Angora vs. Rodolpb 179 



Elliott and Gen. J. A. Mabry, of Tennessee. Balfe 

 Peyton's services were in great demand by the friends 

 of Hugh L. White in the campaign then raging in Ten- 

 nessee, but if he was not there in person he most likely 

 was in purse. 



But the rain! It had been falling for several days and 

 more came that morning. The track was muddy and full 

 of puddles. "In some places the track had been ploughed. 

 Exception was taken and overruled." 



Honorable Henry Clay and H. Daniels were the Judges 

 and Mr. Prestbury the Timer. Rodolph was ridden by "a 

 darkey in a purple jacket" and Angora by "Anthony a 

 yellow boy in green jacket and cap." 



"For days previous," wrote a Louisville Journal cor- 

 respondent, "Angora was the favorite, the mainstay and 

 cherished hope of the knowing ones. They looked upon 

 her as the lioness destined to crush in embryo and silence 

 forever the claims of Kentucky for speed, bottom or stock 

 in horses. Two to one and even greater odds were bet 

 with a recklessness which testified that their confidence 

 amounted almost to a certainty, thus treating our modest 

 but gallant champion with contempt. Some even went 

 so far as to wager that Rodolph would be missing at the 

 appointed time and the forfeit surrendered." 



Continuing: "The day has arrived, the crowd collected, 

 and the eventful hour is rapidly approaching. Pocket 

 books are open and lots of bank bills fluttering in the 

 breeze. Rodolph, that lordly steed, is on the track. Look 

 at him as he walks down the stretch, curving his proud 

 neck and disdaining the earth he treads. Already, me- 

 thinks, he is chuckling internally at these rash adventurers 

 who have come to his own door-sill to snatch away his 

 empire. 



"'How are the bets now?' 



