CHAPTER X 

 THE STANDARDBRED HORSE 



The Standardbred breed includes both the American 

 trotter and pacer, often erroneously spoken of as separate 

 breeds. They have a common history, and the only dis- 

 tinguishing character between them, if any, depends upon 

 their gait. However, the gaits are interchangeable, and 

 the same horse may pace on one occasion and trot on 

 another. 



The origin of the Standardbred horse. — This breed is 

 of American origin, though tracing to animals imported 

 from England, where for many years horses have been 

 trotted and run under the saddle. For more than a century 

 Norfolk and Yorkshire, England, have been noted for 

 their trotting horses. It is stated that in June, 1800, the 

 Norfolk trotting mare Phenomena, at 12 years of age, 

 trotted 17 miles in 56 minutes, carrying a weight in 

 saddle of about 225 pounds on the Huntingdon road. In 

 July of the same year she trotted it in 53 minutes. Fur- 

 ther, it is stated that, in 181 1, when 23 years of age, she 

 trotted nine miles in 28 minutes. It is also stated that 

 in 1806 the horse Pretender trotted 16 miles in one hour, 

 carrjdng 210 pounds. 



Most important source of Standardbred blood. — ^The 

 English Thoroughbred furnished much of the improved 

 blood entering into the formation of the American 

 Standardbred horse. The ancestry can be traced in an 

 unbroken line to Darley Arabian, as is illustrated in the 

 chart (p. 120), Darley Arabian siring Flying Childers, 

 who sired Blaze, who in turn sired Sampson and Shales, 

 and so on down the list. Perhaps the most important 

 source was the importation of the stallions Messenger 

 and Bellfounder, whose histories are worthy mention. 



«5 



