TWENTY-MILE MATCHES. 195 



sliall only wantonly, recklessly, and most brutally destroy the 

 best of the race — for it is only the best, which will persevere 

 until they be destroyed — using their own highest characteristics 

 and our knowledge of them to accomplish the destruction. Two 

 other cruel matches of the same kind were made in the same 

 year, but not witli the like success. 



A black gelding, Ajax, by Abdallah, was next matched to 

 do twenty miles, over the Centreville Course, against a bay mare, 

 Marion, in the expectation of making Trustee's time. The mare 

 stopped midwa}^, and was distanced — what is a distance, by the 

 way, in a twenty-mile race ? — and the horse got through the 

 distance in Ih. Tm, 37|s. 



Yet later, the same year, November 18, a fine dark chestnut 

 hoj'se. Woodpecker, 16 hands high and seven years old, said to 

 be half brother to James K. Polk, the pacer, was backed to do 

 the same match. 



He had only been a few weeks from grass, and had no 

 advantage of training, to fit him for such a life-and-death trial. 



There was a blunder in the starting on the part of the judges, 

 who did not give the word when his rider expected it, and 

 allowed him to go on two miles, imuginiug that he was at work, 

 before he was stopped and called back. 



Thus he had to go in fact twenty-two miles, instead of twenty, 

 at a winning pace, before he could win his match. 



As it was, he did his nineteen miles in 57.43, and having only 

 2.17 in which to accomplish his last mile, he was stopped by the 

 order of his owner. Every one judged that, but for the judges' 

 fault, he would have won. At all events I rejoice, with exceed- 

 ing joy, that his owner lost; and hope that so it may be to all 

 owners, for ever, w^ho so mismatch the noblest and most gener- 

 ous of animals. 



The year 1849 is remarkable as being that of Lady Sufifolk's 

 greatest glory, embracing her contests with Mac, who was com- 

 ing up rapidly in the scale, and Pelhara, who rose first into 

 high notice this year ; and of good work on the part of Lady 

 Moscow, who also battled it stoutly with Mac and Jack Eossiter, 

 the latter of whom was on the descending scale, as was also 

 Lady Sutton, as m comparison with her former performances. 



The old gray mare performed this year nineteen times, and 



