THE THIKD HEAT. 301 



ever, for nothing but a locomotive could have held its way with 

 Boston, who in his turn came home, amid the enthusiastic cries 

 of the populace, in 7.46. Many watches made the time a half 

 second quicker ; the heat, which was won by a length, was the 

 most interesting we recollect ever to have seen. We have 

 heard the riding of Joe in the last mile criticised ; it is said he 

 took too much out of his horse after he had passed Boston, by 

 forcing the running as he did. Our impression is that he pur- 

 sued the safer course, and that he lost the heat, only, in conse- 

 quence of the tremendous speed which his antagonist exhibited 

 in the quarter stretch. There is no difterence of opinion as to 

 the masterly style in which Gil. took the heat ; it would com- 

 pare favorably with any performance of Chifney or Robinson. 



The third heat was scarcely less interesting than the previous 

 one. Boston took up the running early, but was followed by 

 Mariner at the best pace steel and catgut could get out of him. 

 This severe chase continued throughout three miles and a half, 

 when Mariner closed up a little. In coming into the quarter 

 stretch home, Gil. gave the pole a wide birth, and Joe imme- 

 diately took advantage of it, and made a rush to take the lead 

 on the inside. The struggle was now most exciting, as Mariner 

 was evidently drawing rapidly upon his antagonist. At about 

 the distance stand he lapped on to him, when Gil appeared to 

 pull his horse toward the pole again, and thus crossed the path 

 of Mariner, and interrupted his stride. Tlie pace was terrific, 

 however, till the finish, Boston taking the heat, with his tail 

 flirting directly in the face of his competitor, time 7.58^. A 

 complaint was then made of foul riding against the winner, but 

 it was not deemed by the judges to be substantiated, and the 

 race and purse were accordingly awarded to Boston. All know 

 how critical and hazardous is the attempt to pass a leading 

 horse on the inside. Many believe that Joe Laird was author- 

 ized by the position of Boston to make the effort he did, and 

 that but for being crossed and crowded he would have won the 

 race by it. The rightful authorities decided otherwise, however, 

 and we acquiesce in their decision without hesitation. 



The race will be long remembered as one of the most inter- 

 esting that ever came off on Long Island ; the performance of 

 Mariner surprised all his friends by the unwonted sjpeed which 



