192 THE HORSE. 



Mr. Purdj ran up and took the inside track from Lis adversary. 

 The circumstance was in the months of hundreds. In corrobo- 

 ration of wliich, I will quote a passage from the New York 

 Evening Post, of May 28th, 1823, giving a description of this 

 second heat : — " Henry took the lead as in the first heat, until 

 about two-thirds around on the third mile, when Purdy seized 

 with a quickness and dexterity peculiar to himself, the favora- 

 ble moment that presented, when appearing to aim at the out- 

 side, he might gain the inside, made a dash at him accordingly, 

 and 2?assed him on the lefty 



Here, then, the observations of many, independent of my 

 friend Mr. M. Buckley, or myself, added to the instantaneous 

 and striking remark of B., which did not fail to rivet my pecu- 

 liar attention, form a wonderful coincidence. Thus circum- 

 stanced, and long conversant with turf matters, rules, and 

 practices, and familiar with sights of this kind, it was impossible 

 I could be mistaken. I was not mistaken, the honest belief of 

 some gentlemen to the contrary notwithstanding. 



Time, this second heat, 7 minutes, 49 seconds. 



Third Heat. — It was now given out, that in place of the 

 boy Walden, who had rode Sir Henry the two preceding heats, 

 that Arthur Taylor, a trainer of great experience, and long a 

 rider, equalled by few, and surpassed by none, would ride him 

 this last and decisive heat. At the expiration of thirty minutes 

 the horses were once more summoned to the starting post, and 

 Purdy and Taylor mounted ; the word being given, they went 

 off at a quick rate ; Purdy now taking the lead, and pushing 

 Eclipse from the score ; and indeed, the whole four miles, ap- 

 plying the whip and spur incessantly ; evidently resolved to 

 give Sir Henry no respite, but to cause him, if determined to 

 trail, to employ all his sj)eed and strength, without keeping any 

 thing in reserve for the run in. Sir Henry continued to trail, 

 apparently under a pull, never attempting to come up, until 

 they had both ftiirly entered the straight run towards the termi- 

 nation of the last mile, and had advanced within about sixty 

 rods from home. Here Sir Henry being about five yards be- 

 hind, made a dash, and ran up to Eclipse, so far as to cover his 

 quarter or haunch with his head, and for a moment had the ap- 

 pearance of going past ; he made a severe struggle for about 



