The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-22
TO TROT IN TWO MINUTES.
An Expert on Trotting Horses Thinks This
Time VIII Be Made
New Haven News.

New Haven News.
Prof. William II. Brewer of Yale College, has
made the evolution of the American trotting
horse the subject of much careful research and
study. Professor Brewer owns the most com
plete collection of ancient and modern books
relating to hOrsefeSh in all its forms to be found
in New England. Yesterday the Professor gave
an interesting review of the progress of trottng
in America.
ut is not known exactly" he said. svben
horses began to trot against time. EugIishmen
had always run their horses, and had trained
them for that So the English horse is seldom
if ever put to the trot trials of speed 1t was in
the year 1906 that the New York Spectator made
mention of horse which had trotted a mile in
two minutes and fifty-n seconds which at
that time was without precedent. Laws against
horse races, that is to say running horses. were
in colonial times extremely stringent. In the
early part Of this century they got around the
laws against horse races by trottng their horses
alone and timing their speed by watch. This
was purely American discovery. Aftera while
the horse laws were so modified as TO allow
trials of speed as they We're termed to be
gwen at certain periods of the year with inpu-
nifty, 1t not until 1918 that the first trot for
money was given, when Colonel Boyd, of Mary
| land, bet Maj Jones, of Long Island, 81 600
that no horse could be produced that could trot
a mile in less than three minutes Boston Blue
was produced, and covered the mile in Just
three minutes. This was held to be a wonderful
feat IN those times anC Boston Blue was taken
| to England and exhibited there In 1925 the
New York Trotting Club was organized, and
built course at Jamaica, L. l., which was
probably the fastest trotting track in the world.
From that time trottiug became a general
sport, and was adopted by the mass of
people who owned horses and that
very thing guaranteed its progress
The record In 1918 of Boston Blue of
three minutes, was broken in 1924 by Top Gal
liant in 2:40, in the same year by the Treadwell
mare in 2:34 in 1880 by Burster in 2:32, and in
1884 by Edwin Forrest in DBL 1t took nine
years to lower the last record which was done
IN 1913 by Lady Suffolk in 228 and in the next
year by the same horse III 2:26R. But it was left
to Flora Temple to astOnish the country when
she made her celebrated time, 2:l9a ia 1859
Flora Temple from that time became a house
hold word. Ladies wore Flora Temple bonnets
boys smoked Flora Temple cigars politicians
drank Flora Temple whisky. 1t Is not probable
that any one trotter will ever again create such
enthusiasm. Her winnings We're very large
indeed. Then came Dexter, lowering the record
twice before retiring from the turf Then
GOLDSMITH Maid. whose speed and fame are said
TO have brought her owners quarter of a million
dollars Then Rarus, St. Julien and Maud s
whose recent performance Of 2. 0S2 stands before
the world without equal.
Thus, you perceive the great lowering of
records since trotting was inaugurated in 1919
During the past decade records have steadily
been lowered, and Mr.. Bonner is authority for
the statement that he expects Maud S will
surpass her time of a day or two ago before the
summer closes 1t is my firm opinion based on
many years OF deep study of the evolution of the
trotting horse that before another generation
passes we shall hear Of trotting horses WHO can
make q mile under two minutes. Horses are
bred nowadays Tor the single purpose of bringing
out their trotting qualities just as in England
they are bred solely with reference to running
Now, II lot of thoroughbred horses are bred
within themselves without admitting any
mongrel blood, and ii they are trained solely for