LIFE WITH THE TROTTEES. 269 



and Toe Weights ' ' to every man wlio owns a horse in this 

 country. No man that owns a horse or takes an interest in 

 one, should be without this book. I own one, and study 

 it every time I have a chance and always learn something 

 new. 



Speaking of newspaper men, brings to my mind a few 

 other writers who have taken a prominent part on the turf. 

 H. D. McKinney who writes over the name of "Mambrino,". 

 has given to the reading public a great many pleasant and 

 valuable newspaper articles; has been a trainer and driver 

 and owner, has invented several useful and practical appli- 

 ances for trotting horses; and one, his patent check-hook, is 

 the best thing of the kind I ever saw. 



M. T. Grrattan has proved himself by his works a capa- 

 ble breeder, a good trainer and driver, and one of the best 

 judges I ever saw in the stand, and as a writer I think if he 

 had taken to romance and described a scene betAveen some 

 young lady and her sweetheart as well as he did the race 

 between Edwin Thorne and Clingstone, his book would have 

 had a greater sale than "The Quick or the Dead." 



The next man, E. C. Walker, who writes over the name 

 ■of " Veritas " and has been connected for a long time with 

 the Chicago Horseman, has also served his time as a breeder, 

 owner, trainer and driver of trotting horses, and with a suc- 

 cess that any man might be proud of. As a writer on all 

 subjects connected with the horse he has made himself a 

 trade-mark that many try to imitate, bat none excel. There 

 is one thing in connection with his writings that I never saw 

 but one other man who could do anything like as well, and 

 that is, the fact that he can sit down in a chatty way and 

 without pen or paper interview you on any subject in the 

 world and write it up, and have his article contain the exact 

 language and meaning that you had used with him in your 

 conversation. This certainly must be a gift, as I never saw 

 but one or two men who could do it with anything like ac- 

 curacy. 



The newspaper business must be bred in the Walker 



