THE TliOTTIXG-IIORSE OF AMERICA. 365 



n'ou/d have been much smaller if j\Ir. Alley's friends and 

 acquaintances had not come out to see his wonderful littlo 

 horse trot once more that fall, in which he had made himself 

 80 famous. There were also a number of Western gentle- 

 men and some of the most eminent merchants of New 

 York on the ground. Tallman drove Butler again, and I 

 drove Dexter. 



After scoring a couple of times, in which Butler broke 

 and ran, we got the word, he having a small lead. He soon 

 broke ; and, when he caught his trot again, he was two lengths 

 and a half ahead. I saw thus early that Tallman did not 

 mean to lose that day for want of a little running. He led, 

 with a break or two here and there, after which he would catch 

 and trot very fast, half-way round the Flushing end. There 

 I passed him, and came on to the straight side with a little 

 lead. At the stand, in 2m. 30^s., I took the pole, and went 

 on with the lead ; Dexter drew awaj'- from Butler, and led 

 two lengths and a half at the half-mile pole. He was going 

 as steady as a clock ; and, as it was not worth while to pull 

 him back to Butler, I let him keep up his stroke until we 

 got on the straight side. There was a great gap between 

 us, and I jogged the little horse out in 5m. |s. The time, and 

 the ease with which it was done, amazed everybody but me. 

 My uncle, George Woodruff, was there j and saj^s he to me, 

 " Why, Hi., this is a wonderful horse for bottom ! He 

 seemed as if he would have kept up that rate for another 

 mile!'' 



" Well," said I, " it's my firm belief that he could, and 

 more too, though that would beat Dutchman's time." 



It was ten to one on Dexter now. At the start I was 

 t.hree or four lengths behind, and did not rightlj' know 

 that it was a start, until I had called out to Mr. Crocheron, 

 who stood at the turn inside the rails, " Is it a word ? " 

 says I. 



" Yes, it is ; go along, old man ! " says Joe. Well, I did 

 gc nlong; and at the h'df-mile pole Dexter had nearly got tc 



