352 THE TROTT1NG-I10RSE OF AMERICA. 



the quarter; but she broke on the back-stretch, ail he had 

 a lead of three lengths at the half-mile in 1m. 15Js. Shark 

 was second there. They could not stand the pace; and 

 Dexter won it in a mere jog in 2m. 32Js. In the third 

 heat, the little horse took the lead again, and, at the half- 

 mile pole, led the gray mare three lengths in 1m. 13s. On 

 the Flushing-end of the course he was full of trot, and I 

 let him go along. He increased his lead. On the home- 

 stretch, I took him in hand, and he jogged out in 2m. 30s. 

 This race was for a purse of $200, and a stake of $50 each. 



Dexter had now, in the course of two weeks, trotted four 

 races, in which there were eleven heats. In none of these 

 heats had the little horse been headed. People began to 

 say, " Hiram Woodruff has got hold of another Ripton ; " 

 but I had a trotting-mare in my stable then who made a 

 great stride forward. On the 1st of June, Lady Emma 

 beat May Queen and Dan Mace at the Union Course in 

 such time and such easy style, that she was forthwith 

 classed with the best trotters, and there she remained until 

 her death late last fall. 



Misfortune was now close at hand for Dexter, but not in 

 any grave shape. On the 3d of June he trotted mile heats, 

 three in five, to wagons, on the Fashion Course, with Shark 

 and another son of Hambletonian, called after the old horse. 

 Horace Jones had him : Ad. Carpenter drove Shark. There 

 was an immense deal of scoring, more than there ought 

 ever to be. Above ten times we came up without getting 

 the word : when we did get it, Dexter broke. Shark took 

 the lead, Hambletonian second. At the half-mile, in 

 1m. 18s., I had passed Hambletonian, and had got to the 

 quarters of Shark : at the head of the stretch I had nearly 

 collared him ; but, just in the straight, Dexter hit his knee, 

 and broke up. Shark won it in 2m. 36s., and Hambletonian 

 was second. I then drew my horse, as he had given himself 

 a pretty hard wipe. He had been backed at five to one at 

 the start ; and it seemed a hard case for the layers of the 



