The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-09
RUSSIAN TROTTERS.

40, -.....,- l.. ~ - Al A.. o.~Lili
All pos ginning - 'i''"' "'', Wv "''' oN,i'o
uoh VI we lVV'""S '"'p'i'" ""77'"" "'"'iS
was certainly not successful IN every respect
But thls IS not inc iaut OIL inc noo'c horses
exhloitcd' neither Is the ldea whlch originated
the exhibition unworthy oil encourugen'ht
Inc drawback seems to be mat the amlable
gentlemen managing ms puslhess nave no
practical knowledge oi inc taste ana Vows OF
American horsemen. Inc Tour magnificent
stations ana the Mite black marc which Lieut..
Izma'on has brought mere belong To the best
breed OF Russian horses. though they cannot
exactly bc called Orion trottcrs. strictly speak
ing. for years past there have been no Orion
trottcrs in Russia. The original stud OF That
name has passed into the Governments hands.
and II now controlled by the Imperial Depart
mcnt of Horse Breeding Of which Lieut.
1amailofls father is one Of the managers. II is
not. however, from this imperial stud that the
five imported horses come. The two gray stall
lions were born in tn" Englchardt stud. in the
Government Of Smolcnsk; the pair Of black
stations were born in the Iavluf stud. in the
Government Of Saratow; and the black mare in
the Phipofr stud, in the same district. All Of
them have some Orion blood. hut tu ascertain
the proportion OF that blood would be II very
difficult task. keeping in view the way in which
high cIass horse breeding has been developed
in Russia.
The originator Of systematic horse breeding
in the northern empire was Count Alexis
Orion. the great favoritc Of the Empress
Catherine. and the man who is credited with
having strangled the Emperor Peter III. Up
To the middle Of the last century horses in
Russia were not scientifically hr,d: they ran
wild in many parts Of the country. Those
caugh; in the stcppcs of the river Don. and in
the wilderness Of the district of Niutka. OBJ
tanned carly celebrity. which they sim main.
tain The Don horses are those famous Co.'S
sack stccds about which 50 much has been
written Of late The Vatka horses. or Bitugues
as they are called. are the genuine trOttcrs of
Eu.-ia. They are all pnocrs. equally remark
able for their speed and their endurance. But
since the Orion breed has boon introduced the
Bhgues are excluded from all Matches ON the
ground that their plcing il not orthodox.
IT is with these B,fagnes that tine peculiar
toiko team. Of which specimen was shown in
| Fleetwood Park on Saturday. originated \
iasi and sturdy BAtgae il put ia shaits. and Il
light running horse from the .ppr. harncs-ed
on each side Of him. 4 good 4 N,gue troi- 30
| fast that the wild sinppc runners have to br
whipped all the time ~ force them 10 keep uu
with him The idea oi putting an Orion trotter
! in the place Of a Bittgac IA Lieut. lzmuilon did
! NJ Fleetwood Park. is very queer for no square
! trUtffr equal the Spttf1 ti these famous
paccr- of Viatka, and keep abreast with side
runners.
The way in which Orion started his stud was
| this: H. imported from Arabia "a white stallion
named Smotanka. and a number II mares from
| Hoistcin, then celebrated for the strength
beauty and height Of it, horses The first colt
! he bred Yves allied Bars. and il is from him aud
| his sire. Smctankn that famous Orion breed
! descended Byaqu.rr coincidence Orion was
| Ike Admiral Rous "a horse marine II. wis an
! Admiral Of the Russian fleet. and in that ga
| pa .iiy gnincd tn. battle 81 Tchcsmc and S.io
which resulted in the utter dc-trucii un Of the
! Turk ish fleet N77Ol Notwithstanding his naval
| pursuits. he early became famous for his sport
ins trndcucic, and his knowledge OF the horse.
H. was 80 jealous of his stud that when h. be-
gan to sell horses he made il principle never
to sell stallion orst mare. AMI there was never
seen ON any racing track in Russia a genuine
| Orion hurs" that wds not g'lling
The manager of Orlon's stud WINS man by
the name ol NAishhin. who. 1t i- said. succeeded
in stealing a few colts hy reporting tho m t" his