Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-01-09
AGRICULTURAL.



The FAST HORSE MANIA.-There are not
many horses able to trot a mile Ia less than
three minutes, anu ii there were none, how
would 1t affect the mass OF mankind ? The most
inveterate Jockey Is hardly ready to answer the
question on the instant. for any man of sense
knows that no great harm would result. All
honest horse work would be performed Just as
well the mass OF respectable people able TO
enjoy fine turn-outs would travel just as fast as
now; and, In word, they and others,-ai but
the Jockey fraternity,-would not know of any
calamity unless told of it. Why, then, talk vi
"improying the breed of horses,' by breeding
to speed alone'
The fast horse serves two prominent purpo-
ses-one, that OF gambling, which nobody has
the hardihood 10 defend; the other that of
playthlng for certain gentlemen OF elegant lei
sure, nut with more money than real plain
"forse sense" The possession OF a superior
animal Of this sort gives them a certain kind of
distinction. besides furnishing amusement,
and In addition may be used as an advertising
adjunct. Dodge, the Boston bard, paid Sd25
Tor the nrst Jenny Lind ticket sold in Boston,
as an advertisement and sharp business man,
with an eye to the main chance, NAV moi fiuu
advertising through stud of fast horses, or an
elephant, TO be more expensive than other modes
But when these purposes are accomplished, the
uses OF the last horse are dexeept for breed
ing more OF his kind. II may be- and probably
Is the case. that in the atteup, 10 breed first
class trotters stock Of tirst-rate loadstars OF
work horses may be produced consider ably s,,-
perior to the general average, and if So this is
wei but we hear very little said on that point,
and the service Of great trottees is held at such
enormous figures that unless really superior
trotter or racer Is bred, there 10 mo money In
IT," Fine action, fine figure, fast walking.
strength and Endurance for necessary and IL.
POROUS work, are all good points to breed to-
Dut are Little thought of by the class most moi ,y
Tor pretended Improvement"
Blu the famous Character Of the race course
anu US ASSOCIATION, together with The practical 1
inu'uty OF last horses themselves, after they |
70 os suincleht inducement to respectable peo-
pc 10 discourage this fast-horse mania in NH
sunaoie ways. High breeding need not he dis |
Outraged, but the gain OF a few seconds of
'pced Is among the least important of all the
points to ue considered. Steam and the
Nrsidpi nave dispensed with horse expresses.
ma hiph speed On the farm or fine common
DAD, except as fast walkers, is Of liII. acconn,
asl Walking Is important, but n po,nt so an
heiy unitarian as that is beneath the biph
'reeuers consideration Fine tqure and &C.
ION are also OF eIeat value for road. ters. hut
ven these qualities receive little attention m
ur h'Ape anxiety 10 produce great tlotters.-l !
Anu the great 'iotsei, when duly trained for |
nc faer,-gauht, bony and mI,cular.-is M,
artlculariy ornamental in Appearance. .xcant
those whose eyes are educated to anne date |
~ gambling hideousness. And the race itselfI
eeiues nothing as to comparative speed. SIM
osinS the horses to be equal in speed. one
'ust travel the farthest on circular coursn
no De Inevitably beaten. Besides TO secure q
ne pets owners and jockeys can procure anv
,suit they choose. Longfellow lost Ills I,s, t
zee oy neck or length, but IL measurement I
nis footprints afterwards showed,-so saw
oou morse authorities,-that lame az he wac
e Travelled forty seven feet more than BasSet,
ne Whole performance reeks with tLe fnuIest
orfuption and temptation, and deserves IN
INK as an amusement with bull-6phts and
aaa1oriai shows, and as we Progress IN morals i.
40 enlightenment, eau hardly fail, like them,
pass away and be looked back upon in the :
lture, as part Of onr record of shame.