The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-24
TRoTTINe HORSES.
The Growth and Development
of This Animal.

VI tito
Among the cherished superstitions OF
sportsmen is the belief that the color of
horses has much to do with their chances
OF victory in races and exhibitions Of
power. Whence came the superstition
it is difficult to say. 1t has existed,
however, for centuries, not only among
Europeans, but among Arabs, those
"kings of the DESERT" whose knowledge
Of the horse is proverbial.
In an ancient Arabian manuscript re.
Gently discovered is, according to L'Echo
do Paris, a passage proving that the be.
lief in the relations between horses
color, power and speed has long existed
in Arabia.
great sheik OF the Sahara, Ben
Dyab by name, SO runs the tale, was one
day pursued by Saadel Zen tbs, his
most deadly enemy. In the flight Ben
Dyab turned suddenly to his son.
TELL me-" ne commanded. what
horses are at the head of our enemies?"
The whites, father" replied the son.
THAT is we'll" came Ben Dyab's
answer. "We shall allow the sun to do
its work The power of the white
horses will disappear before its rays, as
butter melts when they fall upon it,"
After time the sheik spoke again:
my son, what horses are now nearest
our heels?"
"The blacks, father" came the boys
answer.
Excellent" cried the old man.
1.-THE stony. ground will overcome the
&c III olr l.,
negro OF the Soudan becomes tired at
the ankles when he walks over stony
ground"
On went the flight. A third time Ben
Dyab turned to his companion
(Which ones are now ahead?"
1.-THE browns and the chestnut
browns, father" came the boy answer.
''Then," cried the sheik, ''we must fly
faster or we be lost. There is no time
to lose. These horses can overtake u.s."
THE TWO MINUTE TRoTTER.
see from time to time reference to
the two-minute trotter. He may be
coming-so is the time when Gabriel
will blow his trumpet. There are some
facts and figures to contend with in this
matter. For instance, suppose we have
the two minute trotter to start in race
with Sunol, conceding her 2:os record.
Now we will average their distance per
second: Tho two minnie horse covers
fortyfour feet per second, Sunol forty
| one feet and three inches, a difference
OF two feet and nine inches per second.
| Now note how far back Sunol will finish
just ITO yards, somewhat outside the
bandanna.
Now start 'Sunol and Navy Hanks, and
say they are driven to their records;
there Is four inches per second in favor
OF Sunol, which will leave Nancy four
teen yards and eight inches from the
wire when Sunol finishes. Goldsmith
Maid, 2:l4, held the record some three
years. She would finish seventy-four
| yards, two feet and ten inches behind
Sunol, and Arion, with his 2:1O% re-
| cord, would finish l45 yards behind the
two minute trotter We are developing
some very fast youngsters, but they are
the last ones from which to expect the
| two. minute trotter, for / believe thew
are carried at so fast clip in their ten
derness that they must stop after a
period OF work, and it will be a harder
| task to reduce the present record two
seconds than 1t has been to come from
2:l4 to what 1t is now. The thorough
bred Is at his limit, no doubt, for mile;
30 is the human Splinter, and I think
that the trotter is nearly to his limit.
Still, hope that am mistaken.
SOME SPEED PHILOSOPHY.
Speed shines with much brighter
luster when it is set in steadiness. A
fast and level-headed horse is a ie vii
we'll worth kingdom.
Our most bitter opponent in the strife
for mastery of speed contests serve
| purpose; they do not do much for us
directly, tits true, but they compel US to
| be up and doing ,mething for our
| selves.
Endurance to the end Is much more
| valuable than speed by bursts 1t is
| the patient, steady plodders who gain
the goal. No matter how much our colt
may occasionally show in the matter of
speed. we will End all that count, is
what he carries to the wire.
No keener. purer joy can Re expert
enced in the breeding business than
that which is felt by owners and train
ers who see the noble qualities that
adorn their steed visibly and creditably
reflected in his conduct Gin company"
and in speed contests when merit alone
wins; it is then that tho seed of labor
puts forth the flower of reward.
Keep your hopeful future performers
strong in body, chief of all. because the
ability to go fast oftentimes depends
upon the strength. Who knows but that
the days required in acquiring bodily
vigor may be the A, Is, c with whi.h by
and bye the joys of the speed arena may
be showered upon us.
Oftentimes tho most valuable horse.
mon to their employers are those who
M n hn