Wallace's American Trotting Register ...

Wallace's American Trotting Register was first published in 1871 by John Hankins Wallace, serving as a foundational effort to standardize the pedigree and performance records of the American Standardbred horse. At a time when the racing and breeding industry was largely disorganized, Wallace sought to bring scientific rigor and integrity to the sport, effectively creating a formal registry that separated the trotters of recognized lineage from those of unknown heritage.

The design and compilation of the Register involved extensive archival research and correspondence with breeders across the United States. Wallace aimed to document specific performance criteria, notably the 'three-minute' trot, which became a hallmark of the breed. While his editorial practices were occasionally controversial among contemporary breeders who disputed his exclusions, the work was ultimately embraced by the National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders and remains an essential historical resource for equine genealogists and historians of American sport.