The Republican journal., 1892-10-13
n New Era in Trotting.

Although the season is not yet closed,
1892 has already become the most note
worthy year known in the history of Amer
lean trotting.
The wolld's record has been reduced
by four seconds and a quarter, an achieve
ment without parallel At the be-
ginning of the season the best time ever
made was Sunol's EOS IA. Nancy Hanks
has lowered that record to 2:04.
Since 1859. when Flora Temple trotted
a mile in 2:l9 81, there have been but ten
sovereigns of the turf. During that third
ri century no trotter before Nancy
Hanks lowered the record by more than
three seconds, and only one, Goldsmith
Maid, reduced it that much. For eight
Years Flora Temple was without a rival.
Maud 5. was queen of the turf for eleven
years. with the exception OF one day. For
SIN Years her record of :. US 81 was UNI
equalled, and when beaten by Sunol was
lowered only half Il second These fig
ures show how sensational to the trotting
world must be the reduction of the record
in a single season by the same horse from
,: 0s ii to 2:04.
This result is due in no small measure
to the remarkable Improvement in sulkies
made 10y the adoption of the pneumatic
tire and bah bearings. That this is a great
aid 10 speed is shown not only by the per-
folmances of Nancy Hanks, but also by
The general trotting and pacing OF the sea-
som. Records have been broken all along
tile line lowered in all classes. 1t is a
striking tact that when the season opened
the number of rotters with records of ,: 10
OF better WAS fifty one. That list has
since been Il, ubled-thc number now be
ing a hundred and two.
The lneun attic sul6y has wrought Il rev
nhltion in trotting. 1t has opened a new
era in records. just how much it contrib
utes IT, a record is a matter OF specula-
ZION. Competent Judges say about five
seconds in case OF a 80 trotter and about
rhree in the case of a 10, OF better flyer.
If that be SO Nancy Hanks record of 2 04
with Il bicycle sulky would be equivalent
to 4 record of > :07 with an old style sulky
On the regulation track.
Whatever allowance is to be made for
the sulky, Nancy Hanks has proved her
self to be the greatest trotter ever put to
speed No one believes that she has yet
done her best. Already she brought the
two minute trotter within the range of
probability and it will not be surprising
II that figure shall yet be inscribed on her
own banner,
1t is also to be remembered the the
pneumatic sulky is still in the first stage
Of development Experts declare that
marked Improvement is not only posi-
Die but probable. 1t is thought, for eN-
ample. that higher wheels may contri
butte to greater speed. At any rate Sec
rotary Traey's prophecy, made a year or
two ago of two minute trotter now bids
fair to be realized.
While speed is promoted by improve
ments in track and sulky, records are not
thereby discounted. A record made
with a bicycle sulky on a kite shape track
is as legitimate as record made with an
old style sulky on a regulation track. The
condition is for horse to trot full mile
TO sulky.
After all. mechanical appliances do not
make speed, but simply lessen the handi-
caps to speed. 1t is the horse that does
the trotting and creates the speed. To
tlot mile i'll two minutes and four sec
ondS under any circumstances is d re-
malkable achievement for a horse. and
one well calculated to arouse enthusiasm
among all interested in trottin@. New
York Herald Oct. >.