302 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



California mare drew forward until she was head-and-head 

 with Flora. It looked critical ; but the big mare was at her 

 best, and Flora had still a link to let out. McMann 

 touched her with the whip, and away she went. At the 

 head of the stretch, she had the best of it, and, lasting the 

 longest, came home the winner by three lengths in 2m. 23Js. 

 There had never been any thing like such a trot before. 

 The best previous time had been beaten by two seconds and 

 a half, and it had been beaten in all the heats. Princess 

 had established the fact, that she was an extraordinary 

 mare ; but Flora's glory and reputation had been re- 

 stored. She had not only showed as much speed as Prin- 

 cess anywhere, but had beat her in the rushes at the begin- 

 ning, and, in the desperate brushes afterwards, had lasted 

 the longest. Still it is to be remembered that she had the 

 pole to begin with ; and it actually seemed as if she was as 

 well aware of the advantage she derived from that fact as any 

 man on the ground. The dart after Princess in the second 

 heat, when Flora was behind at the start, appeared to be 

 inspired by reasoning, as though she made up her mind to 

 this effect : " If she gets the pole, she beats me ! " The 

 rejoicing caused by that victory of hers spread from the 

 shores of the ocean where it was achieved to the distant 

 States and Territories which lie beyond the Mississippi 

 Fliver ; for this little mare had become a national character. 



