218 THE HORSE. 



Bishop," it is thus curtlj rehited in the Spirit, " was backed to do 

 one hundred miles in nine hours ; she started, and, after doing 

 fortj-nine miles in four hours and eleven minutes, broke 

 down ! " 



The register does not give the name of the perpetrator of 

 this savage atrocity, or I should rejoice to pillory it ; nor is it 

 stated what became of the unfortunate animal, which must have 

 been a good one to do so much before she broke down, lamed 

 for life probably, if not killed outright. 



In 1853, the interest of the season centres wholly in Flora 

 and Tacony, the former, however, playing, very decidedly, the 

 secondary part. 



The little bay mare was seventeen times victorious over all 

 the best horses of the season ; beating Tacony seven times, at 

 one and two-mile heats ; Black Douglass twice ; Rhode Island 

 three times ; Highland Maid twice ; Mountain Maid twice ; 

 Katy Darling twice ; Lady Yernon, Lady Brooks, and Young 

 Dutchman to make up the tale, hardly losing a heat in the 

 whole performances. Her best time was 2.27 and 2.28 at mile- 

 heats, both on several occasions, and at four-mile heats 5.01| — 

 4.59 — the best on record. She had at once started up into a 

 prodigy. She lost four races only, one to Black Douglas, one 

 to Green Mountain Maid, and two to Tacony, who battled it 

 out with her with courage, if not with success, equal to her own. 



Tacony, though no longer the chamjjion, maintained his 

 credit more than gallantly, beating Flora twice, as has been 

 stated ; and Mac, who reappeared very strongly this season, four 

 times, one in the best time on record, under the saddle. He 

 was beaten six times by Flora, and thrice by Mac. His best 

 winning time, 2.25^, at two miles, repeated in two consecu- 

 tive heats, was a minute better than Lady Suffolk's best, 2.26^ ; 

 and he put Flora up to 4.59 — 5.01^, to beat him in wagons, at 

 two miles. 



To show how much horses had gained on time, recently, 

 2.27, only one min. less than the best yet, 2.26, was made seven 

 times ; by Dolly Spanker thrice, Flora twice, and Tacony once ; 

 and Lady Suffolk's best time, 2.26^, was equalled by Tecumseh, 

 and beaten a minute by Tacony against Mac. 



There was much excellent trotting this year, and horses of 



