Blue Blood In The Trotting Horse.: Potent Influence of the Thoroughbred Shown in Many Notable Instances., Daily Racing Form, 1917-06-01

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BLUE BLOOD IN THE TROTTING HORSE. Potent Influence of the Thoroughbred Shown in Many Notable Instances. John E. Madden, who is best known as the largest breeder of thoroughbreds in the United States and who has a fondness for the trotting horses, has turned author and compiled for distribution among his friends a most interesting book, which he entitled "Maddens Stallion Record of Horses Not Well Known Whose Pedigrees Appear in Many of Our Present Day Great Trottirs." "I was moved *to undertake this work," said Mr. Madden, "which represents the intermittent labor of three and a half years, by a desire to acquaint the public with the part the racehorse has played in the development of the American trotter. As a breeder of both thoroughbreds and trotters I have given much time to research and it struck me forcibly that the warm blood of the racehorse appeared close up in the pedigrees of our greatest performers at the diagonal gait. I make no claim that my little book contains every performer with thoroughbred blood as close as the second generation, but most of them are recorded and there is a sufficient number to convince even the most sceptical that the thoroughbred improves every family with which he comes in contact." Mr. Maddens volume shows that forty-five performers in 2:30 or better were out of absolutely thoroughbred dams, and of these Palo Alto, 2:08%, was the champion stallion of his day, while another. Expressive, 2:12%, was undoubtedly one of the greatest three-year-old trotters that the world has ever known. Her campaign in 1S94, when she repeatedly beat the best of the old horses in killing races of split heats, made her the sensational performer of that year. Both of these great trotters were bred by Senator Stanford at his Palo Alto stud in California and it is largely due to this experts judgment that the thoroughbred received a chance to show his quality in connection with the trotting family. Senator Stanford believed ini -Illicitly in the thoi oiihbred-staiidard-bred cross and lived long enough to prove its soundness. Of the forty-five performer which the author desig nates as "half-bred trotters" there are two three-year-olds. Annabel, 2:27L-. and Expressive, 2:12%, while the sole two year dd to achieve distinction was bred by August Belmont, the chairman of the Jockey Club. This was the colt Proof of the Pudding. 2:28%, by Peter the Great, 2:07V-Souveraine. by Rayon dOr. a marc which has thrown Gallant and other good wi lers on the turf. Proof of the Pudding is now at Mr. Belmonts Nursery Farm in Kentucky, where in is being bred to a few select mares by his owner, who has his own ideas about breeding a fast trotter. Noted Trotters Which Were Pi?rt Thoroughbred. There are no fewer than fifty trotters with records of 2:20 and better whose grand -dams were absolutely thoroughbreds and among the number are the champion Maud S.. 2:0S; 4: Sunol. 2:88%, and Jay Eye See, 2:10 trotting and 2:06 pacing. Conspicuous among the others are such stars as Mary Putney. 2:04%. at three years of age; Esther Bell. 2:88%; Atlantic Express. 2:07%; Moquette. 2:10; Nutwood, 2:1S: 4; Rowellan. 2:09%; Mart:. Bellini, 2:074. and Sir Walter. Jr.. 2:lSi4. whose blood is close up it. the pedigree of the worlds champion, 1 lili.ii. 1:88. Mr. Madden finds twenty-three trotters in 2:20 or better whose dams were by a thoroughbred sire. Lady Thorn, 2:18/4. a one-time champion, is the most prominent of these, though Ryland T., 2:07%, was the champion gelding for a brief period. One hundred and eight performers with records of 2:20 or better had grand-dams that were sired by a thoroughbred. Included in this number are many sensational performers, while several have achieved fume in the stud. Direct. 2:03; Directum Kelly, 2:08i/4; Belle Vara, 2:08%; Benzetta, 2:06%; Guy Axworthy, 2:08%; Phoebe Wilkes, 2:08%; Toggles, 2:08%; Tom Axworthy, 2:07; Trinket, 2:14; Ashland Wilkes, 2:17%, and Wilkes Brewer, 2:08%, are among the number. There are five 2:30 trotters that were sired by a thoroughbred — Colonel Lewis, 2:18%; Oipsy Girl, 2:22; Lucille, 2:22; Rigoh-tte. 2:22, and Scotland, 2:22%. The sire Venture, 2:27%, whose blood is in some of the greatest light harness performers of the day, is recorded the unique distinction of being the only better than 2:30 performer whose sire was a thoroughbred and whose dam had but a single outcross from pure blood. Included in the volume is a more or less intimate history of trotting sires, some of which, as Mr. Madden says, "are not well known, but appear in the pedigree of our present day great trotters. There is also a pamphlet by the late Dr. J. W. Day, proving that Dolly Spanker really was the dam of the great George Wilkes.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800