290 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



appeared at Springfield, Massachusetts, Oct. 3, and divided 

 the purse of $1,000 ; Flora being first in all three heats, 

 and Lancet was under saddle. The fastest time was 2m. 

 32s. They then passed on to Hartford, Conn., where the 

 prize was $1,000, mile heats, three in five, as they pleased. 

 Lancet again went under saddle, and this time earned the 

 honors of the day as well as his share of the money. In 

 the first heat, the mare grabbed a shoe off, and Lancet came 

 home first in 2m. 34s. Flora won the second in 2m. 29s. ; but 

 the probability is, that Lancet was pulled, as he won the 

 third heat in 2m. 25s., and the fourth in 2m. 28s. The 

 third heat of 2m. 25s. was the best that had then been 

 made under saddle ; and some thought it was better than Flo- 

 ra's 2m. 25s. at Elmira, because the Connecticut track was a 

 half-mile, with short turns. But my opinion was different ; 

 for he was under saddle, in which way of going a horse can 

 hug the pole, and make much shorter turns than is possible 

 to one pulling a vehicle and driver behind. If Flora had 

 trotted in 2m. 25s. at Hartford, it might have been reason- 

 ably held to be better than her heat at Elrnira ; but she did 

 not do so. 



It was also believed by many that Lancet could beat her 

 any time when he was quite himself, and under saddle. 

 But in this opinion I never concurred, because, after the race 

 in which I distanced Tacony with her in 2m. 24s., I was 

 satisfied, that, when she was quite herself, she could trot 

 in harness in 2m. 20s. on a good track. The season of 1857 

 was now at an end, and the mare went into winter-quarters. 

 The system of dividing purses had been inaugurated, and it 

 has since increased to an enormous extent. At first, when 

 Flora travelled with Lancet and he went under saddle, and 

 afterwards, when she, Princess, and other horses, went upon 

 these sort of expeditions, there was some semblance of a 

 race ; but the proceedings between Dexter and Patchen's 

 son from California have been of a farcical character. The 

 stallion was unable to keep decent company with Dexter 



