16 Process of Power Changes 



The trotter is trained for racing purposes, and 



that training consists in driving the horse at the 



trot day after day and year after year until finally 



retired from the track. A racing career lasts as 



long as it is financially profitable, and no longer. 



We will take the case of Goldsmith Maid as it is 



one of the longest of which we have full records. 



A horse is full grown at three or four years of 



age, and a few of them live more than twenty 



years. The record here begins at nine years of 



age because it was not until that age that she had 



developed the speed which would classify her as 



a "standard trotter." 



Extreme Speed of Goldsmith Maid. 



Feet per 



Age Time second 



Nine years 2:30 35.20 



Ten years 2:24j4 36.54 



Eleven years 2:2254 37.05 



Twelve years 2:19j4 37.85 



Fourteen years 2:17 38.54 



Sixteen years 2:16 38.82 



Seventeen years 2:14 39.40 



One thing to be njoted here is that her gain in 



trotting power was not limited to the attainment 



of full growth, but continued year after year 



with the most striking improvements made in the 



evening of life. At ten years of age Goldsmith 



