THE TROTTING-I10RSE OF AMERICA. 305 



In the second heat, Princess had the best of the start, 

 and tock the pole from Flora before she had lead enough to 

 justify her in doing so. On the lower turn, Flora got to 

 her head, and another neck-and-neck struggle ensued. On 

 the stretch, Flora got a little the best of it ; and rushing on 

 with great vigor when she felt herself among her shouting 

 friends and admirers, she led a length and a half at the 

 score in 2m. 24s. On the turn, Flora ran over a man who 

 had no business to be there, and then broke ; but just then 

 Princess broke, and Flora was first down to her work. At 

 the quarter, she led five lengths, and at the half-mile Prin- 

 cess was dead-beat and tired. The rest of the heat was no 

 contest at all. Flora jogged out in 5m. 5s. ; the second mile 

 being trotted in 2m. 41s. The question of superiority 

 between these beautiful and capital mares had now been 

 fairly tested. It was found, that, while the California mare 

 was second to no other but Flora, she certainly was second 

 to her. The recent contest had removed all doubt. 

 Although there was no money at stake between them, 

 the drivers had done their best to win ; and some, indeed, 

 thought they had both done more than they had any right 

 to do, in view of the rule against foul driving. These 

 mares, while only trotting for gate-money, had showed the 

 two finest trots that had then been witnessed ; but still I am 

 persuaded that the example then set, and since followed, 

 of going hippodroming round the country to trot for 

 gate-money, which was already appropriated and divided 

 without any reference to which might win, was pernicious. 



However, they set off on an excursion of that character, 

 and first showed at Boston on the 23d of August, to some 

 sixteen thousand people. It was mile heats, three in five, 

 in harness, and Flora won in three heats, 2m. 26^s. being 

 the fastest, the others being 2m. 33s., and 2m. 34s. Upon 

 the principle of making hay while the sun shone, they ap- 

 peared at Saratoga on the 27th. Flora won again in three 

 heats, tr 3 fastest of which was 2m. 30s. From Saratoga 



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