The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-20
THE AMERICAN
TROTTER ABROAD.

TIE superiority Of the American
trott:ng horse abroad has become so
well established in the last few years
that European breeders have sent
agents to this country to study our
methods OF breeding, and in Ger
many and France lne local horse
breeders have induced their govern
ments to place au embargo on further
importations. Two years the Ameri
can trotter went abroad to enter the
races in various parts of Europe, and
after winning in dozens of important
contests their virtues become fully
recognized The Russian govern
ment imported several thousand for
breeding purposes and established an
American trainer and breeder in the
Imperial stud. In Austria wealthy
lovers of horse flesh paid from Eve
20 ten thousand dollars apiece for
american trotters, and in London
similar high prices were offered for
exceptionally fine American trotters.
In the international races held at
Nice the American horses won near
~ all the medals and money Some
of them were classed as American.
bred horses, but owned by Europe.
ans. This condition of affairs was
painfully similar in other races held
on the Continent, and while admira
ton was felt for the American trot-
ters in some quarters, their unfailipg
success caused envy. The local
trainers felt they had no chance of
winning in the race. In Russia, the
American bred trotter is now handi-
capped in sll races, the Americao
breeder has been dismissed from the
Imperial stud, and the importations
of farther American horses stopped.
IN nearly all of the Continental races
the American trotters have to enter
under such odds that there is DO pos
sibi!ity of their winning.
But while local breeders can man.
age the racing associations so that
the American trotters cannot win
when pitted against their horses,
they cannot besmirch the enviable
records and reputation that our trot-
.ers have established Their virtues
are so vel! Known that the demand
for these animals By prominen:
European racing men is extensive.
and today this country is supplying
more trotting horses for the European
market than any other. Our export
trade in horses reached It's Maximum
in 1894, when the bicycle and
trolley threatened the doom of the
horse, but FIVE years later, in 1899,
the pendulum hsd swung to the
other extreme, and our export trade
reached its maximum Last year we
exported nearly 100000 head of
horses, and fair pecentsge of these
were trotters to be used either for
racing. trottlng. or for the parks A
large number of cavalry horses were
also shipped, and these are still! going
abroad IN continuous stream.
The American trotter, as bred
today, is the most useful and service
able horse in the world, and he has
outclassed all others at the shows at
home and abroad He is the ideal
type of horse, with just sufficient
mobility about him to permit tie
breeders to rear him for a variety of
uses. He is bred from is to II
hands in height. aud from 900 to
l.4o0 pounds 10 weight. suitable
alike for racing, trotting on the
speedway. OF for road handling He
is bred to t.ot from 2 20 to 2-03, and
he sells for S6oG to $4,000 on the
average, not taking into account the
extraordinary prices paid for Maud
S or Suuol. There is a demand
today in Europe for American trot-
tiers that can meet the market
requirements at prices ranging from
5000 to $4,000 Trot;ing bred road
horses of extra speed and beauty
sell today in the London market for
$4,000 pair, and in nearly all
instances OF such sales the horses
are either bred in America or are
from American bred sires Scientific