262 THE TROTTIXG-IIORSE OF AMERICA 



one of the strongest and best that ever was seen, -eiiidcd 

 greatly to give her the long, fast, and powerful stroke of 

 which she was capable. She had a great reaching stride, 

 gathered quick, and went with her head low. Her first race 

 after Mr. Nodine got her was against Lady Vernon, a dap- 

 ple-gray mare belonging to Jacob Somerindyke. She ^a3 

 afterwards sent to California. Highland Maid beat her in 

 three heats, the time of which was 2.34|, 2.36, 2 32.^ 



The matches between Highland Maid and Flora Temple 

 were in harness and to wagons. The first was trotted on 

 the Centreville Course, June 15, 1853. The race created a 

 great deal of interest, and much money was laid. It wa.^ 

 said that Highland Maid had been tried, and found to be 

 amazingly fast. I have since been told that the time of her 

 mile-trial, a week before the race, was 2m. 18s. The day 

 was very fine, — a real June day, bright and warm, but not 

 too hot for pleasure. The crowd at the course was immense : 

 a greater attendance has seldom been seen there, if there 

 ever was. Mr. Nodine drove Higmana Maid, and I drove 

 Flora. I took the lead in the first heat, and kept it round 

 the turn nearly to the quarter-pole ; then Highland Maid 

 passed me, and I was never afterwards able to head her. 

 She won the heat in 2m. 29s., and both seemed to me to be 

 'ioing about all they were capable of. 



The second heat was very similar to the first, but faster. 

 Flora and I took the lead again for nearly a quarter of a 

 mile, and then Highland Maid came on with an irresistible 

 stroke and passed us. I pushed her all I could ; and, though 

 she won it in 2m. 27s., I thought I detected signs of her 

 tiring. The mare was young. She had trotted but one 

 race before. She had a trick of pacing ; and I hoped to tire 

 her out, and make her change her gait in the next heat. 

 The odds was now very lieavy upon lier. In the third heat 

 we went away together at a tremendous pace, and, upon the 

 turn, the wheels of the sulkies hit. The spokes flew, and 

 Highland Maid went \ip, and came down into a i)ace. It 



