350 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



up again on the 1st of December, and Mr. Alley drove him 

 that winter in double-harness, along with the mare Baby 

 Bell. It seemed now that his accidents were all over, for 

 with the mare he went steady and well that winter. In the 

 spring he was entered in a number of the purses given by 

 the proprietors of the Fashion and Union Courses, and at 

 the proper time was sent to me to be trained. I soon found 

 out what sort of a horse he was. His constitution was fine ; 

 his temper was good ; he was a good feeder, not a glutton, 

 nor a great eater of hay, but with a healthy appetite and 

 digestive powers that would always consume about twelve 

 quarts of oats a day ; and that is enough for any horse in 

 training. Hence I looked forward with great confidence to 

 a successful career for this young horse. 



Dexter made his first race on the 4th of May, 1864, at 

 the Fashion Course, for a purse of $100. There were 

 twelve entries to this race, and four started. The starters 

 were Dexter, Stonewall Jackson of New York (a fast 

 bay gelding who had been very successful that spring), 

 the chestnut-mare Lady Collins, and Gen. Grant (a brown 

 gelding). This horse had been a pacer. He trotted now, 

 and trotted exceedingly fast, but he was very unsteady. 

 The public thought Stonewall Jackson nearly sure to win 

 it ; but when we got over to the Fashion Course, and put the 

 money upon Dexter, he became the favorite at the rate of 

 six to four. Still, I dare say that no one but Mr. Alley 

 and myself suspected and believed that the curtain was 

 about to draw up upon the greatest trotter, taken for all-in- 

 all, that has ever appeared. 



The race was the usual mile heats, three in five, in har- 

 ness. We got off in the first heat, and I took the lead with 

 Dexter. At the half-mile, in 1m. 13 Js., Dexter had a good 

 lead, and was going quite within himself. The others 

 could not get near him. He won by half a dozen lengths, 

 jogging out in 2m. 33s. Stonewall Jackson was second, 

 the Lady third, and Grant distanced. The other heats 



