THE cnAMPiONsniP. 275 



increased his lead to four lengths, while Nil Desperandum had passed Black- 

 wood Jr., and was at the wheel of Jefterson. On the hill. Nil Desperandum 

 took second place, and closed up rapidly on Thorndale, and they had a tine 

 race down the homestretch ; but Nil broke within forty yards of the score, 

 and. was beaten out by two lengths, in 2:2Q%. 



Second Heat. — Again the favorite got away first, and at the quarter, in 36s., 

 had opened a gap of two lengths, Nil Desperandum second, but the latter 

 made a bad break on the second quarter, and Jefferson took second place, and 

 held it when Thorndale passed the half, in 1 :13, Nil Desperandum now hav- 

 ing fourth place ; but he had rallied from his break, and was coming on 

 finely. By the time the homestretch was reached, he had passed Blackwood 

 Jr. and Jefferson, and made a gallant effort to capture Thorndale, but the 

 distance was too great, and he was beaten by one length, in 2 : 21^^. 



Third Heat. — There seemed to be a disposition in this heat to wear out 

 Thorndale, and they scored seventeen times before they got the word. 

 Young Sentinel was drawn during the scoring. The start was an even one, 

 but this time Blackwood Jr. shot ahead, and was leading at the quarter, in 

 36s. ; but Thorndale soon took sides with him, and they had a ueck-and-neck 

 contest to the lialf, in 1:11, at which point Thorndale led the Tennessee 

 horse by a neck. Nil Desperandum two lengths behind. On the third quarter 

 both the leaders made numerous breaks, and Nil Desperandum swept on by 

 them, and had a lead of two lengths entering the homestretch, and won the 

 heat by that distance from Thomas Jefferson, who came up fast; time, 2:28. 



Fourth Heat. — This time Tom Jefferson had a little the best of the start, 

 but at the quarter pole, in 35s., Bhickwood Jr. and Thorndale, the former a 

 neck ahead, were two lengths in front of him. Just after passing the quarter, 

 Blackwood Jr. made a bad break, and Thorndale went on so fast that at the 

 half, in 1 :10i^, he had opened a gap of five lengths, Blackwood Jr. still sec- 

 ond, Jefferson third, and Nil Desperandum fourth. His followers now began 

 to close on Thorndale, who was leg weary, and, at the three-quarter pole, . 

 Blackwood Jr. lapped him, with Nil Desperandum a length behind. It was 

 all up with Thorndale for the heat, and after a spirited contest down the 

 homestretch, Blackwood Jr. won by two lengths from Nil Desperandum, who 

 led Jefferson the same distance, Thorndale last. 



Fifth Heat. — It was growing dark when the bell was rung for this heat, but 

 was light enough to trot had there been no delay. Blackwood Jr. responded 

 promptly, and Thomas Jefferson was on hand in reasonably good time, but 

 the two bay stallions were extremely dilatory. The bell was rung long and 

 repeatedly, but neither Thorndale nor Nil Desperandum would show up. 

 Fully fifteen minutes of valuable daylight were wasted, and at last the judges 

 announced that, if they did not appear at once, the two black stallions would 

 be started without them, and this availed to bring them reluctantly out, but 

 it had grown so dark that the heat could scarcely be trotted under the rules. 

 The two laggards should, at least, have been fined as heavilj^ as the rules 

 allow. They were sent off, dark as it was, and, at the quarter, in 37s., Black- 

 wood Jr. had a short lead from Jefferson, Thorndale in the rear. On the 

 second quarter they all came in a bunch, and their relative positions could not 



