THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 373 



those performances which had already made him one of the 

 boasts of this country and one of the wonders of the outer 

 world. 



The start was not soon got, for Butler and Vanderbilt 

 broke often in scoring. I did not, however, mind this to- 

 day ; because I knew, that, whatever they might think of 

 the staying-power of Gen. Butler, I had the real sticker 

 when the pace was very strong. The question was, whether 

 Dexter would warm up, and regain the ability to cut loose. 

 In the earlier part of this work, I related how I won a great 

 race with B/ipton, when he was stiff and lame ; and that race 

 came into my head as I scored time after time with Eoff 

 and with Vanderbilt. When the word was given, Vander- 

 bilt broke, and Dexter took the lead : Butler lay next me at 

 the quarter-pole, two lengths behind. At the middle of the 

 back-stretch, Dexter wanted to get up ; but I succeeded in 

 keeping him to his trot, and at the half-mile he led two 

 lengths in 1m. 13s. Butler got his nose to my wheel at 

 the head of the home-stretch, and soon after broke : but he 

 caught, and trotted very fast, and Dexter broke, and lost it 

 in 2m. 28s. 



There was a good deal more scoring before we started for 

 the second heat ; and, while it was going on, Eoff offered to 

 lay 500 to 400 that Butler won. The start was a good one, 

 and we went together in close order. At the quarter-pole, 

 Dexter's nose was at Butler's haunches, and the Commodore 

 was at my horse's shoulder : so we went to the half-mile, 

 but not without a skip or two. The time here was 1m. 

 13|s. On the Mushing end, Butler drew away a little, and 

 Dexter broke on the home-stretch. Vanderbilt took the 

 inside position, and tried hard for the heat, John Lovett 

 laying on the whip ; but he broke, and Butler won in 2m. 

 27s. ; Dexter second. 



They now laid ten to one on Butler. Some of the 

 stanch friends and admirers of the little horse came to me, 

 and bemoaned that they had lived to see the day when it 



