186 THE TROTTING-IIORSE OF AMERICA. 



along through the mud when his stroke was throwing it all 

 over him, and the spats were hitting him under the belly 

 almost in shovelfuls. But so it was. In snow, too, he was 

 capital, without any exception, the very best sleigh-horse 

 that I ever pulled a rein over, and I have driven many of 

 uncommon excellence. Next to Bipton, Gray Eagle was 

 the best horse for snow that I have ever known. It made 

 but little difference to the former whether the sleighing was 

 good or indifferent, for he would go through icy water and 

 slush as if he liked it ; but it made a great difference to the 

 driver. 



Our principal sleighing-place was from the pavement to 

 Harlem Bridge, along the road ; and many a time I have 

 driven Eipton the length of it at wonderful speed. Great 

 fun, sleigh-riding, when the air is keen and frosty, the sky 

 clear, the snow deep and crisp, and you can dash along at a 

 rate down in the thirties with confidence that your trotter 

 will hold out to the end. Ripton was one of these, the 

 best of them, the King of the Sleighers ! What a peal his 

 bells would ring as he dashed down Yorkville Hill, pound- 

 ing away with those white legs of his as if he would strike 

 down to the ground, no matter how well packed and deep 

 the snow might lie. Here would be a group at this house, 

 and another at that, taking their hot toddy to keep the 

 cold out ; and as they heard the swift shaking of the bells, 

 and the fast stroke of E/ipton's feet like a charge beat upon 

 the drum, they would run to the door and windows, and 

 crowd the stoop, and cry " Hallo ! here comes Hiram and 

 the white-legged pony ! " It's more than twenty years ago 

 since those times ; and there is no jingling of the sleigh- 

 bells there now, no matter how good and deep the snow 

 may be. The street railroads have done for all that. 



After these three races of which I have spoken, Ripton 

 went into William Whelan's hands, and was entered in a 

 purse to be trotted for on the Beacon Course. But, prior to 

 the day of action, something became the matter with one 



