St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-29
Minnesota Trotting Stock Being Greatly
Improved by Introducing New
Breeding Stock.
Commodore Kittson, Finkle, Sherwood, De-
Graft and Marrett Doing
Good Work.
Description OF b. Van Campen's Stock
at Cannon alls--DeGranGetsa
Wilkes Colt.
The Story of Alexander's Abdallah--
Fast TrotLing Mares Are Not
Good Breeders.
Mr.. De CRAFTS New PURCHASE.

1t cannot be denied that Kentucky ia the
leading horse-breedmg state of the Union.
The reasons why she enjoys this pre-emi-
nence are many and are too familiar
to horSeinen to need be repeated
here. 1t is desired on this occasion
to call particular attention to only
one of the principal reasons why Kentucky
has this reputation, because that is this,
particular breeders here in Minnesota are
in moderate degree following the wise
example set by Kentucky. Stated gen
orally the principle adopted by that stale Is
TO breed from nothing but the best and
strive to get the best to breed from, no
matter what the expense may be. This
among Kentucky breeders is the funda-
mental idea that governs. This has been
illustrated very recently. The breeding of
trotters in Kentucky has been brought to
very fine point. That state has
for years had the benefit of such
sires as Harold, Belmont, AleXander's Abb
dallah, Almont, NutwOod, Happy Medium
and a number of the George Wilkes tribe.
Mr.. II. S. Veech OF the Indian Hill stock
farm concluded that it was necessary TO do
something to keep up the reputation OF his
breeding establishment and accordingly he
began to look around. After exploring the
whole field he secured Director. for which
he paid $50, 600. with the privilege given
the former owner to breed ten mares to
him for two years free and now Director is
at the head of the Indian Hill stud at $3.50
without the return privilege. Mr. w. ii.
Wilson of Abdailah park, Cynthiana, KY,
and p. ). Talbot of the lnwood stock farm
Lexington, KY, desiring to be in the
front rank as breeders sought
for firSt-class stallion and, finally.
that there might be no mistake,
both went to California to examine Sultan.
This horse has never stood for public ser
vice, is 1 years old, with record of 2:24
and has eleven performances with 2:3l1 & or
better. lie is the son of Sweetheart, with
3 two-year-Uld record of 2:26H and "a
three-yeaT-Old record of 2:2215. These
gentlemen were satisfied with him and what
he had done, and bought him at very long
price. He arrived at Cynthiana on Satur-
day. the Goth inst. These two examples of
what Kentucky breeders do. and have to do
TO get TO the front, are mentioned simply to
show what the breeders in Minnesota will
also have TO do if they expect to stand in
the front rank as breeders. To breed fast
trotters one must have the best maCerial.
SecOnd-class stock will never do it, and
will end in nothing but a stock
farm Overrun with second or third-class ami
mails for which there is no market and
general disappointment and disgust with
breeding. There is no use to experiment
in regard to this matter. Our breeders
here in Minnesota should start, as near as
possible just where the Kentucky breeders
stand to-day. They should
ACCEPT THE EXPERIENCE
those breeders have had and the demonstra-
tons they have made during the past twen
ty-tive or thirty years and work from that
point. The lines from which the trotting-
horse comes are too clearly established to
admit of doubt. 1t is now a contest to see
which breeders shall most judicously COM
bine these prepotent elements. Mime
sofa breeders seem to comprehend
pretty thoroughly the situation, and
in the main are acting upon the suggestions
made mere. Commodore Kittson first started
in upon the idea of getting the best and can
to-day show some of the grandest stock in
the country. The breeding of these ami
mails has often been given in these columns
and is familiar to all horsemen. Mr.. Finkle
of Moorbead started with the Volunteer
and Hambletonian stock, and the splendid
record he made last year at Chicago with
Lord Nelson astonished all horsemen and
added luSter to the state of Minnesota.
George w. Sherwood got to thinking the
breeding problem over and he came to the
conclusion that if Kentucky could raise
such fast horses, with the same breed
ing stock here in Minnesota we ought
to do the same. He accordingly, last
year went to Kentucky and bought two
year-old George Wilkes colt, for which he
paid 81. 800. Later Mr.. L. B. Marrett came
to the same conclusion as to what it was
necessary TO do to breed trotters. He
therefore purchases a NutwOod colt bred at
Glenvew stock farm by McFarren of Lex
ingtcn, KY. And now comes Mr.. c. A.
DeGratf. He wants something to cross
upon his Alexander FLIES, of which he has
quite number out of mares by Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. He therefore purchases a
fOur-year-od George Wilkes colt, Empire
Wilkes, and with him will produce some
thing creditable. 1t is fortunate for the
state that we have citizens who are willing
to lay thus broad and deep, and of the best
material, the foundations for the trotting
horse in Minnesota. The future value to
lhe state will be immense, not only i'm add
ing to the taxable property of the state. but
to its reputation for the best climate in the
world. The fact that Mr.. Finkle trotted
his great Lord Nelson colt at three years of
age, in public race Of the severest charac-
ter in 1858, opened peoples eyes to the
influence of the climate here in Minnesota.
Commodore KittSOn, Mr.. Finkle. George
w. Sherwood, G. A. DeGraff and T. B.
Marrett are to-day doing a great work for
this state of Minnesota.