The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-04-23

Improvement in European Breeds-Ex-
cerpt From an Address ON "Horsss of I'm
rope" Before the Students Of tho School
of Agriculture of tho Ohio State Univsr.
sity, by Hon. II. j. Booth, Columbus, q.
At present the greatest movement in
horseflesh is from the new world to the
old. From 1893 to 1895 the mum Der so
exported increased at least 500 per
cent Foreign purchasers are securing
from us large numbers Of various
types, buying not only for heavy
draught and for the road, but also for
the coach, the omnibus, the artillery,
the cavalry and the track. But the most
significant innovation is the purchase
for breeding purposes. for government
studs as well as private owners, of .
largo and increasing number OF our
best trotting stock. After years of
doubt and incredulity on the part Of
our cousins across the Atlantic,
the American light-harness horse
has at last fairly won his way
to European favor. At the very time
when harness racing seemed to have
passed its zenith here, tardy recogni-
tion abroad gave the sport far-reach-
ing impetus there, for at last the ma
ligned American trotter has become a
rival across the sea of his cousin, the
thoroughbred.
There are now well patronized trot-
ting tracks in all Of the leading coun-
tries Of Europe.
During the year at least one hum
dred richly bred American trotters
and a few PAGERS have been secured
for private owners and government
studs in Europe for the purpose of inn
proving their strains of light harness
horses. Many of them have records
ranging from 2:0s to 2:30 They have
been distributed among the different
countries, and, SO far as ascertain, in
relative number as follows: Austria,
England, Germany, France, Russia,
Italy, Belgium and Sweden. Unfor-
tunately, in several instances. the an
nouncement of sale did not indicate
the exact destination. Few, il any,
have been sold for more than SIS. 900,
although much larger prices have been
offered for two or three individuals of
extreme speed. In addition to those
known to have been purchased for
breeding purposes, some of which are
young and have no track records, q
large number have been sent abroad
for use on the track, many of which,
it is highly probable, will ultimately
find their way into the stud.
The American has introduced among
his foreign kin folk, not only the in
comparable light driving-horse, which
his genius has evolved within the last
so years, but also the methods which
have made him great. In many parts
of Europe they still cling to the old
method Of racing their trotters under
saddle, As we did forty or fifty years
ago. but at the larger centers of sport
the saddle has been superseded by the
sulky. Having adopted our light har-
ness, they use our bikes; and, by offer
ing larger salaries than Americans
pay, they have secured many of our ex-
perienced rubbers and trainers whom
they employ under contracts covering
terms Of years. Some of the most
skillful drivers who ever guided horse
to victory on this side of the water are
now breathing the frigid air of Russia
or trying to learn a new tongue in
Austria or France.
A brilliant future for the American
trotter in Europe seems now to
be assured. He has the approv-
ing nod of royalty. the active
support of those who are in favor at
court, the valuable patronage of those
elements Of society which set the fash
ions in the domain of sport, and, over.
coming prejudice by sheer merit has
won his way into the hearts of many
horsemen, in every cline, from Mos
COW to Dublin and from Naples 10
Stockholm. Europe is conservative.
and, according to our standard, very
slow going; but, convince her what is
best and she will have It. She bor-
rowed her letters Of Phoenioia. her re-
ligion of Judea, her seisnce from the
Moors; and now she is buying her
latest type Of horses from America.
opy country has created but two breeds