60 THE HORSE. 



the backers of time, who paid forfeit. — Another g^entleman offered to produce for a 

 wager a pair of horses that should trot 100 miles in nitie hours in harness, but no 

 one would hack time against the perfc rmance. 



Having thus gone throuoh with these numerous details, let us dwell for a moment 

 upon some of tlie most extraordinary performances noted in the tables. Probably the 

 most remarkal)le trotting performance on record is Dutchman's match against time. 

 But we will first give the report of his match with Kattler, which we compile from 

 the " Spirit of the Times." 



EXTRAORDINARY TROTTING MATCH. 



A TROTTING MATCH, fof -$1000 a-side, Three mile heats, under the saddle, came ofl 

 on Saturday,Oct. 6, 1838, at 4 o'clock, over the Beacon Court^f, oppo^siie this city. The 

 annals of the turf furnish no parallel to it; every foot of the ground was severely con- 

 tested, and the time made is by far the best on record. 



Dutchman and Kattler were the contending horses; the first is a handsome bay 

 gelding, of great size and substance, about 16 hands higii; he is what is termed " a 

 meaty horse," and looks, when in fine condition, like an ordinary roadster in "good 

 order." He was trained for the match and ridden by Hiram Woodruff. Rattier is 

 a brown gelding, of about 15^ hands, and *' a rum 'un to look at;" he was drawn very 

 fine, though one of those that seldom carry an ounce of superfluous flesh; we hear that 

 his feed of late has seldom exceeded six quarts per day, while Dutchman's has been 

 between twelve and sixteen. Rattler was trained and ridden by William W^heelan. 

 His style of going is superior to Dutchman's; he spreads himself well, and strikes out 

 clear and even. Dutchman does not appear to have perfect couimand of his hind legs: 

 instead of throwing them forward, he raises them so high as to throw up his rump, and 

 consequently falls short in his stride. The main dependence of his backers was based 

 upon his game ; and a gentleman who " put on the pot" to a heavy amount on Rattler, 

 offered 2 to 1 on Dutchman before the start, provided the heats were broken. 



The odds before the horses came upon the track were 5 to 4 on Dutchman ; after the 

 riders were up, 5 to 3 was current, and at length 2 to 1. As they were ridden up and 

 down in front of the stand previous to starting, both appeared to be in superb condition, 

 and to have their action perfectly. Tlie track was so hard and smooth that the nails 

 in the shoes of the horses could be seen every step they made. A great many bets 

 were made on time; even bets were made that it would be better than any on record. 

 To determine what the best time on record was, it was shown that in 1833, Columbus 

 trotted a three mile heat, under the saddle, over the Hunting Park Course, Philadel- 

 phia, in 7:57^, — but to prevent any dispute about the fractions of a second, 7:58 was 

 declared to be the best time made. On the 10th of October, 1837, Daniel D. Tmnp- 

 kinfi, in a match, literally vs. the world, beat Rattler, over the Centreville Course, in 

 7:59 — 8:09, three mile heats, under the saddle. Both Dutchman and Rattler are 

 owned by gentlemen of this city; the latter was ridden without a spur. 



The Race. — Rattler drew tlie track, but resigned it to Dutchman on the first 

 quarter; he came in fronton the backside, and at the half-mile post led by two lengths; 

 he soon after broke up, when Dutchman headed him and led past the stand (2:42) 

 round to the straight stretch on the backside, where the ground being descending, and 

 more favourable to him, Rattler passed. Dutchman waited upon him. close up, tc 

 near the three-quarter mile post, where Rattler sliook him off, and led past the stand 

 (2:38) by four lengths; keeping up his rate, he led down the backside and round th 

 turn to tlie straight stretch in front, where Hiram caught Dutchman by the head, and 

 laid in the spurs u|) to the gaff-; the brush home was tromendous, but R:illler won by 

 nearly a lenL^th, trotting the 3(1 mile in 2:34J, and the heat in 7:54-^-. 



Second hent. — Dutchman brokt; at starting, and 2 to 1 v\as offered against him. 

 Down the backside the horses were lapped all the way ; on the ascending ground, 

 within about ten rods of ilie half-mile post, Dutchman gained a little, and came first to 

 the stand (2:37). He drew out tw-o lengths ahead round the 1st turn on the 2d mile, 

 but Rattler gallantly challenged him down the backside and !api)e(l him; at the half- 

 milo post Dutchman was airain clear, but by a desperate effort Rattler lapped him 

 when they got into straight work in front, and thus they came to the stand (2:33). 

 On the backside Rattier, as usual, drew out clear, but for an instant only ; the spur^ 



