24:2 THE HOKSE. 



her honors and the admiration of her friends, had been vic- 

 torious. She had run twelve miles, winning the twelfth ; and 

 the little game creature appeared as fresh as ever. It was now 

 settled that she was to win the money ; although it might be 

 that Kelief, who was fast rising in favor, might make her ' run 

 for it.' Indeed, the latter did not seem in full vigor until she 

 had run two heats ; and now her nostrils opened, and she pawed 

 the ground, as if just brought upon the course. 



" Tliey are saddled for the fourth heat ; and here is to be a 

 struggle until sixteen miles from the beginning are accom- 

 plished. Black Maria is in no way distressed, Relief full of 

 spirit, but ' Trifle's to win the money.' Off they go ; Relief 

 takes the lead, followed by Trifle, and then the black. Miles 

 are passed over, and yet Relief is ahead. — ' How is this ? can't 

 Trifle pass ? Is the Jersey mare ahead ? ' — She is, indeed ; and 

 ahead like to be. A better, truer, tougher, and more spirited 

 piece of stuft^ never came from the loins of old Eclipse. She 

 takes the track from the score. Trifle goes at her, but ' can't do 

 it.' — ^Three miles and a half are accomplished, and Black Maria 

 has passed Trifle, and is close at the heels of Jersey. Now they 

 come up the straight side. The black is at her, and Relief 

 takes the whip like a glutton. Maria comes up and laps her — 

 she's at her shoulder ; but they pass the stand, and Relief takes 

 the heat by a neck. Time, 8.39. 



" ' Huzza for Jersey ! ' rings over the course ; and a look of 

 pity is cast upon the gallant little Trifle, who had done her 

 utmost — ' Black Maria won't come again,' says a wise one, with 

 a knowing look ' I don't know that,' says a Yorker. ' If she 

 had run twenty straight yards farther, she would have taken 

 the heat.' ' She is distressed,' is the reply. ' Distressed ! may 

 he she is. I saw her lay her ears back, and lash out with her 

 hind feet, after the boy dismounted from the sixteen miles, as 

 if her sinews were of whipcord.' 



" Here was an interesting point, five heats, in all, were to be 

 run, and twenty miles to be passed over. ' The like was never 

 seen on this course before,' says a Long Islander, ' Bottom's 

 the word— how go the bets ? ' ' At a stand still. Trifle's dis- 

 tressed ; but Lady Relief has more life in her than any thing 

 tliat ever ran sixteen miles before.' 



