372 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



made it palpable to all but tlie wilfully blind that Dexter 

 could lose the stallion in any way of going that trotting- 

 horses go. The stallion did not appear in this race ; Eoff 

 believing, no doubt, that he had a much better chance to 

 win with Gen. Butler. He had, to give him due credit, 

 brought Butler into magnificent condition ; and his patient, 

 skilful handling of the horse in driving was very fine. All 

 that party over at the Fashion were full of confidence that 

 Butler would win it ; and they took the odds of 100 to 40 

 on Dexter to a large amount, and laid 60 to 40 on Butler 

 against Commodore Vanderbilt. There was one consider- 

 ation which no doubt largely influenced the Butler party in 

 taking the odds ; that was, that Dexter had not been just 

 himself that year. Eoff affected to doubt it, but he knew 

 it well enough. The trouble was in the horse's feet, which 

 kept him continually on the fret through soreness. That 

 had, no doubt, some effect on the price at which he was sold; 

 for, if he had been clearly all right forward, there were scores 

 of men who would have given $15,000 for him. 



My own opinion was, that the trouble was merely of a 

 temporary nature ; but every man of much experience with 

 horses knows that a great deal of vagueness and uncertainty, 

 not to say contradiction, has long existed, even among the 

 most advanced veterinarians, in regard to lameness in the 

 fore-feet. There was a chance, that, instead of getting better, 

 he would get worse, and have disease of a chronic character. 

 The chance was remote ; but it existed, and had prevented 

 William Saunders and some other good horsemen from 

 buying him. When we took him on the course on the 2d 

 of July, he looked exceedingly well bodily, but he had not 

 been going well. He was limping a little, pulling a little 

 on one rein, and was prevented from letting loose in his 

 usual limber and determined manner by the soreness. If 

 he had not got better during the race, he could not have won 

 it : but he did get better, as we shall presently see ; and his 

 immense pluck and bottom enabled him to add another to 



