DESCRIPTION OF SIR HENKY, 185 



events, they met the coming contest manfully, having full and 

 imimpaired confidence in their two remaining horses. Sir Henry 

 and Betsey Eichards, and backed their opinion to the moment 

 of starting. 



At length the rising sun gave promise that the eventful day 

 ■would prove fine and unclouded. I was in the field at the peep 

 of dawn, and observed that the Southern horse and mare, led by 

 Harry Curtis in their walk, were both plated, treated alike, and 

 both in readiness for the approaching contest. It was yet unknown 

 to the Northern sportsmen which was to be their competitor. 



The road from New York to the course, a distance of eight 

 miles, was covered by horsemen, and a triple line of carriages, 

 in an unbroken chain, from the dawn of day until one o'clock, 

 the appointed hour of starting. The stands on the ground, for 

 the reception of spectators, were crowded to excess at an early 

 hour, and the club house, and balcony extending along its whole 

 front, was filled by ladies ; the whole track, or nearly so, for a 

 mile distance in circuit, was lined on the inside by carriages 

 and horsemen, and the throng of pedestrians surpassed all be- 

 lief — not less than sixty thousand spectators were com/puted to 

 he in the field. 



About half-past twelve o'clock Sir Henry made his appear- 

 ance on the course, as the champion of the South, and was 

 soon confronted by his antagonist. 



I shall now endeavor to give a brief description of these 

 noted racers. 



Sir Henry is a dark sorrel, or chestnut color, with one hind 

 foot white, and a small star in the forehead ; his mane and tail 

 about two shades lighter than that of his body ; he has been rep- 

 resented as being fifteen hands and one inch high, but having 

 taken his measure, his exact height is only fourteen hands three 

 and a half inches. His form is compact, bordering upon 

 what is termed pony-built, with a good shoulder, fine clean 

 head, and all those points which constitute a fine forehand ; his 

 barrel is strong, and well ribbed up towards the hip ; waist 

 rather short ; chine bone strong, rising or arched a little over 

 the loin, indicative of ability to carry weight ; sway short ; the 

 loin full and strong ; haunches strong, and well let down ; hind 

 quarters somewhat high, and sloping off from the coupling to the 



