It has not been a pleasure to say these things of what some call the great light harness horse of America; but when breeders, through false principles, go a wrong road it ought not to be considered an unkindness to call their attention to the fact. A few years ago in a magazine article I told the truth about Hambletonian’s breeding, and received many indignant letters of protest. One kind gentleman up in Massachusetts, asked me to visit him, saying he should like to have the pleasure of kicking me across the state. I requested him to have a survey made so that I might know how far I would have to be propelled by the toe of his boot, as I did not care to put him to an undue amount of trouble. He has not replied, so, I presume the survey is not yet completed. But breeders in Kentucky, in Vermont, and in Illinois wrote in complimentary terms, saying that they had paid dearly for their belief in false pedigrees and false principles of breeding. I am thoroughly persuaded that these false notions have cost the breeders of America millions and millions of dollars, for a Standard Bred Trotter that does not go fast is a pretty poor specimen of a horse and worth very little, while the amounts spent in trying to develop speed which does not exist are colossal. But the records have unquestionably been lowered until the horse that can trot a mile in two minutes is one of the wonders of the world. Look at the record of progression. Boston Blue, black gelding 1818 3.00 Bull Calf, bay gelding 1830 2.47¾ Edwin Forrest, black gelding 1838 2.36½ Dutchman, bay gelding 1839 2.32 Lady Suffolk, gray mare 1845 2.29½ Pelham (converted pacer), bay gelding 1849 2.28 Highland Maid (converted pacer), bay mare 1853 2.27 Flora Temple, bay mare 1856 2.24½ Flora Temple, bay mare 1859 2.19¾ Dexter, brown gelding 1867 2.17¼ Goldsmith Maid, bay mare 1871 2.17 Goldsmith Maid, bay mare 1874 2.14 Rarus, bay gelding 1878 2.13¼ St. Julien, bay gelding 1879 2.12¾ Maud S., chestnut mare 1880 2.10¾ Maud S., chestnut mare 1881 2.10¼ Jay-eye-See, black gelding 1884 2.10 Maud S., chestnut mare 1884 2.09¼ Maud S., chestnut mare 1885 2.08¾ Sunol, bay mare 1891 2.08¼ Nancy Hanks, brown mare 1892 2.04 Alix, bay mare 1894 2.03¾ The Abbot, bay gelding 1900 2.03¼ Cresceus, chestnut horse 1901 2.02¼