356 THE TROTTING-IIOnSE OF AMERICA. 



against such x horse as Stonewall Jackson of Hartford. 

 This latter \Yas a bay horse, with two white legs and a 

 blaze. He 'W'as nearly thoroughbred, was very fast and 

 lasting, and a good saddle-horse ; but he had a temper, and 

 had bolted once or twice. The upshot of the conversation 

 with Mr Alley was, that I went and offered a large sum 

 to get out of the match. The other parties refused to take 

 '^wy thing less than the whole of the forfeit, and that I was 

 sure not to pay before the day of the race, if then. 



Meantime, Dexter was entered in two of the Fashion 

 purses, with Flora Temple, Gen. Butler, and Lady Em- 

 ma. One of these was mile heats, three in live, in harness; 

 the other mile heats, three in five, to wagons. The first 

 of them was trotted on the 2d of June. The starters were 

 Dexter and Gen. Butler. Dexter won it easily in three 

 heats ; time, 2m. 263s., 2m. 26^8., 2m. 24^8. The day before. 

 Lady Thorn had defeated Frank Vernon and Stonewall 

 Jackson of New York, at the Union Course, and had gone 

 in 2m. 24i-8. ; and now Dexter and the Lady were matched. 



This match was for a thousand a side, mile heats, three in 

 five, in harness. Lad}^ Thorn was a fine, higli-bred mare 

 from Kentucky, got by IMambrino Chief, and with another 

 cross of the Messenger blood through American Eclipse. 

 Slie belonged to Mr. Relf of Philadelphia. I knew she 

 was fast, but I thought the little horse could just about 

 beat her. The race w^as made to be trotted over the Union 

 Course on Friday, June 9, good day and track. It caused 

 great interest, and my house was crowded to its utmost 

 capacity at dinner-time. Before the time came to go to 

 the course, a great storm came up from the south-east, and 

 80on there was much rain. After it ceased, I and one or 

 two others walked over to the course, and found it too mud- 

 dy and slippery to trot. The race was postponed until the 

 following Monday. This was rather unfortunate for Dexter. 

 He was very fine indeed that morning, but went off a little 

 before Mond.iy. The fact is, that he is a horse of remark- 



