406 THE HORSE. 



The Great Race. — The race of yesterday was the greatest 

 and most brilliant one that has ever occurred in America. The 

 result will produce a profound impression throughout the coun- 

 try. The glories of Eclipse, of Boston, of Fashion, of all the 

 other classic heroes and heroines of the turf, must pale before 

 the glory of the modern champions, who, yesterday, made the 

 most marvellous display of speed on record. Here is feasible 

 proof that this is an age of progress. We have not degene- 

 rated in horse flesh, if we have in a great many other matters. 

 We, of this much calumniated century and epoch, boldly fling 

 Lexington and Lecomte into the faces of preceding generations, 

 and ask them if they can beat that time — the first four miles in 

 seven minutes twenty- six seconds, and second heat of four miles 

 in seve7i minutes and tJiirty-seven seconds? Shades of John 

 Eandolph, and William R. Johnson, and of your contempora- 

 ries — who were so intensely excited by the great contest be- 

 tween the North and South, when Henry and Eclipse decided a 

 great question of sectional pride — will ye not be startled in your 

 shadowy retreats by the wonderful figures which were yesterday 

 exhibited from the judges' stand on the Metairie? Where now 

 is the great time of Boston and Fashion. T.32i ; of George Mar- 

 tin and Miss Foot, Y.34 ; of Grey Medoc, 7.35, over a better 

 track than the Metairie presented yesterday ? 



It was a beautiful race from the start. The great display of 

 Lexington on Saturday, when he so easily beat a horse which 

 came to this city with more reputation than any horse in the 

 United States enjoyed, had made him a general favorite. The 

 bets were on him against the field, and, in many cases, two to 

 one were ventured on him against Lecomte ; Eeube was but 

 little regarded, and was thrown in, to take the chances of any 

 accidents, or in case that three heats were run, with a hope 

 that his endurance might tell in so long a stretch. The contest 

 was a noble and close one between Boston's two gallant colts. 



In Ihe first heat they ran regularly, Lecomte a few lengths 

 ahead all through, and winning the heat in Y.26. After this 

 the bets were decidedly in his favor, two and even three to one. 

 The second heat was a varied and most exciting contest. Lex- 

 ington got the start, and kept it until the second mile, when 

 they closed in the quarter stretch ; after a prodigious struggle, 



