six years. 



The following is a list of his sons and daughters, with their 

 records, also the dams of the following trotters : 



GEORGE WILKES, 519, SIRE OP 



