254 THE GOLDSMITHS. 



gallant rush and shut up three lengths of daylight, but 

 Butler beat him to the post in 2:21^. The stallion 

 won the second heat in 2:24^4. 



"The third was one of the fastest and best-con- 

 tested heats < ever seen. To the half-mile there never 

 was daylight between them, although Butler was a 

 little ahead. Going up the hill he stole on until he 

 led by two lengths ; but now, around the apple-tree 

 turn, Wilkes closed with him and they came on to the 

 stretch together. At the draw-gate the stallion was 

 a neck in advance, but Mace rallied 'the contraband/ 

 and coming with a rush on the post, won it by half a 

 length; the time, 2:23. The fourth heat was trotted 

 in the dark, Butler winning it. 



"The next matches in which George Wilkes was 

 engaged were with Rockingham, the gray gelding 

 owned by John Morrisey, and now in the possession 

 of Commodore Vanderbilt. They were to go three 

 races, the first in double harness with a running 

 mate. Wilkes did not work well in double harness, 

 and they paid forfeit. Mile heats, three in five, in 

 harness, followed. The first heat was won by Rock- 

 ingham, for the stallion made a break at the begin- 

 ning of it; the time was 2:28^4, while the stallion 

 trotted the last half-mile of it in I'.n 1 /^. Wilkes won 

 the second and third heats in 2:27^, 2:28^4, and then 

 Rockingham was drawn with a bowed tendon. 

 George Wilkes was now removed to the stable of 

 Hiram Woodruff. The last of the three matches 

 with Rockingham was to go as they pleased. The 

 stallion went in harness, 'Old Blocks' driving. Rock- 

 ingham was under saddle, that able and elegant 

 young rider, Bud Doble, being on him. The stallion 



