320 THE TROTTING-I10RSE OF AMERICA. 



the score in 2m. 22s. After going by the stand he increased 

 his lead, and at the half-mile pole had three lengths the 

 best of it. They came home in the same position ; and the 

 stallion won the heat in 4m. 51 Js., which is the best two 

 miles in harness that ever was trotted except Flora's 4m 

 504s. 



The layers of the odds now got alarmed, and 100 to 40 

 was laid upon the stallion. In scoring for the second heat, 

 Patchen broke just before they reached the stand, and some 

 outsider called " Go ! " They went on, believing it to be a 

 start ; but, on coming round to the stand again, the judges 

 informed them that the word was not given. Thereupon 

 Tallman, who was behind, pulled up ; but McMann kept on, 

 and jogged round. A great row ensued, in which the 

 judges were threatened with summary violence if they did 

 not award the race there and then to Flora Temple ; but 

 being men of knowledge and firmness, they disregarded all 

 this, and declared that no heat at all. They were quite 

 right. The officious attempt to give a word by an outsider 

 I have often seen, and it is a great nuisance. In the first 

 place, it is an insult to the ability and impartiality of the 

 gentlemen who have been selected to judge the race. In 

 the next place, it is likely to confuse the drivers. There- 

 fore, anybody who does it ought to be expelled from the 

 course. 



In the second heat, the mare took the lead, and led a 

 little at the half-mile in 1m. 14^s. She then broke and 

 lost a little, but trotted fast on the home-stretch, and got 

 to her wheel, when he was broken up by the crowd, who 

 pressed upon him with that intent. Flora was three 

 lengths in the lead at the score in 2m. 28s. In the second 

 mile, he trotted well, but made a couple of little breaks. 

 At the head of the stretch, Flora's lead was three lengths, 

 but the stallion now began to close with her. She was tired, 

 and, in spite of McMann's whip, Patchen came fast and hard 

 upon her ; and now there was an outrage such as was seldom 



