148 APl'r.NDIX. 



They forgot that, in reality, it could neither be gotten rid of 

 ncr impaired. Four years before, at the very commencement of 

 an era in which there has been a great and general increase in 

 speed, he had beaten the best time by two seconds and a half. 

 Goldsmith Maid only beat his a quarter of a second when all 

 was said and done. And besides, there was still the lion in the 

 path ; for though it was not a technical record, it was a fact, 

 well known and not to be disputed, that Dexter in a public race 

 on the Fashion Course, trotting on the outside, had gone a mile in 

 harness in 2m. 16s., against Ethan Allen and running mate who 

 went the heat in 2m. 15s. Now this was a faster mile, than any 

 other unaided trotter has ever made anywhere, or anyhow, and 

 it was made in a public race. Therefore, although it is not i 

 record, it is, I maintain, a historical fact never to be f(»rgotten 

 when we estimate the merits and performances of the illustrious 

 horse who made it. A man who takes no account of anything 

 but that which appears upon the record, in forming his judgment 

 of horses, is the next kin to an idiot. According to that notion a 

 horse beaten by a neck for a place in the field of twenty is no 

 better than the one who comes in last, a furlong behind him. He 

 is no better on the record, but he is much better in the estimation 

 of every man of sense. Dexter got no record whatever in the 

 races he trotted against Ethan Allen and running mate, but for 

 all that they gave proof of a higher excellence in him than any 

 two he ever won. That he would have improved if he had re- 

 mained on the turf I have never had a doubt. He had all the 

 elements of improvement, high breeding, capital action, immense 

 speed, indomitable game and thorough bottom. He had won at 

 three-mile heats, in three heats, the season after he first came cut, 

 and beaten a dead game horse. He had won two-mile heats to 

 wagon and trotted in 4m. 501s. He had been beaten by Ethan 

 Allen and the runner in tim. I5s., but his pluck was so fine and 

 his spirit so unimpaired, that became up again, and was only 

 beaten bv a trillo in 2m. KJs. For these reasons I believe that if 



