Fashion vs. Peytona 217 



in the Judges' stand. We felt 'sorry* for several of them we did. 

 The pace was 'a lettle too diggin' to last much longer, one would 

 have supposed, but then two such animals as Fashion and Peytona 

 never come together but once, on this continent! 



"Twenty yards from the quarter post, we heard, 'Peytona's 

 gaining on her! ' * Fashion's ahead a little about three feet differ- 

 ence ! ' ' Now Peytona goes up to her ! ' [JThis was at the hill.] * She's 

 head and head with her! She leads her about a neck!' around 

 the turn, and they swing into the quarter stretch, where Conover 

 could distinguish neither, but we could clearly see Barney's blue 

 jacket, and occasionally catch a glimpse of Joe Laird's. 'Spur your 

 proud coursers hard, and ride in blood! ' seemed the order of the day. 

 Each jockey seemed the impersonation of the Centaur as if him- 

 self and horse were one! Each was the PURDY of his party, and 

 each rode as if for his life! It was a masterly exhibition of judg- 

 ment, coolness, and science. As the horses neared and passed the 

 stand, Peytona had the best of it, but Fashion was lapt on her; 

 they had run the mile (the 3d) in i : 55, thus making the time of the 

 three miles 5: 47, or within three seconds of the time of the first heat! 

 Fashion let out a link around the first turn of the 4th mile, and at 

 the quarter post was a neck in front they were side and side down 

 the stretch and at the hill the same on the turn, so that a blanket 

 would have covered both, and now both are out of sight as they 

 swing into the quarter stretch. ' Who's ahead? ' ' Fashion, I guess, 

 but Peytona I hope! ' exclaimed some one at our elbow. No one 

 could tell, though the longest man could see best, and both of them, 

 but as the horses were coming ' head on' to the stand, it was impossible 

 to say which had it indeed it looked like anybody's race, to one 

 who had not a good eye but before the horses were out of sight 

 Conover remarked, ' I believe Barney's pulling maybe he's got 

 something left yet! ' And so it appeared, for before they reached the 

 draw-gate, Laird drew his whip on Fashion, and gave her the spur 

 at the same time. Barney came on steadily a few feet in front, with 

 an eye all the time on Fashion, but giving his own mare a stab of 

 the spur at every stroke! From the draw-gate to the stand, the 

 contest was as determined on one side, as it was desperate on the 

 other! All at once the vast assemblage is quiet then you hear a 

 shout it increases as the horses come nearer it becomes tre- 

 mendous your heart somehow gets in your throat you try to 

 shout yourself a thrill a whirlwind of excitement the winner 

 flies past you the race is over! Peytona wins the heat (time i : 585) 



