136 THE HORSE. 



pears, if the above statement be correct, had already, in 1824, 

 brought the time down below the forties ; but for many years 

 afterward a 2m. 40s. horse was not an every-day occurrence, 

 even among those considered extra fast, while a three-minute 

 horse was, until very recently, considered extraordinary as a 

 private gentleman's roadster. 



Again, in the same year, we find the following notice of a 

 road-match, done nearly at the same rate as those previously 

 noticed, which was evidently about the top time of the day. 



" On Saturday last, for a bet of $100, a horse of Mr. Van 

 Buren's was trotted to a wagon, without collar or traces, six 

 miles in 28 minutes. The time allowed was 34 minutes, and 

 the performance was done on the Jamaica turnpike from the 

 12th to the 6th mile-stone. The horse came in without fatigue, 

 although the whole of the tire came off one of the wheels." — 

 New Yorh Paper. 



Tlie trick of the match last named, lies in the animal having 

 drawn the greater part of the load by the bit, in its mouth, 

 although it is probable that the shafts were attached pretty 

 firmly to the belly-band, and there may have been a breast- 

 plate. 



In the year 1825, from the same source, the American 

 Farmer, which is the only responsible guide on such matters 

 until 1829, when its editor commenced, in September, the pub- 

 lication of the American Turf Register, I derive the account of 

 the folloM'ing match. 



" The lovers of fine trotting were gratified yesterday morn- 

 ing by witnessing a match between a bay horse belonging to 

 Ml'. Russel, and Mr. Howard's sorrel horse. Defiance, for a purse 

 of $1,000. The distance was three-mile heats, and the purse 

 was won by Defiance in very handsome style. The first heat 

 was won by the bay horse, but it is presumed that Defiance 

 would have come in ahead, if he had not lost a shoe. The dis- 

 tance was performed as follows — 



First heat, .... 9m. lis. 



Second " . . . . 9m. 08s. 



Third " . . . . 9m. 06s. 



Whole nine miles in . . 27m. 25s." 



