flora's first match. 235 



too, which is sure to crop out, as the geologists say of strata, 

 somewhere, at some time or other, to the detriment of the per- 

 formance and pluck of the progeny. 



It is admitted that the excellence of trotters is sui generis, 

 and depends on no strain of blood ; and the search for their 

 pedigrees is more a matter of curiosity than of practical use. 



The above, then, is all that can be ascertained now, probably 

 that ever will be ascertained, concerned Flora's pedigree. 



She was got by One-eyed Kentucky Hunter— who almost 

 certainly had some good Kentucky thorough blood in his veins, 

 but for regarding whom ^ a thoroughbred there are no grounds 

 whatever — out of a mare, Madame Temple, who might or might 

 not — the chances rather inclining to the no^— have had some 

 good blood. 



Flora was foaled in 1845, the property of a Mr. Loomis, of 

 Sangei-field, Oneida county, New York. She passed, while 

 quite young, through several hands, and was at length sold to 

 Messrs. Eichardson & Kellogg, of Eaton, Madison co., K. York, 

 who worked her at livery. 



In the month of June, 1850, one of her owners taking a 

 drove of cattle to N"ew York, carried Flora with him, and on 

 his way disposed of her for the sum of $175, to Mr. Yelie, of 

 Washington county, New York, who shortly afterward ti-ans- 

 ferred her for double that sum to Mr. Geo. E. Perrin, of the 

 city of New York, by whom she was constantly driven on the 

 roads in the neighborhood of the city, and tried against the fast 

 horses which are continually taking the air on the avenues, un- 

 til he became well satisfied that he was the owner of somethino- 

 a little above the common. 



Her first trial on a course was a match made between her 

 and a fine horse known as Vanderburgh's gray stallion, for $500 

 a side, mile heats, the stallion to go to a 250 pounds wagon, the 

 mare in harness. 



It came off on Union Course, L. I., and was won easily in 

 three heats by the mare, in very handsome style. 



This match was not registered, and I record it on the autho- 

 rity of a very clever and agreeably- written series of papers en- 

 titled " Flora Temple ; written in one of our office arm-chairs," 

 published in Porter's Spirit of the Times, and understood to be 

 from the pen of Mr. Geo. Wilkes. 



