The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-17
HINT TO HORSEMEN.

THE ENGLISH IDEA OF THE BEST GAIT.
The London Field, referring to the invi-
tstion sent to England for the exhibition of
live stock during the Philadelphia exhibi-
ton, says: In the meantime it is amusing
to observe that prizes will be awarded at
Philadelphia to horses which possess merits
unappreciated. or at least unrewsrded, on
this side of the Atlantic. Thus we read that
awards will be made for running horses
having made fastest record;" for 'Itrotting
stations having trotted a mile within
2:30;" and for "msres and geldngs having
trotted mile within 2:25." In
England we are accustomed 10
make entire colts concede three
pounds to geldings and mares, whereas in
the United States mares and geldings are
asked to trot mile within 2:25, while stall
lions are regarded as sup to proof il they
can accomplish the same distance within
2:30. 1t would not be easy to get together a
synod of English racing men who would be
willing to give prize to running horses
having made fastest record" We have
long ago satisfied ourselves that nothing
can be more fsllacious than the time test,
and it is notorious that Boutwell,, who was
little more than platter, won the two thou
sand guineas in shorter time than West
Australian, who could have given him
twenty-one pounds and beating bad they
been born in the same year. With the
awards designed for trotting horses we do
not presume to interfere. The
HoNoRs OF THE TRoTTING TURF
belong exclusively to the United States;
and Hiram Woodruff was probably correct
when he said that three-minutes trotter
is as rare and hard to find in England as a
two-thirty trotter in the Great Republic.
Osher nations may be tempted to compete at
Philadelphia by sending thoroughbred horses
or pur sang cattle across the Atlantic; but it
is certain that our enterprisinz cousins will
have the trotting classes all to themselves.
Yet we confess that we sympaihiZe with
their determination to give prizes for fast
walking horses. Many Of the best judges of
horsefissh that these islands have produced
were OF opinion that IL horse could walk
well he could do all things well. When
Teddington, Aphrodite, Brebs, The Ban and
Confessor were all yearliDgs together
at Lsybourne Grange, Sir Joseph Hsw..
ley's stud groom, Tweed, told his
master that Teddington would prove "the
pick of the basket" as he could outwalk all
the others. Fobert, the trainer of the Flying
Dutchman aud Van TrOmp, was always
great believer in the fast walking race
horse. Every hunting man who has had
occasion to jog home at night for 20 miles
upon the back of tired hunter, is aware
what a blessing il is to bestride a good
walker and sprightly trotter instead of an
animal "who kicks a six pence before him at
every STEP" Nothing is better known than
that proficiency in certain gaits is not less
hereditary in horses than are distinctive
types of features in human families. Touch
stone and Orlando, the gTandsire and sire of
Teddington, were themselves famous
walkers. and If the Drizss for walking dis
tributed ~ Philadelphia tend % draw the at
tention OF English breeders 20 ths develop
msuJ ofexcellence in this gait The Centen-
NAL will not be held in vain.