TROTTING FACTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2394, 18 January 1900, Page 44

TROTTING FACTS.

'• Trotting matches, generally under saddle, were much the vogue a hundred years ago, and moro recently. At one time owners used to put a -welter weight iip, with the curious idea of " steadying " the trotter, and in deference to this theory the horso often had to cany from 12st to 15st, or even more, and the race track was the high road. Small wonder their legs soon went to pieces. On October 21, 1816, a man named Hall under Look to trot a small pony from Whitechapel Church to the 25 milestone on the Essex road and back again in five hours. He did it with eight minutes I to spare, but was so exhausted that he had to be lifted from his saddle, and carried into the ! nearest inn. What condition the pony was in is not stated. -Another such race against time was run in the same year at Chester. Mr Collier, a Liverpool veterinary surgeon, undertook to ride a pony 18 miles within the hour on the Chester road. He did it' easily within one and a-half minute of the time ' specified, having used neither whip nor spur. One remarkable performance was undertaken, if contemporary records are to be credited, to cure a severe headache ! Mr J. it. Scott, having had company to dine with him, -was kept up to the dmall" hours by the sacred rites of hospitality, and all the rest of the night by the results. of entertaining. He rose at halfpast 5, and started for a very long ride to shake off that headache. Mr Scott was evidently a gentleman who did not do thing? by halves, for he determined to ride from London to Cheltenham, 101 i miles, in five hours, if he could, in six if he could not. He had eight horses, four of his own and four " promi&cu- {' ou,i hacks " ; he had several falls by the way ; nevertheless he reached the Plough at Chel- ! tenham before 1 o'clock, having performed the i distance in under six hours !