The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-11-26

Trotrnw.
uondon Teleefsph.1
Vast ~ b me amount of money repre-
sented by the thoroughbred stock pur-
chased frem ms by our transatlantic kins-
men, y h not little remarkable that no
gallopinS thoroughbred, however great
his excellence, has ever been appraised
ut 80 high figure as peerless trotter.
Ask any Knglishman of sporting tastes
which n the most valuable horse In the
world, and without hesitation the answer
would be Isonomy." Shortly after the
unparalleled performance of the son of
Sterling and Isola Bella in the Manches-
ter cup Of this year, Mr.. Gretton, the
owner of Economy, is reported to have
fixed 826, 900 as the price at which he
would sell him But the largest sum
ever actually bid for an English horse
was G15, 600, which Mr.. Wordsworth
refused for Springfield, and the largest
sum that was ever actually paid was
ETA, 900, given by the Duke of Westmin-
ster for Doncaster It is evident from
an occuranee which has just taken place
that as regards the prices at which horses
are salable IN the two countries, English
men, with all their wealth, are far behind
their American brethren. Upon the 18th
of September Mr.. w. H. Vanderbilts
suburb trotting mare, Maud S., accom-
plished a full mile at the Jockey Club
park, Chicago, in the unprecedented time
Of 2102. The first quarter-mile was
done in 0.34, the half-mile In 1:04aa, the
three-quarters IN :36, and the last quar-
ter IN 0:34f. The performance is with
out parallel upon the trotting turf, and
is additionally meritorious from the fact
that it was achieved in the teeth of
strong wind. On the 9th of September
st. Julien, "the California prodigy"
trotted his mile at Hartford, Conn, in
2:114, and thus it viii be seen that Maud
s.. has outstripped him by half q second
Let it not be imagined for a moment
that there is any possibility Of a mistake
IN discriminating between these narrow
segments of time. The speed of super
lative trotter is gagged by a score or
more of watches, each of which is
regulated and adjusted with the greatest
nicely, and many of which are in the
hands Of men who have backed time.
The trot*ing associations of several large
cities offer large prizes for'animals which
can trot their mile within a certain stated
period, and we may be certain that many
jealous eye was bent upon the Chicago
performance of Maud s.. eager to dispute
the record" were 10 possible to do So
But the excitement provoked by this
wonderful achievement may he estimated
when we add that Mr.. w. H Wander
bilt, who Is now in this country with the
intention of sailing for New York in the
White Star steamship Britannia, two
years ago gave 10000, or 200, for
Maud S. when she was four years old,
and that since her performance at Chi
cago he is said to have been offered
100000, On 100000, for his matchless
mare, who Is now six years old 1t will
awaken little surprise that Mr.. Wander
bilt, who is currently reported by his
compatrio4s to be the wealthiest man in
the world, should have refused this
amazing offer, and within few weeks
he viii probably be seen driving Maud
S. in his buggy along the Bloomingdale
road, ON the outskirts of New York, with
the proud consciousness that he has be-
tween the shafts the most valuable
qnadruped sn earth
The onward career of the American
trotter during the present century may
be pointed at with legitimate pride by
the sporting citizens of the western repub-
Nc While in England we have stood
still as regards the speed of our galloping
thoroughbreds, the Americans have sim
ultaneously struck off at least forty sec
onds from the time in which their best
roadsters can accomplish mile at the
trot. 1t would be unjust to deny that
the trotter is altogeter an American crea-
ton and that immense sums Of money,
guided with singular skill, patience and
ingenuity, have been expended in bring
ing them TO perfection.