Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-23
The Q 80 Standard Too Sl,sc.

The Spirit of the Times: The day is rap
idly app oaching when the 2:3O standard
as the criterion of trotting merit must be
discarded as too cumbrous; and the stud
books that are now published on that ba-
sis be relegated to the dark ages. In our
own publications we have dispensed with
it since 1875, as being too unwieldy for
our purposes, although we recognize the
necessity Of its still being retained for
works Of a broader scope. But the day
has gone by when a speed of 2:3O to the
mile. unless by colt, is considered meri,
torious, and the 1925 list has taken the
place in the estimation of the public which
the $50 list occupied ten years ago. In
fact, there are more horses now that have
trotted in 2:25-we hazard this statement
without censultingIthe records-than had
trotted in 2:30 up to the close of 1872. But
even the 2:25 standard must eventually
be superseded in the lapse of time
by lower figure, and it is our object, in
this article, to give a bird's-eye view of the
growth of the very fast records, those bet
ter than 2:20, as an indication that the
time referred to may not be very far dis
tant. 1t will long be considered, no doubt,
the test of very fast horse that he be able
to beat 2:30, and as yet those who have
done so can be enumerated without trans
cending the limits of an ordinary newspa-
per article. There is small chance that
there will be any further additions to the
list in the remnant of 1882, and hence the
historical review we give may be deemed
complete. 1t is rather a Homeric cata-
logue, but is full of interest.
1t was in 1859 that Flora Temple, at
Kalamazoo, Mich, first trotted mile heat
in harness Gin the teens,'' her time being
2:19s4, and the predictions were then plen.
tiful that the record would not be sur.
passed for a quarter of g
century. But that period OF
time has not yet expired, and there are
already eighty-one trotters that have
equaled or eclipsed the time of the little
bob-tailed mare, and when the quarter Of
century is ended there will be over one
hundred. 1t was not until 1867, however
that it was surpassed, by Dexter, he frs
trctting at Boston, against Brown George
and running mate, in 2:19, and lowering
the record, two weeks latter, at Buffalo, tt
2:17I, a performance which caused more
enthusiasm, probably, than any other il
trotting annals. The following year, 1868
passed without any newcomers to the ''free
for-all'' list; but 1859 was rema rkable fol
bringing into notoriety great quartet
The future queen of the turf, Goldsmith
Maid, trotted in 2:191a, which she reduced
in 1874, to PA; American Girl, in 2:19
afterward lowered to 2:161s; Lady Thorn,
in 2:181a, and George Palmer, in 2:19I
It began to dawn upon the minds of the
people that, in trotting, there were as good
fish in the sea as were ever caught.
The years 1870 and 1871 brought out nc
new frst-class performers, and in 1877:
the only addition was Lucy, who, against
her will was obliged to trot in 2:18L to
beat American Girl, because Lucy's side
partner, Goldsmith Maid, was not equal to
the task that day. In 1873, Occident, on
the Pacific coast, electrified the golden
shores by trotting in 2:16I, and Judge
Fullerton, then rising young trotter in
the East, scored 2:19I, which he after
wards lowered to 2:1s.
Succeeding years were more prolific
In 1874 that great mare, Luln, trotted 6
heat in 2:18I' which record she subse
quently lowered to 2:15; Gloster, the nam
moth trotter whose untimely death is still
regretted, in 2:17; the little mare, Nettie
in 2:18; Red Cloud was driven out by
Charley Green in 2:1S; Bodine trotted in
2:191s, later in 2:19I, and Camors ir
2:19A. The year 1875 brought te
the front Lady Maud, 2:181; Lucille
Golddust, 2:l91a, reduced in 1877 to
2:16I: Thomas L. Young, 2:19%, and
the gallant grey gelding Hopeful. 2:17L
which he lowered in 1873 to 2:14A. The
centennial year was not SO prolific of fly.
ers, there being but trio, of which the
bright particular star was Smuggler, with
his yet-unequaled stallion secord of 2:15L
and the others were Cozette, 2:1S. and
Great Eastern, 2:19, since lowered to 2:1S
The year 1877 did little better, as the
future King of the Turf, Rarus, trotted in
PIG, which record he reduced in 1873 t.
2:13H, Hannis scored 2:19L, since
lowered to 2:17A, Slow Go in
2:181@, and Gomez in 2:19L.
In Inter years the additions came thicl
and fast. In 1873 the list was augmented
by nine performances. Edwin Forrest
trotted in 2:18; Midnight in 2:18I; Colo.
mel Lewis in 2:1811; Albemarle in 2:49
Dick Swiveller and Edward in 2:19 each
and Swiveller, later in 2:18, these horses
now comprising Mr.. Works champion
team with record of 2:164 to the pole
Croxie in PISA; Proteine in 2:19L, pres.
ent record 2:1S; and Apelaide in 2:19%.
There were eight accessions in 1879. St
Julien, now the reigning Monarch of the
Turf, made 2:12A. which he reduced the
following year by second and q half
Darby in 2:1611a; the fve-year-old stallion
Santa Claus in 2:18, present record, 2:171],
Nutwood in 2:1SA; Alley in 2:19, Bone
setter in 2:19; Graves in 2:19; and Trinket.
In her four-year-old form, in 2:19A; pres.
ent record 2:14.
The year 1880 was the best on record in
the production of trotters that beat 2:2O.
there being no less than fourteen new
corners to the charmed list. At the head
was Maud S., ever since the Queen of the
Turf, who trotted in 2:1OA, lowered the
following year to 2:1O4, and now the
mark that all are aiming at; Hattie Wood
ward, 2:151s; Charlie Ford, 2:16A; Mon
roe Chief, 2:1S1a; Patchen, 2:1e%; Kitty
Bates, 2:l9; Wedgewood. 2:19; Keene Jim,
2:194; Parana, 2:194 Driver, 2:19%;
o.