296 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



pull ; and, at the quarter, I led her two lengths and a half. 

 At the half-mile, in 1m. 11s., Ethan had a length and a 

 half of lead ; but the mare was coming with uncommon 

 speed and resolution. Gaining inch by inch, she collared 

 him on the lower turn, and he made a skip. She led at the 

 head of the stretch ; but the little horse finished very game- 

 ly, and she beat him but a length in 2m. 25s., the best 

 mile thut had ever been trotted to a wagon. 



It was also the best mile that he ever trotted single ; and 

 though, having been defeated, he gets no record for it, it is 

 just as much to be considered for his credit, in estimating 

 his value as a stallion, as if he had won in 2m. 25]s. The 

 second and third heats w r ere won by the mare. The time 

 of each was 2m. 27 s. Flora thus, in the first race of the 

 season, gave a sample of her mature powers. Darius Tall- 

 man drove her that day. The time she made remained un- 

 equalled for above five years ; but, finally, George Wilkes 

 made it in a second heat on the Union Course, when the 

 track was not fast, and the weather was unfavorable for clear 

 wind. It is just also to say, that, though Ethan Allen 

 gained no money by that race with Flora, he added much to 

 his fame. 



On the 16th of June, Flora met a new and formidable 

 competitor in the bay mare Princess. This mare had for- 

 merly been called Topsy, under which name she had trotted 

 fast in the West. She was then taken to California, and be- 

 came the property of Mr. Teakle, a gentleman of fine parts 

 and enterprise, and high character. She had been brought ' 

 from the Pacific side to New York by James Eoff, a very 

 able trainer and driver, and generally thought to be as 

 hardy and unscrupulous as any man in our profession. Prin- 

 cess was a mare of singular beauty and high quality, com- 

 bined with strength. I do not know her pedigree : I have 

 heard several different stories about it; but she showed 

 blood, and must have had a good strain in her. Her temper 

 was not of the best ; and, though she had a great gift of 



