THE SECOND HEAT. 317 



Lexington soon after the heat appeared much distressed, as 

 he had evidently been hard driven nearly the whole distance ; 

 but he recovered well during the recess. Reube also, to appear- 

 ance, after the heat, showed evident symptoms that he had 

 been running a harder race than he liked. Lecomte, who to all 

 appearance had run much more at Ids ease, and with less effort 

 than his competitors, not having been spurred during the heat, 

 was but little distressed, considering the great time and the heat 

 of the day. 



The betting was changed about immediately, not less from 

 the result of the previous heat, than from the great apparent 

 exertion that Lexington had made while running, and the 

 aspect and condition of the horses after the heat. Reube's 

 chance was considered hopeless, with two such competitors 

 against him. Most of the bets now made were for the purpose 

 of hedging, and Lecomte was the favorite at 100 to 40 against 

 the field. 



Each horse came up for the second heat with crest erect, 

 and with a defiant demeanor cast proud glances from fierce 

 eyes, determined apparently to win or die. Lexington, this 

 time, led the way from the score, for nearly two miles, by about 

 two lengths ; when on coming down the stretch and passing the 

 stands to enter on the third mile, Lecomte, who had been bottled 

 up, commenced his great brush, overhauled Lexington, and 

 passed him. Both now did their best, and the third mile was 

 a constant strife throughout, for the lead, and the quickest in 

 the race, being run in 1 : 46 ; but Lecomte, although so hard 

 pushed, never w^avered, but ran evenly and steadily along about 

 two lengths ahead. On the first turn of the fourth mile, Lex- 

 ington, who at that point was nearly up to his rival, for a 

 moment gave back and lost his stride, but he at once recovered 

 it, and pushed on with vigor, but with evidently great effort. 

 All was of no use, for Lecomte came home a whinner by four 

 lengths, in the astonishing time of 7 : 88f , distancing Reube. 



The long pent-up feelings of tlie nearly frenzied thousands, 

 who for some time Lad been almost breathless, now found vent, 

 and all, losers as well as winners, ladies as well as gentlemen, 

 shouted and applauded the magnificent contest, the glorious 

 result, and the gallant winner. We yesterday wrote and pub- 



