LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 167' 



part in. a good many races of that kind and become stale. 

 Minnie E. went to the half-mile pole in one minute, and 

 covered the third quarter at the same gait, and, I am sure, if 

 the runner had not tired, they would have gone the mile bet- 

 ter than two minutes, but 200 yards from the finish he gave up 

 the ghost, and Minnie R. had to do all the work from there 

 out, landing at the stand in 2 : OSJ. This was her last perf onn- 

 ance in public, and she retired from the turf with three rec- 

 ords that no other one horse ever had — 2:19 trotting, 2:16^ pac- 

 ing in single harness, and 2:03^ pacing with a running mate. 



Here is a problem for the breeders and trotters of pacers 

 to solve. This was a mare vsdthout any pacing or trotting 

 blood to speak of, and for her to go out and both trot and 

 pace so well seems to me considerable of a mystery. She 

 was a very blood-like and iacy -looking mare, about fifteen 

 and one-half hands high, with head and neck like a race 

 horse, and long, round, smooth body and hips. She did not 

 look at all like a typical pacer, was a good feeder and easy 

 trainer, and a good campaigner. She had the very best of 

 legs, without any bunches or puffs of any kind, and her 

 feet, with the exception that they had become very much 

 bruised and sore from the use of toe-weights and heavy 

 shoes, were remarkably good. That she was very game was 

 demonstrated both at the pace and trot. I think that she 

 should have had a good deal better record at both gaits than 

 she got, and as she has been put to breeding, I shall watch, 

 with a good deal of interest, what her produce may do. 



While on the subject of pacers, I will give a little history 

 of my star side- wheeler, Mattie Hunter. She came on the 

 turf in an era of pacers that has never been equaled, and 

 looks as though it never would be. She was one of what 

 was once called the ' ' Big Four' ' —namely. Sleepy Tom, Lucy, 

 Rowdy Boy, and Mattie Hunter— but I will not undertake 

 to tell all of the wonderful races that these horses paced. I 

 have a fair knowledge of them, as, at one time or anotl^er, I 

 drove, I think, all of them. I drove Mattie Hunter a race 

 or two for Mr. Pate, of St. Louis, and I liked her so well 



