STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 185 



he was coming it looked as though Stamboul would win, but the gap was 

 too much for him to close. Not so with Wood nut, however, who kept 

 coming, and challenged the leader at the drawgate, and after a very fine 

 and exciting finish, which raised the spectators to a high pitch of enthusi- 

 asm, won the heat by a neck from Guy Wilkes, Stamboul third. Time, 

 2:16i 



There were renewed rounds of applause when the time was put on the 

 blackboard, first and second given with only a quarter of a second between 

 them. It proved that Woodnut had been contented to accept second place 

 in the first heat, and when the cheering had subside'd so that the voice of 

 the auctioneer could be distinguished, the rates were: Guy Wilkes, $200; 

 Woodnut, $110; Stamboul, $45. When "Go!" rang out from the Judge's 

 stand there was a slight difference, so slight that it was hard to tell that 

 either had the advantage. 



At the commencement of the curve Woodnut broke, and Guy showed 

 half a length in the front. Around the turn Stamboul and Wilkes went 

 lapped, but at the quarter, in 0:35^, Guy led by half a length. Up the 

 backstretch it was a beautiful sight. Guy was just ahead of Woodnut, 

 while on the other side was Stamboul. 



At the half, in 1:07^, Stamboul was level with Wilkes, and Woodnut 

 close up. On the turn Guy again showed to the front, while Holly seemed 

 to be taking Woodnut back. At the three quarters, in 1:43, Woodnut had 

 closed up the four lengths lost, and on the turn all three turned into the 

 stretch together. At the seven eighths pole Stamboul was beaten, and the 

 struggle was left to Woodnut and Wilkes, and a grand struggle it proved. 

 At the short distance it looked like Wilkes' heat, barring an accident; but 

 in the last twenty yards, as in the previous heat, Woodnut came up with 

 a wonderful burst of speed, and collared him at the wire, making a dead 

 heat, Stamboul a close third. Time, 2.17-J. 



Talk of Kentucky cheers when a " blue grass " horse beats a noted com- 

 petitor from some other race-horse region; tell of the hurrahs of the dwell- 

 ers on the Don when they rush into battle; the thousands which joined in 

 the acclaim, as the horses came locked to the winning score, would have 

 to be increased to increase the volume of sound. It rolled from beneath 

 the overhanging eaves of the stand in a mighty torrent, and was met by 

 the tumult from the dense mass below, uniting in a tidal wave, or rather 

 a cyclone of cheers. 



Notwithstanding Woodnut had shown manifest superiority in the very 

 last strides of the two preceding heats, the supporters of Guy still clung to 

 his chances, the rate being $200 on him, $150 on Woodnut, while Stam- 

 boul's stock appreciated till it reached $65. 



Several scores were necessary, as all three drivers were trying hard to 

 get the best of it, if only by a nose. When the bell tapped it was to as 

 good a send-off as could be had. At the eighth pole Woodnut made a 

 revolution; but was in the lead at the quarter (0:35^) by half a length 

 from Guy, with Stamboul three lengths back. 



Up the backstretch to the three eighths pole the two leaders were head 

 and head; but at this point Guy seemed to out-trot Woodnut, as he made 

 several bounds in the air, and fell back at the half, which was trotted by 

 Guy in l:09-j, three lengths ahead, Stamboul either unable to get up, or 

 again laying up the heat. On the upper turn Guy Wilkes had opened a 

 gap of four lengths on Woodnut, and apparently had the heat well in hand ; 

 but Holly was only pursuing his tactics of the previous heats, and began 

 to close at the three quarters, and about the drawgate again collared Wilkes, 

 and, after a hard driving finish, in which the whip played a lively tune 



