LIFE WITH THE TROTTEES, 161 



the back side I felt as though Fanny was able to out-trot 

 Thorne, but concluded, as she was going safe and steady, I 

 would remain where I was. But she was a peculiar mare, 

 and the least little thing would attract her attention on the 

 track, so that she was liable to jump over it. At the three- 

 quarter pole there was a path where the people had walked 

 across the track, and in crossing that in every heat she 

 showed a disposition to break. This time I held her well 

 in hand, thinking that I had Thorne beaten sure, and that 

 there was no chance for her to make a break; but when she 

 came to the place she seemed to notice it, and, in spite of 

 all extra caution and effort, she made a plunge and jumped 

 over it. John Turner, who drove Thorne, knowing my 

 mare's peculiarities, took advantage of the circumstance, 

 and made as much noise with his whip. and voice as the law 

 would allow, and at the same time got me in pretty close 

 to the fence, as I thought, hindering me from having a 

 chance to swing Fanny out and catch her. My first thought 

 was that the race was over, but as she broke I swung her to 

 the inside fence and let her go as though I intended to run 

 her against it. This had the desired effect, as she caught and 

 came on with one of the bursts of speed that she was noted 

 for, and in spite of all of Turner' s efforts, she beat Thorne, 

 thereby winning the race. I think Turner was a little bit 

 surprised, and I know I was. 



I have heard a good many people say that it is impossi- 

 ble to condition a horse and make him go his best race 

 without having had him in two or three races. I think, in 

 some instances, that may be the case, but not always. I 

 believe, if you have time enough and give him work 

 enough, you can condition a liorse and bring him to his very 

 best efforts without a public race. This I consider the best 

 race that Fanny Witherspoon ever trotted befoi-e or after, 

 and I refer to it in proof of my argument. If a horse is idle 

 or inclined to be lazy, it might need the excitement of a race 

 or two to get him to his best efforts, but 1 believe any fair 

 horse can be taken out with a runner and trained to his very 



