KACE AT BUFFALO. 41 



lead, and Mambrino Gift on his wheel. Mambrino Gift 

 led at the half in 1:10. Smuggler cut down the field 

 one b}^ one going around the turn, and collared Mam- 

 brino Gift at the head of the stretch. The pressure 

 was too much for Mambrino Gift and half-way up the 

 stretch he went all to pieces, Smuggler winning by a 

 length in 2:20J. When the time was hung out there 

 was much excitement, enthusiasm and cheering, for 

 the stallion record had been broken, and, moreover, 

 Smuggler had made the fastest record ever achieved 

 by a horse in his maiden race. He trotted the last 

 half of that mile in 1:08^, and went around the field 

 at that. 



Smuggler was now a pronounced favorite over the 

 field, but it was not destined to be his day of triumph. 

 His preparation had not been sufficient for a bruising 

 race, and though it is possible he had enough left to 

 win, the starter, Mr. C. J. Hamlin, of Buffalo, slaugh- 

 tered him in the third heat. When the word was 

 given Smuggler was far nearer the distance judge than 

 the wire — indeed, I do not know but that the dis- 

 tance judge could have touched us with his flag. Xo 

 worse start was ever given in au important race, and I 

 saw at once that our chances of o-ettino^ inside the dis- 

 tance flag were narrow. Around the turn Mambrino 

 Gift led the field, Smuo^o-ler nearlv a furlono^ behind. 

 Mambrino Gift went on and won the heat in 2:22^, and 

 Smuggler beat the flag home. The Sjnrit said of it : 

 "It was a hopeless task for Smuggler from the begin- 

 ning. The send-off icas toohaU for anytldng icithout 

 icings to mcike up against such a field, but right gal- 

 lantly he struggled, and as the leader reached the wire 



