202 LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 



from the word ''go,'' and in going down tlie back side Han- 

 nis out-trotted Ford, and took the pole, and from there 

 home he went with something to spare. After this, Ford 

 gave up the fight, and I think finished the last mile in about 

 2:26 or 2:27. 



At the time I was very severely criticised about this race. 

 A great many people thought I did not try to win, but I 

 never took the trouble to deny any of the statements. The 

 only fault I had to find with myself was that I allowed peo- 

 ple who were not in a j)osition to be able to form an intelli- 

 gent opinion about training the horse to tell me how I Ought 

 to work him for the race. But even with all that bad man- 

 agement had Ford got justice out of the judges' stand he 

 would have won in straight heats. I think that if I had 

 taken him out about a week before his race and given him 

 severe work, driven him a couple of miles in about 2:16 or 

 2:18, that he would have been able to have dragged off the 

 race. He was never so good a horse afterward as he was 

 that day, and I am satisfied that the severe strain he under- 

 went, being at the time short of work. Lad a good deal to 

 do with his subsequent defeats. 



The most notable thing that Ford accomplished while in 

 my hands after this was to beat Maud S. the only heat she 

 ever lost to any other horse. This was at Buffalo, in the 

 first heat of the race. Mand S., Ford, Driver and Hannis 

 were the contestants. Maud S. being such a favorite, there 

 was no betting, except for second place, and on this point 

 there was a great deal of money wagered. Turner and his 

 friends bacldng Hannis, Junkey Goldsmith and the cheese- 

 makers from Orange County pinning their faith and money 

 to that reliable race-horse Driver, while my friends and a 

 fair share of the public took tickets on Ford. In driving this 

 race, each man had to help himself. We all knew thatBair 

 would Avin with Maud S. in two straight heats. Neither of 

 the other men I think ever had an idea of attempting to 

 beat her a heat— I am sure I did not. After the word was 

 given, Maud S. led right from the start until we turned into 



