LIFE WITH THE TKOTTERS. 203 



the stretcli, the other three horses behind her, each driver 

 catching the others, and all apparently Avaiting to make a 

 drive at the finish. These tactics suited me exactly, as I 

 was sure that Ford had the speed of Driver and Hannis and 

 was willing to leave the race to be decided in the last fifty 

 yards. As we turned into the stretch, I noticed Maud S. trip 

 with one of her hind feet. I have often had horses do that 

 with me, and when going at a high rate of speed they would 

 almost always make a break. I'did not wait to see whether 

 she broke or not, but as they say on the running turf, I 

 commenced to " sit down and ride" Ford. I think my two 

 opponents must have seen what I did at the same time, for 

 Maud S. had not fairly left her feet until I could hear Tur- 

 ner and Goldsmith driving their horses as though it was a 

 life-and-death struggle. I never saw a more desperate finish 

 between three horses, or one much closer. Every horse was 

 driven to the best of his driver's ability, without regard to 

 the number of times they hit them on the back with the 

 whip. They all finished lapx)ed on each other, Ford coming 

 to the wire first by about a head. Driver second, and Hannis 

 third; time, 2:17; and I may say that this Avas the second 

 best heat of Ford' s life, the best heat I ever saw Driver trot, 

 and as good a one as Hannis ever trotted, Maud S. then 

 went on and made short work of the race, winning in three 

 heats, thereby giving Ford the second money and to his 

 backers the money that was bet on the place. 



This was about the last season that Ford ever made any 

 showing on the turf. His owner got in reduced circum- 

 stances, and this horse, which had attracted the attention of 

 thousands of peox)le, and for whom a cash oft'er of $12,000 

 was refused, was finally sold to a private citizen in Chicago 

 for $300, and is now being jogged around on the roads by 

 him. The last time I saw Ford I was going out on Wash- 

 ington boulevard, and noticed a rather matter-of-fact look- 

 ing gentleman and lady jogging along behind an old white 

 horse that neither looked nor acted as though he had evei- 

 shown any disposition to trot. As he drew near there seemed 



14 



