LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 183 



the day very liot. I tried for the first heat. Deck Wright 

 did some trotting and a great deal of running, and beat me 

 to the stand in 2:20|, and the Judges gave him the heat. I 

 punished Edgewood in this heat, and drove him for his life, 

 and when it was finished he was a good deal distressed. 

 The next heat he beat Wright in 2:23^, but at the finish he 

 was so badly distressed that I decided to lay him uj) the 

 next heat. I took him down under a tree, and Orrin Hickok, 

 who had some money on him, went along and helped cool 

 out the horse. I got plenty of warm water and gave 

 Wedgewood a shower bath, took him over to the bank of 

 the river and walked him there in the shade. It seemed as 

 though he never would stop blowing, and he came as near 

 having the thumps as a horse very well could. ^Vlien the 

 bell rang he was still very much distressed, and I went to 

 the track determined to lay him up, no matter what hap- 

 pened. I did so and Deck Wright won in 2: 23 J, I sim^Dly 

 saving my distance. By the time they rung the bell for the 

 next heat, Wedgewood was a good deal better, and it looked 

 as though he might have a chance to win. When the word 

 was given the others went off in front and I trailed to the 

 half-mile post, but drove from there home, beating Wright 

 in 2:23|. In the next heat Deck Wright was first to the 

 stand, in 2:2CJ. He did not do as much running as in the 

 first heat, and I think to this day was entitled to the last 

 heat, but the judges took it from him'andgave it to Wedge- 

 wood. I thereuiDon made the resolve that in any race I might 

 ever drive, no remarks that the public might make and no 

 criticism that might be written about me in the newspapers 

 would ever have the least effect as to how I should manage 

 my horse 



I do not wish to be understood as saying that I will not 

 take advice, because I am always ready to do so, and have 

 often asked it, but what I do wish to say is, that I should 

 be the judge of who is the one to give me the advice. I 

 think it a good thing for the trainer and driver to counsel with 

 competent persons. If you have a particular case in hand and 



