THE TBOTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 73 



horses. Tvdth which I have had to do in the course of my 

 career, I shall have more to say about them. Fourth of 

 July, a gray horse by Abdallah, was another good trotter 

 at five years old. Medoc was another of his get that was 

 justly noted ; and there was Brooklyn Maid, a very fast 

 mare, and a noted sticker. In 1840, when she was only 

 five years old, this mare trotted a fifth heat in two minutes 

 and thirty-six seconds. Considering that this was twenty- 

 five years ago, it must be regarded as a capital performance. 

 The Abdallahs came on early, and lasted long. They were 

 commonly full of spirits, wild and playful as kittens, with 

 first-rate stamina, and always ready to trot. Through this 

 grandson of his, the strain of old Messenger was diffused 

 east and west in this country ; and at this day it seems to 

 have parted with none of its blood-like, speedy, and endur- 

 ing qualities. His son Hambletonian also gets produce 

 which stand work early, and promise to be in nowise defi- 

 cient in endurance. During the time he was in Kentucky, 

 Abdallah did a great deal for the trotting-horse out there : 

 and they have wisely re-enforced the infusion by further 

 importations of the Messenger blood. 



When it is considered that their trotting-stallions have 

 been very often well-bred, and then put to thoroughbred 

 mares, it must go far to account for the extraordinary feats 

 performed there by colts that were only four years old. 1 

 see no absolute reason to deny the statement made, that Mr. 

 Alexander's colt Bay Chief, by Mambrino Chief, out of a 

 thoroughbred mare, trotted half a mile, at four years old, in 

 one minute and eight seconds. It is to be regretted that 

 the wounds he got in the battle with the guerillas have 

 ruined him. Ericsson's mile — the fourth heat — in two 

 minutes thirty and a half seconds was an astonishing thing 

 for a four-year-old, especially when it is added that it was 

 done to a wagon. It does not appear upon the record that 

 this was the case, for the way of going is not set down ; 

 but I learn from a gentleman of unquestionable veracity, 



