The New York herald., 1921-05-24
The Versatile Trotter.

AT the recent horse show at Santa
Barbara, California, the famous trot-
ters Uhlan, / :5S, and Lon Dillon,
1 :5SM, were exhibited to halter by
their owner, G. K. G. Billings, who
makes his winter home on the Pacific
coast.
There never has been another trot-
ter like Uhlan. Although he is 15
years old he still carries his won
derful burst Of speed for a short
distance, and is regularly ridden by
his owner, who finds him an excel
lent saddle horse. 1t was Mr.. BILL
rNGs who set the fashion of employ
ing trotters as saddle horses, and he
has found them satisfactory for his
purpose, as he never asks for any
gait but the trot. Some idea Of the
speed at which Uhlan can carry his
owner may be cleaned from the fact
that on several occasions he has been
timed a furlong In 13 seconds. This
Is at the rate OF mile In / "A. AS
Mr.. BILLINGS weighs with his saddle
1914 pounds the performance is all
the more noteworthy.
AS indicating the versatility of
Uhlan il is only necessary TO say that
he has double team record of . :03M
which is the worlds record, his COM
panion on that occasion being the
gelding Louis Forrest, 2:06A. He
also holds the worlds record for
double hitch with running mate
doing the mile in 1 :54h. His mate
in this performance was the thorough
bred gelding Stats, which was used
by CHARLES TANNER as prompter
in all the champions essays against
time.
The worlds record TO wagon is held
Jointly by Uhlan and his stable COM
panion, Lou Dillon, both of which
were driven in . minutes by Mr..
BILLINGS, who as an amateur reins-
man ranks second to none. 1t might
seem that this should satisfy any
horse In the matter of speed, but the
black whirlwind had enough force In
reserve to place the worlds trotting
record for half a mile to wagon at
56i4 seconds, which is faster than
the time OF any other trotter to any
hifch For tba diutaOra
Mr.. BILLINGS has been one OF the
best friends the American trotter has
ever had. He has not only been a
liberal purchaser of the great per-
formers but has carried them abroad
so that the people OF Europe might
see the finest examples OF the purely
American type OF horse. He paid
S12,500 at auction for Lou Dillon
when she was practically untried,
and he gave $4,000 for Uhlan be
fore he had attained championship
form. He also gave S51, 900 for The
Harvester. 2:0t. which at that time
was the champion trottlng stallion Of
the world, because he wanted 70 show
foreign horsemen the finest specimens
OF the various types this country
produced.
He made two visits abroad, the
first in 1900, when he was asked by
the Imperial Trotting Club Of Mos
COW to bring his horses 10 Russia.
On this occasion he took Lou Dillon
and several lesser lights and give
exhibitions with them. On his next
visit In 1912 be took The Harvester
and Uhlan, both Of which amazed the
foreigners by their great speed and
purity OF gait. He also showed their
adaptSbility by exhibitions to saddle
and to double harness. 1t has always
been o matter of regret on the part
Of Mr.. BILLINGS that he was unable
20 accept the Invitation to attend the
| Olympic Games at Stockholm that
year In order to show the throngs in
attendance the best specimens Of this
splendid American family.
AZ Russia has lost practically all
Of her fine trotters through the mis-.
government or tho Bolsheyists the
future horse product Of that country
Is matter Of concern 10 the rest Of
the world. Not only We're the best
specimens ~ the native stock slaugh.
erred for meat Or used ln the cavalry