The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-04-04
RUNNERS AND TRoTTERs

| John e. Madden, who made success In
handling trotters, and who abandoned
them two years ago and gave his time ex-
| clusively to racing the thoroughbred, has
been asked for his opinion of the staying
qualities of the two breeds Of horses He
facetiously remarked that as far as stay
| ing qualities were concerned the mule could
discount the runner and trotter combined.
He then prepared for publication the fol-
lowing signed statement, says an eastern
paper which seems to utterly refute the
argument of Judge Halsey, as it complete
ly destroys the foundation from which he
argues:
IT have read the opinions of Maj Dam
! gerfield, Crit Davis, Samp Wilson, Frank
Mcvey and others, and have read the ar
tieles based on these opinions. To be can
did. must admit that nothing Ia these ar
ticles or in my past and present experience
satisfies me that the trotting horse of to-
day has proved himself to be the superior
of the thoroughbred In stamina and en-
durance. That is, If the definition of these
terms be ability to maintain a high rate
Of speed. To begin with, it is an extremely
difficult comparison to draw. If the har-
ness horse could trot or pace a mile in 1 40
or LAS the task would be lighter. Until the
harness horse can do this 1t will be largely
matter of conjecture to draw just COM
parison between them.
"Why can some trotters in races 20 to the
half in 1:01 1:02 or 1:0S and finish the mile
In only 2s06 2:OS or 2:1O? Crit Davis in a
letter to me of December %, says he has
driven Prince Wilkes. whose best record Is
2:l4N, quarter in OBI and a half in :A.
Prince Wilkes was known to be one of the
gamest tyotters Of his day. This speaks for
itself. Why can not trotting horse trot
his mile in 400? He can go to the quarter
in 0:30 or faster. PAGERS have been known
| to pace a quarter in OPT or OBS. Why is the
present record but 1854? Am wrong
when reply because they cannot maintain
the high rate Of speed? And vet 1t is said
that the trotter is superior to the thorough
bred In this respect How is 1t that the
quarter horse, a production Of cold and
thoroughbred blood, cannot go on? Is 1t
the hot or the cold blood that anchors him
"One of the severest tests of endurance
Of the present day to the thoroughbred
horse Is the grand national steeplechase,
Liverpool. The distance is about four and
three-quarter miles over turf and plowed
ground; the jumps are terrific; the time of
the race is about 900, and yet hear no
complaint Of lack Of material to fill this
race. The fields are unusually large.
while the races Of today are shorter, 1t
must be. remembered that the average
speed Of them is faster than ever, and
surely this is not an evidence Of degen-
GRAFTON. Years ago mile In 40 was con-
idered almost wonderful; today It is moth
ing remarkable. Ornament won the Twin
City handicap, IN miles, in 2:O5%, running
the mile IN 1:40 and the last quarter In as 8-b
seconds, and finished sostrons that Taral
his driver believed he could have made the
last quarter In Is seconds.
"Electioneer got hts best racing son and
daughter. Palo Alto and Expressive, out
Of thoroughbred mares. Axmore, the half
thoroughbred, gothic fast 2-year-old Ro-
wena. alt, out OF Q thoroughbred mare.
The Thoroughbred Whips. sired by Azote,
sO4N. and Cobweb,. the fast gsldiug. capa-
BILE of pulling . wagon close to 2:1o. Ny
friend, Judge Halsey. quotes the Election
eering family to illustrate his point: that
is, the superiority in point Of endurance
aha stamina Of those members of that lam
ily out Of trctting bred mares over those
out of thoroughbred dams. The dam he
refers to as being the best mare in Elec-
uoneer's harem. deeply bred and abunt-
sntly productive can her Est be esmparsd