view raw text
CAN BOTH TROT AND RUN FAST. Of a peculiar line of breeding fostered by the French government a Paris letter to London Sportsman says: "The Trotting Society of Caen, whose charter gave the right to organize racing on the flat .ami over country for thorough and half-brods. and permitted not only the leasing of Vincennes, but also of the modern and handsome track at Saint Cloud, lias inaugurated with great success the illegitimate sport for trotters bred in Normandy, Brittany, and other provinces where breeders have been complaining for some time past of the slender budget placed at their disposal. "Remarkable progress has been made in the breeding of the half-bred. In appearance, judging from those seen at Vincennes, they are thoroughbred to all intents and purposes. M. Olry-Roederer, with Harmonie the Third, won easily, notwithstanding the opposition offered by Girbflee, who overjumped herself at the finish and, getting rid of her jockey, allowed her opponent to pass the post almost unopposed. The winner showed good form on the trotting track. Seven went to the post, and save - the incident above mentioned all went the course, clearing hurdles and other jumps in faultless style, and holding out great promise for tlie success of these hybrid gatherings, largely patronized by the general public. Advocates and casuists of the racecourse will now be able to argue the question, as. to whether these jumping and flat racing trotters will be permitted to race during the close season enacted by the Societo dEncouragement and the Societe des Steeple-chases de France. The horses seen out at Vincennes showed they had been well schooled, and that good steadying weights would not stop them. We are perhaps getting one step nearer the "Petlts Chevaux of the seaside casinos. Some extensive purchases, have been made of trotting sires destined for goVernmcnt by the official buyers. The conditions are that the horse presented shall show through his pedigree that he is as near being thoroughbred as possible good shoulders .plenty of bone, correct, well balanced, and from 15 hands 2 inches to 10 hands. Thirty-one sires were purchased . for the sum of 04.400. the lowest price given being ,000 and the highest 0,000."
