238 THE HORSE. 



happen that the two first heats were not taken either hy Trifle 

 or Maria. The latter, it was known, had the foot of Relief; as 

 they met on the first of the month at Ponghkeepsie, and con- 

 tended together for the three-mile purse, which was taken bj 

 Maria with great ease. As the trumpet sounded for the horses 

 to come up to the starting-post, they severally appeared, exhibit- 

 ing their various tempers by their individual behavior. Black 

 Maria — who had the inside track — showed neither alarm nor 

 anxiety. She was as calm and unimpassioned as if she had 

 been a mere spectator ; and this coldness of demeanor won no 

 ' golden opinions ' among the lookers-on. Trifle exhibited high 

 spirits, brought down to their proper level by judicious break- 

 ing and training. A slight tremor ran through her frame ; and 

 an impatient lifting of the fore foot, now and then, showed that 

 she was alive to the coming struggle. 



" Lady Eelief, on the contrar}^, was all tire and animation — 

 ready to break away fi-om her groom, and dash through all ob- 

 stacles for the sake of victory. 



" Slim exhibited an impatient spirit, and seemed, by her 

 anxiety, to show herself a descendant from that Childers who 

 always ran — at least on our course — without ' whip or spur.' 



" At the tap of the drum the fonr went off well together, 

 Relief taking the lead within the first quarter, closely followed 

 by Slim, then by Trifle, and last, but not least, by Black Maria. 

 The first mile indicated a waiting raee, as all the riders had 

 their horses under the hardest pull ; each seeming desirous that 

 his antagonists should take the lead. Trifle, impatient at such 

 trifiing^ began to make play, and this aroused Black Maria, who 

 was trailing along quietly, behind the whole. AVith a few Imge 

 strides, she brought herself up to the front, passed the whole 

 before she came to the judges' stand, followed closely by the 

 gallant little Trifle, who ' stuck to ' her like an accompanying 

 phantom. At the beginning of the third mile the leading nags 

 made play, and during the whole of it Maria held the lead, fol- 

 lowed closely by Trifle ; while Relief and Slim were — and, 

 as we believe, not willingly — at a most respectable distance in 

 the rear. 



" After passing the judges' stand and entering upon the 

 fourth mile, and after compassing the turn, upon the southerly 



