TOPGALLANT. 143 



"March 19, 1829. The following horses were started for a 



purse of $200, as secor.drate horses. Distance, two-mile heats. 



Creeper, Ladj Jackson, Lady Kate, Moonshine, and Paul Pry. 



Lady Jackson, first heat, . . . 5in. 47s. 



Moonshine, second heat, . . . 5m. 43s. 



Moonshine, third heat, . . . 5m. 38s. 



" May 2] . Match race between Topgallant and Ephraim 

 Smooth, for $500 a side, three-mile heats. The two first heats 

 won by Ephraim Smooth. 



" Time, first heat, 8m. 20s. ; second heat, 8m. 10s. 



^^ American Turf Register, Yol. I. p. 63." 



In connection with the Hunting Park Course, of which this 

 is the first record, it will be not out of j)lace to give, in this 

 place, a memoir of the celebrated old horse Topgallant, who for 

 many seasons stood nearly at the head of the American Trotting 

 Turf, and for some reason, which it is not easy now to indicate, 

 for it certainly was not dependent wholly on his real merits as a 

 victor, for he was often defeated, and not by any means in 

 extraordinary time — or what would now be considered such — 

 was one of tl^e most popular animals and the greatest favorites, 

 with the masses of the spectators, that has ever been known on 

 the Turf. ^ 



He stood, in this respect, as Lady Suffolk in her day, and as 

 Flora Temple now. 



He was the " Old Top,"' as Lady Suffolk formerly was the 

 " Old Lady," of the B'hoys, who were always ready to cheer 

 them to the echo in their successes, and to sympathize, as if it. 

 were private calamity, in their defeats. 



He was a fine dashing-looking animal, with a blood look, a 

 lean bony head, and fine action. 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATED TEOTIEffG HOKSE TOPGALLANT. 



Among the many horses which have acquired distinction on 

 the Hunting Park Course, no one, perhaps, is so general a 

 favorite as the veteran trotter. Whenever the " Old Horse," as 

 he is familiarly and affectionately called, appears upon the 

 course, his presence is greeted with every demonstration of 

 enthusiasm, by the spectators, and in his performances he is 



