256 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



being now out of the race, the little bay mare secured a 

 trotting-sulky for herself: and the record gives her the three 

 succeeding heats in the improving time of 2.55, 2.52, and 

 2.49 ; Delaware Maid being third on each occasion. The 

 greatest excitement attended the conclusion of the third and 

 fourth heats ; and, when the race was done, the spectators 

 advanced and felt the little heroine all over, as if they could 

 not comprehend how such a petite, indifferent-looking crea- 

 ture could stand the weight and fatigue, and yet maintain 

 the speed she did. 



The latter was the first exploit that introduced the little 

 bay mare to the pages of the " Racing Calendar." She was 

 recorded under the modest name of " Flora ; " and it was 

 little thought by those who placed after her name on this 

 occasion the mystical figures "211 1," that she was 

 destined in future to render those tables so illustrious." 



After this trot, the little bay mare, or Flora Temple as 

 we are now at liberty to call her, passed into the hands of 

 John C., the brother of George E. Pen-in, for the sum of 

 $575, a very handsome increase over the price paid by Mr. 

 Jonathan Vielee to the drover, and more than seven times 

 as much as the sum for which she had been gladly parted 

 with by her Utica owner some three or four months before. 



Soon after obtaining possession of her, the new owner of 

 Flora Temple, with unbounded confidence in her speed and 

 lasting qualities, matched her that winter against the bay 

 horse of Mr. Edward White, for three-mile heats in harness, 

 to trot in the following spring (1851), for $2,000, half for- 

 feit. About six weeks before this match was due, however, 

 the mare met with an accident in her exercise which would 

 have rendered her unfit to go ; but, this accident being un- 

 known to Mr. White, and his own horse being " out of 

 trim," he paid forfeit, and the match was "off." 



Nothing was done with the little bay mare in the spring, 

 summer, and winter of 1851. The fright which she had 

 taken, from the shafts of her sulky knocking against her 



