276 Alexander's abdallaii and descendants. 



be clistinguisliecl at the Imlf, in 1 :18. From this point Thorndale ran into 

 the lead, but, when he was puUed to a trot on the homestretch, the otliers 

 causrht him, and Bhickwood Jr. won the heat by a length from Nil Despcran- 

 dum, in 3:3132- The race was then postponed. 



FOURTH DAY. 



Friday, Oct. 19.— The weather was fine in the afternoon, but the attend 

 ance very light. The first business was to finish the stallion race. Only 

 Thorndale, Nil Desperaudum and Blackwood Jr. remained in. 



Sixth Heat. — Very little betting, the book-makers being not liberal with 

 their ofi'ers. Blackwood Jr. took the lead, and held it at the quarter pole, in 

 36^8., Thorndale second, two lengths in front of Nil Desperandum. Thorn- 

 dale now closed up somewhat, but could not catch the black, and Turner, 

 therefore, brought up Nil Desperandum to accomplish the job, but, at the 

 half, in 1 :11, Blackwood Jr. still led two lengths, Thorndale at the wheel of 

 Nil Desperandum. On the third quarter the latter closed up on the leader 

 and lapped him at the three-quarter pole, where McKimmin claims that 

 Turner fouled him, and took several spokes from his sulky wheel. At any 

 rate. Nil Desperandum took the inside down the homestretch, and won by 

 half a length, in2:27M- 



(When the horses next came out. Nil Desperandum took the lead from the 

 word, but, before reaching the quarter, Blackwood Jr. had taken sides with 

 him, while Thorndale was trailing. Turner now crowded Blackwood Jr. to 

 the outside of the track, leaving the pole path clear for Thorndale, who took 

 advantage of it, and went to the front, leading by two lengths at the quarter. 

 A little later. Nil Desperandum was, apparently Avith intention, crossed in 

 front of Blackwood Jr., and the latter obliged to pull up. The result of these 

 manoeuvres was, that Thorndale came in first by six lengths, in 2 : 261-^, and 

 Desperandum .second, but the judges declared it "no heat." The trick was 

 so transparent that expulsion would scarcely have been too severe a penalty.) 



Seventh Ileat.— After the scoring began, Turner was unseated, and John 

 Murphy put up behind Nil Desperaudum. The change was not justified 

 by the result, though it was by Turner's conduct in the former heat. Black- 

 wood Jr. broke at the first turn, and Tliorndale went to the front, and, at the 

 quarter, in 35s., had a lead of two leugtlis. This gap he increased to four or 

 five lengths, at the half, in 1 :10, and won as he pleased by a dozen lengths, in 

 2 : 2Gi^. Nil Desperandum was a bad third, and was stopped at the wire, 

 much distressed. 



SUMMARY. 



Fleetwood Park, Oct. 18 and 19.— Purse $5,000, stallion championship of 

 1877 and a silver cup. 



E. Thome's b. s. Thorndale, by Alexander's Abdallah 1 

 R. Penistan's b. s. Nil Desperandum, by Belmont. ... 2 

 A. J. McKimmin's blk. s. Blackwood Jr., by Black- 

 wood 4 



J. IT. Welsh's blk. s. Thomas Jeflerson 3 



P. Day's b. s. Young Sentinel 5 



Time, 2 : 2(i%—2 : 27^—2 : 28—2 : 293^—2 : 313^—2 : 27^—0 : 00-3 : 26%. 



