Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-03
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
MARYLAND RACERS AND TROTTERS.

MAINLAND hAUthS ANU InUl ltn0'
I'm interesting article on Mary
land blOOded horses was published
in The Sun day or two ago. There
are several wellknOwn breeders Of
race horses in the State, the most
prominent among whom is ex-
Governor Bowie. Many others
have been quito successful on the
turf for short distances, and, as the
article in question states, "the
racing season now drawing to
close has afforded the admirers of
horses particularly good SPORT but
that "whlle the races Of thorough
breds in Maryland have been up to
the standard, the races for trOtting
horses have been superior to those
Of previous seasons The truth
is, that although in earlier days of
the turf Virginia took the lead of all
competitors and Maryland was
not far behind, the superiority for
long distance racing stock has
passed over in these latter days to
Kentucky. That greater attention
should now be given in Maryland
. trotters is natural for there is a
more extensive demand for them
than ever before, and the speed of
them, by judicious breeding and
training, and perhaps, though not
always the case. by an infusion Of
the blood of thoroughbreds, has
been wonderfully increased. The
market for fast trotters is there
fore always a good one, and when
ever a trotter turns up that is equal
to those owned by the late Mr..
Vanderbilt or Nj. Robert Bonner,
the sum he will fetch amounts to a
considerable fortune to the lucky
owner. 1t is, therefore, worth
while for farmers to breed occasion
ally from good trotting stock, and
to take some pains in training
likely colts, as it costs no more to
raise them than those Of inferior
quality. Some one Of these colts
may develop a speed equal to the
best, and thus obtain the very
highest fancy price. Many Others
may be able to trot in or somewhat
below $50, and thus command a
good round sum, while others, out
side of competing points, will make
good roadsters. There is good
reason consequently in the man.
ayers of our county fairs encourag-
ing trotting matches, tor apart
from the pleasure felt in them by
visitors there is material interest
connected with such races. They
give publicity to the qualities OF
local trotters, and enable men who
are experts to judge OF the present
value Of the best of them, and OF
what their prospective value might
be when subjected to further ju-
dlcious training and careful hand
ling. That there is money to be
made in raising good trotters is
evident from the increased number
of trOtting tracks built in Mary
land during the season, and the
efforts made in some of the cOun-
ties of the State "to have the drlv-
ing roads put in good condition for
training and speeding There is
another matter referred to in the
article on which we have based
these remarks which is altogether
worth noticing in this connection.
1t is that "the roads around Baltl-
more city do not afford much facil-
ity for speedinghorses, nor, in fact,
for ordinary driving, or even for
the proper enjoyment of carriage
riding" The truth of this every
body knows who has had occasion
to pass over our suburban high
ways. Now, while 1t would be
seriously Objectionable to make
trotting tracks of these high ways,
and while it is very truly said in
behalf of better roads that more
toll would be taken at the tollgates
with which the country commits
sioners have nothing to do-and
while it is also quite true that
"pleasure drivers on them would as
a rule spend money in the country,
in the way of refreshments, a part
of which would 90 to pay an inter
nal revenue tax the really strong
ground to be taken is that the
county roads ought to be put in
the best condition, not simply to
encourage trotting or pleasure driv-
ing, or for the comfort of those
who ride in carriages, but bee ause
good roads are essentially neces-
sary to facilitate travel and traffic
to and from the city, and because
every mile of good road adds to
the value of property within easy
distance of both sides of it, and,
while thus of benefit to the owners
of such property, increases the
taxable basis.-BdHimOre Sun.