282 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



for a race as ever was seen ; and, when the little mare came 

 on the course in her sulky, the wind seemed fit to catch her 

 up, and hear her away over the tree-tops. The hlack gelding 

 went sloshing along through the mud as if he liked it. The 

 mare got off badly in the first heat, and lost about twenty 

 lengths by a break. She was commonly a very good mare for 

 mud; but, on this occasion, the wind and rain combined 

 seemed to be too much for her. Lancet went to the half- 

 mile in 1m. 11s., Flora trotted very fast after she got 

 settled, but could not overtake Lancet, who won it 

 easily in 2m. 28s. Odds of two to one was then laid 

 upon Lancet, and there were many takers. The second 

 heat was very close, but the gelding won by a head in 

 2m. 28s. Still Lancet had more in him, and, in the third 

 heat, let out the links in such a manner that he trotted it 

 in 2m. 25-is. 



Considering the day and the state of the course, this was 

 a performance of very great merit. It put Lancet, as a 

 saddle-horse, up to Tacony and Lady Suffolk in regard to 

 time ; and ahead of them, in the consideration that the 

 course was muddy and the wind strong. At this time, 

 many thought than Lancet was the " coming horse," and 

 believed that he would succeed in deposing Flora, and set- 

 ting the trotting-crown upon his own brow. But I never 

 thought so. 



Another match was made between them, both to go in 

 harness ; and, as the proprietor of the Fashion Course added 

 $1,500 to the stakes, it was agreed to trot- on that course. 

 The Lancet party believed that he would get through the 

 new, deep ground better than Flora ; but her friends relied 

 upon her game and bottom to pull through. The mare was 

 the favorite in the betting, and won the race very easily in 

 three heats, the fastest of which was 2m. 31s. This was on 

 the 8th of October. 



Their next engagement was at Boston, where the little 

 mare was always a great favorite. Nowhere in this country 



