New-York tribune., 1900-12-06
THE TWO MINUTE TRoTTER.

1t is not unreasonable to expect that the two
minute mark, the hoped for goal of the Ameri-
can trottlng horse. will be reached next year.
Mr.. c. ]. Hamlin. who owned The Abbot up to
a few days ago, believes that the trotting record
will be cut down TO 120 seconds to the mile in
1901, and Mr. Hamlin is generally looked upon
as an expert of high class In the development
and advance Of trotting speed. His Village
Farm has sent out some of the feetest animals
that ever pulled a sulky and some of the most
beautiful and graceful creatures ever seen on a
track Mr. Hamlin may not possess the origi-
nal genius Of Leland Stanford or Robert Bonner
with regard to the breeding and improvement Of
trotting colts and fillies but he has studied the
entire range Of subjects profoundly. and his
experiments have been carried through upon
liberal and extensive scale. II the two minute
record is TO be attained next season The Abbot
is the horse TO get there. This noble champion
is in the full flush and prime of his powers
sound and strong in wind and limb. plentifully
endowed with courage and staying power, and
distinguished by n smoothness and precision of
action and gait difficult to equal or approach.
For many a year it was commonly supposed
that even the fastest of PAGERS would never be
able to z*sidewheeT' full mile in two minutes
fat. But the PAGER has already passed the
mark The itrOtter is still more than three
seconds behind the best achievement of the
swftest PAGER, and as the record of the trottng
mile is fraction above two minutes and three
seconds the gap between pacing and trotting
seems hard TO surmount. even if it is less than
one-hfteenth OF minute. That final fifteenth
is thorny barrier to get over. But The Abbot
may accomplish the arduous task in the opening
year of the twentieth century. Nevertheless. If
he does this ii Will not be certain that he is far
superior in genuine merit TO Maud S., the for
mer Queen Of the Track When that imperial
mare trotted a mile fairly and sGuarely, with
the finest action imaginable, in a fraction over
two minutes and eight seconds she was draw
ing an old fashioned high wheel sulky. and she
was moving upon an old fashioned track. Ameri-
can ingenuity and skill have wrought notable
Improvements in sulkies and in trotting tracks
since the day when Maud S. covered herself
with glory. mile in two minutes trotted by
The Abbot under the conditions which will nre-
vail in 1901 may be little more astonishing-if at
all-than was the famous performance of tho
splendid mare afterward owned by Mr.. William
H. Vanderbilt and Mr. Robert Bonner in suc
| cession.
The Abbot is now owned by the wealthy and
prosperous John ]. Scannell the head OF tbe
Fire Department of New-York. Mr.. Scsnnau,s
friends were proud that the Fire Commissioner
had accumulated riches to such an extent that
he could afford to pay $26,5OO for The Abbot
Il is probable, however that several other Tom-
many heads of departments have heaped nm
fortunes OF sufficient size to permit them 70 nav
S265OO for trotter, if they cared to do 50
but they did not desire to compete with Mr.
scanneh Tor the possession of the champion
trotter Of the day Mr.. Scannen has made nm his
nlna that Ihe Abbot shall trot in two minutes
| In IL
IN ISoI provided that the most careful and
| thorough preparation and the most Iavich ~,
penditure can bring about that triumnb ono
thing is certain. If Mr.. Scannelrs horse trots -
mile in two minutes Mr.. Scannelrs name will ,,o
! spinning down the corridors of time as The
owner OF The Abbot, and not as the New-Yort
Fire Commissioner. the Tammany chieftain and
the president Of the Seneca Club.