Chapter XXXIII

HOW THE TROTTING HORSE IS BRED (_Continued_).

Breeding the trotter intelligently an industry of modern
development—Plethora of turf papers, and their timidity of
the truth—The accepted theories, old and new—Failure of
the “thoroughbred blood in the trotter” idea—“Thoroughbred
foundations,” and the Register—“Like begets like,” the great
central truth—Long-continued efforts to breed trotters from
runners—New York the original source of supply of trotting
blood to all the States—Kentucky’s beginning in breeding
trotters—R. A. Alexander, and the founding of Woodburn—The
“infallibility” of Woodburn pedigrees—Refusal to enter
fictitious crosses in the Register and the results—The
genesis and history of the standard—Its objects, effects, and
influence—Establishing the breed of trotters—The Kentucky
or “Pinafore” standard—Its purposes analyzed—The “Breeders’
Trotting Stud Book” and how it was compiled—Failure and
collapse of the Kentucky project—Another unsuccessful attempt
to capture the Register—How honest administration of the
Register made enemies—The National Breeders’ Association
and the Chicago Convention—Detailed history of the sale and
transfer of the Register, the events that led up to it, and the
results—Personal satisfaction and benefits from the transfer,
and the years of rest and congenial study in preparing this
book—The end 508-546