LECOMTE S KACE. 407 



Lecomte sliot ahead, and continued gaining, until half waj in 

 the third mile, a formidable gap was made between them, pro- 

 ducing serious apprehensions that it would be a contest between 

 Lexington and Eeube, which should be worse distanced. But 

 suddenly Lexington gathered himself up, and putting out all 

 his power, closed upon Lecomte, and in the last mile the strug- 

 gle became a very close and intensely exciting one, Lecomte 

 coming in about a length or so ahead of his rival. 



The enthusiasm and hurrahs of the multitude at the termi- 

 nation of the race denoted not so much the general satisfaction 

 in the victory of Lecomte, as in the brilliant character of the 

 contest, and the splendid achievements of both horses. Two 

 more equal champions could not be pitted against each other. 

 The old Boston blood is conspicuous in both ; they are the no- 

 blest living representatives of the numerous progeny of that 

 noble old patriarch of the turf in the United States. Much 

 is due, no doubt, to the fine training of these two splendid 

 horses, under the direction of Colonel Bingaman and General 

 Wells, in whose stables Lecomte and Lexington have been 

 trained, and who, with Messrs. Kenner, Minor, and other plant- 

 ers of Louisiana and Mississippi, gave more attention to the 

 care and training of their fine bloods than any other gentlemen 

 in the United States. The Boston blood is pretty certain to 

 display its excellence. Louisiana may now boast of having the 

 two fastest and greatest horses in America, or that ever ap- 

 peared on the turf in this country. 



Far be it from one who entered the arena in defence of Bos- 

 ton, his blood, and his progeny, to detract at all from the fame 

 of " Lecomte, by Boston, out of Reel " — the winner, last year, 

 of mile heats in the fastest time on our record, and also on the 

 Metairie Course, in 1.45| — 1.46, and without being urged at 

 all — or to question that he has run four miles, and four-mile 

 heats, " in the fastest time on record ; " yet, before the conclu- 

 sion is admitted, that Lecomte's is the '''hest race" that has 

 been run in America, or that he "stands proudly before the 

 world as the best race-horse ever produced on the turf," the re- 

 cord should be consulted in respect to some other races, as run 

 by Fashion and Boston, Tally-ho and Bostona, Red Eye and 



