336 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



and to pick and nibble at the oats. This, I have no doubt, 

 was the case with Flora. John Morgan looked all the 

 better for his race at mile heats ; and as he came up the 

 home-stretch, in warming up, it was with a boldness and 

 power of stroke that seemed to indicate uncommon confi- 

 dence and resolution. There was but little betting, and that 

 little was at three to one on Flora Temple. The horse was 

 driven by Turner, who, not from any lack of skill, but for 

 want of bodily strength, was likely to give out before the 

 trotter did. The style of the horse was of that sort which 

 requires a good strong pull to support him, especially when 

 he tried to keep up his great stroke in going round the turns. 

 If he could have had a chance at Flora, two miles straight 

 away, on a good dirt-road, it is my belief he would have 

 beaten her. 



In the first heat, they went away well together ; but he 

 seemed to hang on the turn, while she made one of her 

 electric rushes, and took the pole from him. She went on 

 to the half-mile, with a lead of two lengths, in 1m. 12-|s. 

 The chestnut began to close with her on the lower turn ; and, 

 at the head of the stretch, he was at her wheel. Here he 

 lay coming up the stretch, on which he made a little skip, 

 but caught well. The mile was trotted in 2m. 27s., the 

 mare being a length ahead at the score. Again, in round- 

 ing this upper turn, he lost some ground, but on the back- 

 stretch made it up, and placed his head at her wheel. On 

 the lower turn, he got to her quarters ; but, when they had 

 swung into the home-stretch, her inside place brought her a 

 length ahead of him. Turner now called upon him ; and, 

 the work being straight ahead, he answered with such an 

 effort that he gained upon her inch by inch. It was a very 

 fine spectacle. At the distance he had got to her head, and 

 it looked as though he would win it. But the little mare 

 was not yet all out. McMann shook the whip over her ; and, 

 the crowd setting up a shout, she made a desperate effort, 

 and, getting her nose in front of him again, she managed to 



