St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-23
WHY THEY DO 1T.
MAX" Gives Some Good Ideas on
the Breeding Problem.


the Breeding Problem.
To the Editor Of the Globe.
One week ago Huesday there was a
large gathering of the horse breeders
and owners Of trotting and pacing stock
at the Merchants hotel, reminding one
OF the days when that genial gentleman
(nOW deceaSed) Col. butcher was run
ming the Metropolitan hotel. The OBJ
Ject of such gathering was the annual
meeting of the Twin City club and also
of the State Agricultural society, the
former holding its meeting in the read
ing room Of the Merchants and the lat
ter at the capitol. The gentlemen were
seemingly more enthusiastic than in
previous years, and all reported their
stock wintering finely and unusually
free from diStemper. | was quite
amused at some OF the conversation. II.
B. Marrett. the proprietor of Fairview
breeding farm, and the owner of Nut
wood MambrinO. the Wilkes stallion by
Lumps, and Early Pioneer, all three
great horses, came in for good roast.
1t was this: The question came up of
breeding to stallion of known
speed who had a low rec
right down good one he had to have a
record within the charmed circle. One
gentleman said: Look at Mr. Marrett,
one of the most genial and pleasant
gentlemen in the breeding business.
Now has he not sent two of his best
mares to Onward and one to Red
Wilkes, and does he not own NutwOod
Mambr!nO, by the great NutWoOd, on
the sire side, and on the dams side
WoodfOrd Mambrino? What finer
breeding do you want than that? Be-
sides he is individually great horse,
but being only four years and being
growthy has not been developed for
speed. Now he sends three of his best
breed to his own horse? He certainly
is better bred than Onward, as far as
the great sires are concerned. / will
tell you. Onward has shown that he is
trOtter himself. and his get is coming
to the front. That is why Mir. Marrett
sent his mares to him. "
Another gentleman from the southern
part of the state chimed in: "YOu
can rest assured that MIR. Marrett has
his ideas, and probably is the only
one that actually does know. There
are no flies on Marrett."
Another gentleman said, "What is the
matter with McGrath? He was going to
breed four mares to Patron this year.
his Administrator stallion, TheSeus, he
changed his mind. He found his colts
were not only trOtterS, but came to their
speed young. and he is now buying
mares by Patronage, full brother to Pa
trOn, to breed to his horse. He saws,
Boys, my horse is not cut bias; what is
the matter with him? When you meet
me before the starter next summer you
want to have sure enough trotter, or
you won't see my colts after the
Word.'"
Sherwood has kept steady at work,
breeding 10 WOodfOrd Wilkes, the great
son of George Wilkes said another
horSeman, land there will be a surprise
for some one, when the heats are trot-
ted"
Now, there is Mr.. Merriam, why is
he sendidg Adelaide, why is Long send
ing Belle + TO be bred to Bonnie Nc
Gregor?" chimes in another, "when he
has that
GRAND son OF SULTAN,
first dam Minnehaha? Now, why is
this thus? Is it because they are like a
great many of the American people,
reaching for something that they have
not got, or are they after some fresh
blood IN brood mares?
You have hit the nail on the head"
listener. mr.. Marrett is not hide
bound, and is anxious to have the differ
ent strains that are popular represented
in his stud. Did he not think he had
great one in his 'Nutwoodr Why did
he breed his great AlmOnt mare, Anna
West, and his trotting mare, Captolia,
to him? No. l will tell you, gentlemen.
MIR. Marrett is studying this breeding
problem, and is not going to breed by
guesswork. He knows that his horse,
Nutwood, is just as liable to get 2:10
colt as Onward or anybody's horse, but
he has no record and can not even show a
fast mile every time simply because he
has not been worked for it, and maybe
he could not do it then. Now when
you come TO say that a horse must be a
low-down trotter to get speed you are
clear off. Statistics do not show it,
Why take Patrons record, 2:lIL. He
was sired by Pancoast in 1881. At that
time Pancoast had no record. LOtSlocum,
record 2:17ls. was sired in the same year
by Electioneer, who had no record then.
Then again there is Sable Wilkes, rec
ord 2:1S, sired by Guy Wilkes in 1883,
he having no record at that time. There