MAKING SPEED. 47 



1891 ; then Freedom, 2:29%, already mentioned, 

 the first yearling to trot in 2 :.30. 



Charles Marvin, the great colt trainer of his 

 day, drove three yearling champions to their recr 

 ords: Hinda Rose, 2:36^^ (1881), Norlaine, 

 2:31^^ (1887) and Bell Bird, 2:26^4 (1891). 



We quote from Marvin's book, which describes 

 the training of Norlaine, With less than ,a 

 month's preparation, she reduced the world's rec- 

 ord for her age 4>4 seconds : 



"From the day that Hinda Rose made her record 

 of 2:36^ in 1881 there was no yearling produced in 

 America to threaten that record until the season of 

 1887, and as long as it was not menaced we made 

 no effort to improve it. But a surprise catne from 

 Kentucky in the year last mentioned, when the deeds 

 of Sudie D. made her famous. * * * George 

 Bowerman started her at Lexington, October ISth, 

 and she went the mile in 2".3S?4. Wheii the news 

 arrived that the Palo Alto yearling record had been 

 eclipsed we at once set to work to bring the honor 

 back. The time was short, and we had to pick a 

 good one of our youngsters and push development 

 a:t high pressure. The most forward of our yearlings 

 was the filly Norlaine, by Norval (present record 

 2:17'/4), out of Elaine, -2:20— the fast mare by Mes- 

 senger Duroc, out of Green Mountain Maid, whose 

 history I have already given. She was a rather dull 

 brown in color, a trifle pony-built in some respects, 

 but with a long, low-set body, short sloping hip of 

 the pacing- formation, and low at the withers. Her 

 legs and feet were of the best quality, and she had 

 a level head. Norlaine was not impressive in ap- 

 pearance until you saw her go. She was always 

 fast frbm her first lesson on the miniature track, and 

 I began working her in April, but gave her only the 

 easiest of work, as the intention was not to start 

 her until she was two years old. But Sudie D.'s 

 brilliant performance in October changed all this. 



