THE TROTTINd-nOnSE OF AMERICA. 317 



Tlioy both secinod very fit; and. in scx)ring, Purdion'a 

 stride was particularly bold and commanding. The mare 

 was fast too ; but I rather fancied that she was somewhat 

 short and hurried in her action that day. At tlie start in 

 the first heat, Patchen, having the pole, drew a length ahead 

 at the quarter, and had increased his lead to two lengths at. 

 the half-mile in Im. 12s. Flora trailed him, hugging close 

 to the inside. He kept the pace very strong, making the 

 second half-mile in Im. lis., and thus doing the first mile 

 in 2m. 23s. Flora still kept close behind, trailing. On tht^ 

 back-stretch, the stallion broke, and Flora passed him. H-e 

 made another break ; and, on the lower turn, she led him four 

 lengths : but the pull that Tallman took on this turn greatly 

 restored his horse, and Flora herself was tiring. When 

 they reached the straight side to come home, the big, pound- 

 ing stroke of the stallion came closer and closer, and finally 

 away went Flora in a break. The stallion got the lead, and 

 trotted over the score a length ahead of the little mare, she 

 being on the run. The time of it was 4m, SS^s. 



In the second heat there was an even start. At the quar- 

 ter, Patchen led but a neck in 38s. ; but on the straight 

 work he trotted amazingly fast, and piissed the half-mile 

 over a length ahead in Im. 12s. Flora now trailed close to 

 the inside, and unable to get through unless he should 

 swerve out, or make a bad break ; in which latter case she 

 might have gone round him. As they came on inside of 

 the distance, he broke ; but the mare was in the pocket, 

 and not in a situation to take advantage of it, and keep him 

 bothered by going right to his head. The consequence was, 

 that the stallion caught again, settled to his trot, and passed 

 the score in the lead in 2m. 253. I have always thought 

 that there was an error in judgment made by the driver of 

 Flora that day ; but it is quite likely that the stallion would 

 have defeated her under any circumstances ; for, well as she 

 looked outwardly, she was not quite up to the mark. Patch- 

 en now increased his lead. At the half-mile pole, he wa-* 



