The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-10-05
A Few Noted TrOtters.
Hartford Correspondence


In 1860 l was a reporter of trotting
matches at Suffolk Park and Point
Breeze, below Philadelphia, and saw
George M. Patchen beat the favorite,
Flora Temple. while the o'er-chivalrous
roughs of the Fourth Ward threw clubs
and hats into the face of the gallant
winner, who nevertheless, came through
the hail of missiles and scored home.
The best time Flora had ever made was
2:193. Six years later / saw Dexter
beat that time. In the intervening eleven
years American trotters and training
have so much improved that to DAY
saw Rarus run two heats, of mile each,
in the unexampled times of 2:134 and
2:1S4. A heat prior to these two he
made in 2:15. Those three heats, if
added together, were made in 6 :424, or
literally railroad speed. Today, also, a
new horse, Edwin Forrest, trotted a
mile here in 2:144, and horse, Hopeful,
trotted half mile in 063, although
freshly shod. These figures put far
back in the list the performances OF
Dexter, which trotted his best mile in
2:174, and even Goldsmith Maid, whose
best time was IA. 1t is the opinion of
some critics that the time will be re-
duced within few years to 2:10 to the
mile, and not drop below that.
In these horses there is nothing to ex-
cite much admiration. Rarus is tall
bay, with white hind feet; Edwin
Forrest is sort of lion or bison shpaed
bay horse, thick and almost humpy
through the shoulders and with droop-
ing rump: and neither very long nor
high to look at; Hopeful is a spotted
white or light gray, rather frail and
ribby, and is the property of a lady,
Mrs. Alfred w. Richmond. wife OF
Dean Richmond's son, whose husband
presented her with the animal. She
was on the grand stand to-day, sitting
among the wives of the stock holders,
This horse has won eight thousand dol
lars in purses for her driving the present
summer. None of these horses are
thoroughbreds, though all are suspected
of having some good blood. The Ameri
can trotter, like the American man.
however, suspects his blood after he has
distinguished himself. To look at these
roadsters, with their legs bandaged in
leather and their general want of spirit
or style, one would say that speed was
no matter of election. Rarus is claimed,
on very little authority, to be descended
from Ryskyk's Hambletonian, the
father of Dexter. He was a cart horse,
like Flora Temple and Goldsmith Maid,
the latter Hambletonian's grandchild.
Thirty per cent. of the great trotting
winners are said to be of Rysdyk
Hambletonian's blood. Rarus is owned
by Mr.. Conklin, of Greenport, L. l., OPP
posite New London, Conn. He refused
S35, 900 for Rarus in California, when
John A. Shaw desired to purchase the
gelding from Mr.. Croker, the railroad
officer. The animal won 81 500 to-day,
without regard 10 betting, but if his
time should be beaten by Forrest he will
drop his value to $4,000 or SIS, 900, as
he can procreate nothing. Edwin For
rest, raw Missouri horse, hardly
known three months ago, has been sold
to Charles Green, of Babylon, l.. l., who
drives him, for SIG, 1000. The mare Gold
smith Maid is said to have won $50, 600
for her owner. If the great trotters are
also mares or stations, they earn
prodigiously in the breeding stable.