Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-08-14

Is my lutentlOn 10 give Drlcl nlst0-
ry OF the trotting horse in America
his origin. rapid development, and
what, in time to come, he will be
Of course, taking into consideration
his record in the past. While tC
England we are indebted for the
thoroughbred running horse, there
can be no question but that the trot-
ter is purely an American conception
made perfect by judicious breeding
and thorough training, for trotting
is merely an acquired gate. The an
cestry OF the trotting horse in Ameri
ca dates back TO 1883, when there
landed in Philadelphia from England
horse named Messenger, who was
a son of Membrino, the latter one OF
the most noted racers of his day.
Messenger, previous to his imporla-
ton, had performed creditably upon
the English turf, and while the gel
of his sire had TO some extent shown
trotting proclivities, it was no doubt
the intention Of thos who imported
him that his progenitors should 60
down In turf history as those of his
ancestors had for generations pre-
vious.
Messenger, however, was located
in Pennsylvania, and the Legislature
of the State having passed a law
prohibiting racing, his get, as con-
sequence, had no opportunity of being
trained for turf purposes. Had not
this bill been passed, Messenger
would doubtless have occupied a
place in the running studbook, instead
Of being known as the father of the
trotting horse. Messengers i'm
mediate descendants did nothing,
there being no trotting races in those
days his get could consequently be
used on the road only; his blood,
however, in after years proved TO be
very precious, and many of the star
performers of the trotting turf trace
IN direct line to this grand old gray
hero who left the shores of Albion in
l1SS. Messenger was taken to New
York in 1893, where he did stud SER
vice at various points until his death
in 1903. Tradition has informed us
that the people had learned to ap-
prcciate his merits, as he was buried
with military honors, the roll Of the
artillery and sounds Of the muskctly
being heard as they laid this founder
of great equine family 10 rest. just
ten years after the death of Messen-
ger the first race ever trotted in Amer
lea came of on Long Island. 1t was
match against time for $1,000, and
was proposed at a jockey club dinner,
where trotting was the theme of dis
cussion. The bet was that no horse
could be produced which could trot
mile in thece minutes. 1t was ac-
cepted by Maj. VIM. Jones, of Long
Island, and Col. Bond, of Maryland,
time being a great favorite among
outside betterS. A slate-colored
horse, known as Boston Blue, was
named at the post, and he easily won
his hackers money, gaining with the
record lie made great rcnown. Some
time after this match he was purchas-
ed by Thomas Cooper, the noted
tragedian, who drove him frequently
from New York to Philadelphia in
order TO fulfill his theatrical engage
ments. In the American Farmer of
1894 we find an account of the Trad
well mare trotting mile in . ia
this was the best time ever made up
TO that date, and remained so until
1888, when Sally Mile" gained rec
ord of . 81 -. which was cQualed by
Edwin Forest in 1891. Like running
races, in those days many of the trot-
ing events were two, three and four
mile heats, those owning the trotteI
at that time seemingly preferring
endurance to speed. The first pub
lie favorite upon the trotting turf
was Topgallant, who was one Of the
most popular animals with the masses
that has ever appeared upon the
course. lie was a remarkably fine
horse, with superb action. OF his
early career but little is known, and
of his breeding nothing, although by
some it has been believed that he
came from the stock of Messenger
At one period he was used as com.
mon hack in New York city, and al
a later date he earned his oats by
being employed in various other
! laborious occupations. To what
merits Topgallant was indebted fol
his great popularity with the publ,
is hard to tell, for he was frequently
defeated, and he made by no means
any very remarkable time. That hi:
reputation as a trotter was very great
there can be no question, for al q
meeting of the Board of Officers oI
the Hunting Park Association, the
first year Of that institution, TO regu
late the trotting for their purses, il
was resolved that Topgallant should
he barred from entering for the sec.
ond days purses, as they considered
him "a first-rate horse" Screw.
driver also became famous on the
course during the same period il
which Topgallant figured. His merits
were esteemed about as highly as
the latter, a Philadelphia paper head
ing a notice Of his death with thu
statement: "The Emperor of horses
is no more" Passing rapidly througl
a period in which Betsy Baker
Whalebone, Paul Pry, Lady Wash
ington, Sallie Miller, Edwin Forres
Burster, Charlotte Temple, Modcsty
Sir Peter, Shakespeare, Cato, Lad!
Victory, Lady Jackson, Moonshine
Columbus, Bonny Boy and Stranger
were the shining lights, brings III
down to 1886, when Dutchman anC
Awful made their first appearance,
upon the trotting turf. The frs
named was discovered by Mr.. Pet,
G. Barker, in Pennsylvania, tramp
ing clay in a brick-yard. Having M
pedigree, what Mr.. Barker could Sc,
in him is hard to tell, as he was {
great coarse, ungainly, brown hors,
with nothing whatever in looks Of
appearance to recommend him. Mr.
Barker however secured great bar.
gain for bottom and endurance
Dutchman has scarcely had an equa
on the trotting turf Awful was 9
thoroughbred and was just the op
posite of Dutohman in appearance
being dashing, bloodlike looking
bay horse with very bad temper
Both Dutchman and Awful frequent
ly contested together, but the brick