The road-horse is a strictly American institution, and the possession of a trotter is about the first sign of prosperity of a successful American who lives outside of our great cities, where he is not influenced by the desire for show. The typical road-horse should have substance so that he can draw two men twelve miles an hour with pleasure to them and comfort to himself. He should have speed enough to acquit himself creditably in friendly brushes. Together with these qualities he should have looks and manners. No breed of horse except the American trotter combines the conformation, speed, and brain, to fulfil these requirements.
The attached diagram and table, taken from the New York Herald after Lou Dillon had trotted in two minutes, shows clearly the progress of the trotter in the last hundred years.
TOOK NEARLY A CENTURY TO GAIN A MINUTE
In 1806 Yankee lopped a Second from the Three-minute Mark and Ninety-seven Years later Even Figures are attained
The following table shows the records of the trotting champions since 1806 and the distance which Lou Dillon would have beaten each of them in a mile race.
| HORSE | Record for One Mile | Year Made | Distance covered in feet each second | No. Feet trotted in 2.00 | No. Feet behind Lou Dillon |
| Yankee | 2.59 | 1806 | 29.49 | 3,539 | 1,741 |
| Boston Horse | 2.48½ | 1810 | 31.33 | 3,760 | 1,520 |
| Trouble | 2.43½ | 1826 | 32.28 | 3,874 | 1,416 |
| Sally Miller | 2.37 | 1834 | 33.63 | 4,036 | 1,244 |
| Edwin Forrest | 2.36½ | 1838 | 33.74 | 4,049 | 1,231 |
| Confidence | 2.36 | 1838 | 33.85 | 4,062 | 1,218 |
| Dutchman | 2.32 | 1839 | 34.73 | 4,168 | 1,112 |
| Lady Suffolk | 2.29½ | 1845 | 35.32 | 4,238 | 1,042 |
| Pelham | 2.28 | 1849 | 35.67 | 4,280 | 1,000 |
| Highland Maid | 2.27 | 1853 | 35.92 | 4,310 | 970 |
| Flora Temple | 2.19¾ | 1859 | 37.77 | 4,532 | 748 |
| Dexter | 2.17¼ | 1867 | 38.47 | 4,626 | 654 |
| Goldsmith Maid | 2.14 | 1874 | 39.40 | 4,728 | 552 |
| Rarus | 2.13¼ | 1878 | 39.62 | 4,755 | 525 |
| St. Julien | 2.11¼ | 1880 | 40.22 | 4,826 | 427 |
| Jay-Eye-See | 2.10 | 1884 | 40.61 | 4,873 | 380 |
| Maud S. | 2.08¾ | 1885 | 41.01 | 4,921 | 342 |
| Sunol | 2.08¼ | 1891 | 41.17 | 4,940 | 313 |
| Nancy Hanks | 2.04 | 1892 | 42.58 | 5,109 | 154 |
| Alix | 2.03¾ | 1894 | 42.65 | 5,118 | 145 |
| The Abbot | 2.03¼ | 1900 | 42.84 | 5,141 | 122 |
| Cresceus | 2.02¼ | 1901 | 43.19 | 5,199 | 81 |
| Lou Dillon | 2.00 | 1903 | 44.00 | 5,280 | .. |
LOU DILLON'S DESCENT FROM HAMBLETONIAN IN THE MALE LINE
Lou Dillon is fifth in descent from Hambletonian in the male line. This pedigree is as follows:—