?,{6 THE HORSE. 



on the side of any favorite. Before leaving the city, Lexington 

 was the favorite, at even money, against the field ; but a few 

 minutes before the race, we witnessed some transactions in 

 which Lexington was backed at 100 to 80 against the field, or 

 100 to 60 against Lecomte. Much money was risked on time, 

 but the lowest time that we could hear of being marked was 

 7 : 32. 



So far as we could judge, the horses all appeared to be in 

 excellent condition, and " eager for the fray," as they moved to 

 and fro before the stands, to the admiration of the anxious 

 thousands. 



The drum taps ; and horses dash off with a rush for the first 

 heat, and on passing the first turn, Lecomte led, Lexington 

 being second, and Reube trailing behind, but at as fast a gait 

 and as bold a stride as he could well accomplish. Their position 

 did not vary for nearly three miles, although the pace increased ; 

 the space between the horses at times increasing and diminish- 

 ing, Lexington several times making a brush to take the lead, 

 but Lecomte increasing his speed to prevent it. On entering 

 the fourth mile, and on the back stretch of it, Lexington partially 

 closed the gap that Lecomte had opened on him, and attempted 

 to outfoot him. The attempt was immense, and elicited the 

 loudest encomiums of Lexington's friends and backers ; but it 

 was inefiectual. The spur was freely used to induce him to do 

 what his friends claimed for him, that he was the fastest horse 

 in the world at a brush ; but Lecomte bafiled all his efibrts, 

 kept the lead and won the heat, amid deafening shouts, by six 

 lengths, in much the quickest time ever made in the world — 

 7: 26! 



If the result of the heat induced great shouting, the announce- 

 ment of the time produced still more clamorous demonstrations 

 of delight. All knew that the heat was very fast, but each one 

 of the hundred persons who held watches could scarcely believe 

 their own time, until the judges announced it oflicially. 



During the great excitement which was concentrated on the 

 two contending horses, Keube had almost been lost sight of, 

 but he came home at a high rate of speed, making the best heat 

 by far that he ever made in liis life ; although, as the red flag 

 descended, he barely escaped being caught behind it. 



