THE OLD ROAD HACKNEY 189 



in 57 mins. 20 sees, and with 12 stone up, and 

 finished so fresh that she looked like covering the best 

 part of another mile within the time. 



On April 17, 1798, Othello, the property of Mr. 

 Chas. Herbert, trotted 17 miles in 58 mins. 40 sees, 

 on the Highgate road ; and in July, 1800, on the Cam- 

 bridge road, a brown mare of Mr. Dixon's covered the 

 distance in 56 mins. 



Again, in November, 1800, the " Sporting Magazine " 

 refers to an old one-eyed mare which trotted 17 miles 

 on the Huntingdon road in 57 mins., and adds that as 

 the backers of time refused to accept the decision of 

 the watch-holder she was sent over the distance again, 

 and then covered it in 53 mins. 



Perhaps the greatest trotter of all time, however, 

 was the wonderful pony Phenomena, by Othello, 

 mentioned above, out of a half-bred mare. She was 

 under 14*2 hands, and was foaled in May, 1788, her 

 breeder being Sir Edward Astley, of Melton Constable, 

 Norfolk. 



Amongst the many remarkable performances of 

 Phenomena were the following : 17 miles in 56 mins. 

 when 12 years old, on the Huntingdon road, in June, 

 1800, her owner then being a Mr. Robson. Heavy bets 

 being made that she did not repeat the performance, 



