THE FIRST HEAT. 295 



from tlie timers in the Judges' stand, demonstrates the remark- 

 able accuracy of the parties. 



The result of the heat was the more astonishing to a few of 

 Boston's friends, as no one ever supposed Fashion could make 

 this time, though she might heat him. "We were prepared to 

 expect the best time on record, not only from the fact that we 

 had been informed of the result of 'Fn^lvionh private trial on the 

 25th ult., but from a circumstance which we shall be excused, 

 we trust, for alluding to here. After retiring to our room at the 

 Astor House on Monday night, at a late hour, we had the plea- 

 sure of a " domiciliary visit " from Mr. Long, the owner of Bos- 

 ton, and several mutual friends. The " party " were attired in 

 costumes that would be esteemed somewhat unique out of the 

 circle of the Marquis of Waterford's friends, who ride steeple 

 chases in their shirts and drawers. Nevertheless there was no 

 lack of fun nor spirit ; in the course of an interesting " horse 

 talk," Mr, Long gave us several " items," one of which was that 

 Boston would run the first heat, " sure," in Ym. 348. Said Mr. 

 Long, " he will run the first mile in about Im. 53s., the second 

 in Im. 52s., the third in Im. 54s., and the fourth in Im. 55s." 

 After he retired we made a memorandum of the time, as a curi- 

 osity after the race. And we refer to it now, to show that, 

 though beaten by the ISTorthern Phenomenon, the gallant Bos- 

 ton amply sustained all the expectations formed of him from his 

 trials and previous performances. He not only made vastly 

 better time than he ever did before, but better time than ever 

 had been made — time that quite eclipses the most wonderful 

 achievements on the American Turf. The vaimted perfor- 

 mances of the Southern "cracks" at New Orleans, are almost 

 thrown in the shade, wonderful as they are. Had any one of- 

 fered to beat the time of Eclipse and Henry on the Union 

 course, 3 to 1 would have been laid against it; or had the 

 friends of Boston been assured that he could run, as Mr. Long 

 told us he could, in 7m. 34s., his friends would have staked a 

 million of dollars upon his winning the match. For the first 

 two miles Boston in the opinion of many shrewd judges had 

 the foot of the mare, and it is thought that had he trailed her 

 as he did Charles Carter, the result of the first heat might have 

 been difi'erent. But what shall be said of the incomparable 



