112 



ROAD, TRACK, AND STABLE. 



of admirable qualities on the part of both horse and 

 man. It is true, that, so far as the drivers are con- 

 cerned, their skill is often prostituted to the exigen- 

 cies of the pool-box, but no accusation of this sort 

 was ever brought against a trotter. The breath of 

 suspicion may at times have rested upon Splan. but 

 the name of Xobby is untarnished. In the two con- 

 tests just described, all parties to the fight honestly 

 exerted the qualifications that nature and experience 

 had given them; and although victory perched first 

 here and then there, the prize finally fell, as should 

 be the case, to superior courage, endurance, patience, 

 and skill. 



