THE HOltSE. 



For details of comparative speed, age, and weight carried, 

 in the examples given, reference may be had to an article pub- 

 lished in the N. Y. " Spirit of the Times," of June, 1854, page 

 223, in No. 19, vol. 24. 



If time alone be the test, the palm must be conceded to 

 Lexington ; in not only having run the fastest four miles in 

 America, but also the fastest three miles, in 5.31. Tlie noble 

 animal has fully realized all the high expectations of his 

 judicious owner and other zealous backers. Notwithstanding 

 "the various circumstances upon which so much depends for 

 success were in the highest degree favorable — the condition of 

 the horse and the track excellent — the sky clear, the air warm 

 and balmy — the day could not possibly have been better;" 

 jockeyed, too, by Gil. Patrick, the best rider in the country, 

 and carrying only 103 lbs., on a horse nearly five years old ; yet 

 Lexington ran a great hazard of losing the race by the loss of 

 " his left fore plate and half the right one." Had he lost his 

 plate earlier, owing to the " extreme hardness of the track," 

 Lexington's loss of the match seems to have been inevitable. 

 " Taking the chances into view," in his last article, your corre- 

 spondent wrote — " he would rather bet on time than on Lexing- 

 ton's heating T.26." In the " Observations on the American 

 Turf, by D. P.," in the " Spirit of the Times," of Feb. 3, 1855, 

 No. 51, page 606, he expressed his belief "that Lecomte is 

 above and beyond all comparison the best and surest race-horse 

 that has appeared in this country, with the single doubtful ex- 

 ception of Boston ! " To his faith in Boston " D. P." would die 

 a martyr. It is known that Lecomte has run his mile in 1.45i, 

 and " four miles in 7.26." " I wuU venture the prediction," 

 D. P. adds — " that if ever he " — Lecomte — " runs a single four- 

 mile heat in his present condition, and he loses it, the time will 

 he made in less than Y.20 ! If Lexington can now beat Le- 

 comte, he must be something more than a horse." 



Yet in the discussion of several of the best races, with the 

 difference of weight, and for the same ages too, " D. P." is of 

 opinion " the question may well be put, has the Y.37 heat of 

 Henry ever been beaten in this country ? " He states that 

 Henry and Lecomte " were both of the same age ; Henry made 

 7.37 with 108 lbs. upon his back, while Lecomte made 7.26 with 



