144: • TUE HOKSE. 



watched with the deepest anxiety. This attachment to him 

 springs from his extreme age, joined to his general good be- 

 havior, and the fact that he is in a great degree identified with 

 the liistory of our course. He was one of the first horses ever 

 entered for the purse of the Hunting Park Association, and has 

 since been engaged in every regular contest which has taken 

 place under their auspices. In all of these — though not a con- 

 stant winner — he has sustained an excellent reputation, and 

 whenever defeated, he has experienced more sympathy than 

 most others in success. 



The life of Topgallant has been strangely varied. Of his 

 earlier years, but little is known, though he is generally be- 

 lieved to belong to the stock of the famous Old Messenger. 

 Where, or by whom he was bred, we have been unable to learn, 

 nor can we ascertain his precise age, thougli his marks indicate 

 twenty-five years last spring. At one period, he was used as a 

 common coach hackney in New York, and has at other times, 

 been employed in various laborious occupations. 



Topgallant has changed owners so frequently, that it is 

 nearly impossible to procure a regular detail of his perform- 

 ances. Some of these have taken place at Long Island, and in 

 parts of New Jersey, but those feats which are considered the 

 most remarkable, have been accomplished at Allen's, now better 

 known as the Hunting Park Course. His reputation as a trot- 

 ter, has been established for many years, and so high did he 

 stand in the opinion of those who knew him, that at a meeting 

 of the board of officers of the Hunting Park Association, held 

 to regulate the trotting for their purses, the first year of their 

 institution, it was resolved, that Topgallant should not be per- 

 mitted to enter for the second day's purse, inasmuch as they 

 considered him a first-rate horse. 



On Thursday, May 15, 1828, Topgallant trotted against 

 Screwdriver and Betsey Baker, three-mile heats, &c., for the 

 first purse and prize cup, ofifered by the Hunting Park Asso- 

 ciation. On this occasion, Screwdriver succeeded in win- 

 ning. 



Time, 1st heat, 8m. 2s.— 2d heat, 8m. 10s. 



Though a loser. Top suffered nothing in the estimation of his 



I'l-iends. 



1 



