The trotting horse of America is a really distinct variety of the equine race. Hiram Woodruff developed the breed and made it famous. The best American trotters are descended front an imported English horse named Messenger. of which Mr. George Wilkes said, in an often quoted passage, that "when Messenger came charging down the gang-plank of the ship which brought him over, the value of not less than one hun dred millions of dollars struck our soil." Hambletonian was the grandson of Messenger, and it is asserted that if lie had been broken and trained as a trotter, his own name would have gone down to posterity in company with that of his son Dexter, Flora Temple, Lady Suffolk, Goldsmith Maid, and other animals capable of the greatest achievements on record. In 1874 Goldsmith Maid trotted a mile in harness in the sur prising time of 2 minutes 14 seconds, beating the record of Dexter by 3+ seconds. This great performance was eclipsed in 1878 by Rams, who trotted a full mile at Buffalo in 2 minutes 131 seconds, and by St Jnliea is 1479, who trotted a mile at Oakland, Cal., in 2 minutes 121 seconds, improving this record in 1880 at Hartford, Conn., to 2 min utes 114 seconds. But the fastest time in the records of the turf is that of Maud S., who startled the racing community by trotting a mile at Chicago, Sept. 18, 1880, in 2 minutes 101 seconds. One mile has also been trotted in less than 2 minute's 17+ seconds, the best time of Dexter, by the following horses: Smuggler, 2:15+; Great Eastern, under saddle, 2;151; Hopeful, to wagon, 2:16+; Lula, 2:16+; Occident, 2:161; American Girl, 2;161; Gloster, 2:17. The best time in harness, for 2 in., is 4 minutes 48+ seconds, made
by Steve Maxwell at Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 10, 1880, beating the record of Flora Tem ple by two seconds and that of Dexter by two seconds and a half.
It is but a short time since thorough-bred racing has become a formidable rival in America to the national sport of trotting. The public interest, however, has been awakened by the brilliant triumphs of Mr. Lorillard's Parole, beating in 1879 English horses upon their native heath. Ten Broeck has made the excellent record of 1 in. in 1 minute. 391 seconds; 2 m. in 3:271; 3 m. in 5:261, and finished 5 in. in 7:154. The celebrated steeple-chaser Trouble is the best cross-country horse that has appeared in this couutry for many years. Among many other fine race-horses are General Philips, Vera Cruz, Duke of Ma!renta, Tom Ochiltree, Cloverbrook, Mollie McCarthy, Bob Wooley, and Toni Bowling. During 1880 the best records of previous years have been beaten by Bram boletta and By-the-Way running I m. in 1:2+; by Barrett and Knight Templar running 1 in. in 1:14; by Blackburn running 1+ m. in 2:34, and Monitor finishing 11 m. in 3:21. See DERBY DAY, ante.