THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 15 



The 1st of August came j the ardent summer sun rising 

 bright and clear, and assuming his reign over a very warm 

 day. We let him sink towards his haven in the golden 

 west before we prepared for the race. The course was fine, 

 a large concourse of people were in attendance, and the 

 odds were two to one on Dutchman when we brought him 

 out and stripped him. At six o'clock in the evening, he 

 was saddled ; and I mounted, feeling fully confident that 

 the feat set would be done with much ease. We were 

 allowed a running-horse to keep company ; and I had a nice 

 blood-like mare, she being under my brother Isaac. 



We went off at a moderate jog, gradually increasing the 

 pace, but conversing part of the way at our ease. Isaac 

 asked me how fast I thought I could go the mile ; to which 

 I replied, " About two minutes, thirty-five." It was accom- 

 plished in 2m. 34s., and Dutchman never was really ex- 

 tended. Now occurred a circumstance which must be 

 related, because it was curious in itself, and had its effect 

 on the time. Mr. Harrison, the backer of Dutchman, had 

 lent his watch to a friend, and was not keeping time of the 

 horses himself as they went round. As we came by the 

 stand, some bystander, who had made a mistake in timing, 

 told him that the time of the mile was 2.38, which was a 

 losing average. He therefore called out to me as I passed 

 him, to go along ; and go along I did. Dutchman struck a 

 great pace on the back-stretch, and had established such a 

 fine stroke that the running-mare was no longer able to live 

 with him. My brother Isaac got alarmed, and sung out to 

 me that I was going too fast. I replied that I had been told 

 to go along. It was not my conviction that the horse was 

 going too fast even then ; for if ever there was one that I could 

 feel of, and that felt all over strong and capable of main- 

 taining the rate, Dutchman did then. Nevertheless, I took 

 a pull for Isaac, and allowed him to come up and keep 

 company for the balance of the mile. It was performed in 

 2.28 very handily. 



