PRACTICAL PAPERS—THE HORSE. 
297 
In regard to breeding horses. I say get a thoroughbred 
horse of good size, and then take your largest and best mares, 
and yon will not fail to have good horses for the farm, and 
also good for the market. You can take them to St. Louis, 
Chicago, or New York, and get a big round price for them. 
It is a shame to use our finest specimens of thoroughbreds on 
the race course, when they could be used to such great ad¬ 
vantage for breeding purposes. There is just as fine a chance 
for farmers here to go to raising horses, if they will give it the 
proper attention, as to raise cattle, sheep and hogs. 
There is a prejudice against race horses, and perhaps I share 
somewhat in this prejudice. But allow me say, it is the race 
course that has developed the qualities desired in a horse. 
We want to get action in a horse. We do not and would not 
get the action we ought to have, without proper training. But 
here we get the trotting action. Having one of these horses, 
you have a most profitable horse from which to breed. I own 
two stallions. You see I value the thoroughbreds, and I have 
found the raising of these horses profitable. I sold last year 
to Mr. Loomis of Chicago, a horse for $4,000. You could 
not now buy that horse for $10,000. 
Who can help being pleased with the appearance of a beau¬ 
tiful and well trained horse. God has made us to admire the 
beautiful in nature and in art. 
Well, I must say 'Something to you about the race course. 
I do not wish to recommend my farmer friends, and especial¬ 
ly my young friends, to waste their time at the race course, 
or to make trotting trainers of themselves. I believe that the 
influence of the race course is bad. I do not recommend the 
raising of horses for the purposes of the race course. The in¬ 
fluence is not only bad, but tends directly to neglect of busi¬ 
ness. 
Now in regard to racing at our fairs, and here I know I am 
treading upon the ^toes of some. But for the exhibition of 
horses at our fairs, we could hardly sustain them. At St. 
Louis, at the state fair last year, we took in $100,000 in eight 
days. If we had not offered large premiums for fine horses 
