LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 241 



When the race was over Clingstone received an ovation, 

 was given one of the handsomest floral pieces I ever saw on 

 the track, one that would have made glad the heart of the 

 most exacting prima donna. This race proved to me one 

 thing, that if you are selected to drive a race don't be afraid 

 to go out and take the chances, or in other words, you are 

 the doctor and the one to decide whether or not to cut off 

 the patient' s arm. In training Clingstone for the race I had 

 been cautioned by a great many people not to work him toO' 

 hard, they saying that he was one of the kind that did not 

 need any work. I have never yet seen a horse that could, 

 trot a hard race of mile heats, three in five, at anything: 

 like the top of his speed and not have plenty of work. I 

 gave Clingstone all the work I thought he ought to have, 

 was not backward in changing his shoes or doing anything- 

 for him that I thought would be fo§ the better, and the 

 result showed the wisdom of the course, he not only win- 

 ning the race, but the average of the three heats was nearly 

 as good as he or Wilkes had ever trotted in public in their 

 long career. Mr. Gordon seemed much pleased at the result 

 of the race, complimented me on what he considered my 

 ability, and paid me a fee that would have made glad the 

 heart of a star-route lawyer. 



Incidental reference has been made to the breeding farm 

 at Pittsfield, Mass., of Mr. W. R. Allen, a man young in 

 years, as well as experience in breeding trotters, but that his 

 ideas are of the right kind, founded on a careful and intel- 

 ligent study of the subject of blood lines in trotters, can not 

 be doubted after one looks over the list of animals he has 

 collected at his farm, and sees with what uniformity the 

 lines of their pedigree go in the direction of actual speed 

 production of the highest type, and that it has been tested 

 on the race-track and not been found wanting. 



Mr. Allen became famous as a breeder by one stroke, so 

 to speak, he having gone to Stony Ford farm, and made a 

 draft of very choice animals, the same including representa- 

 tives of its most famous animals, and for these he paid the 



