226 HUMANE HORSE-TRAINING 



apart, far above any trotting stallion in the history of 

 the harness horse. 



Those two stand-bys of the stallion king, Tom 

 Murphy and Ed. Wise, were on hand as usual with the 

 runners, the latter going to the back stretch where he 

 joined in, while Murphy accompanied the champion all 

 the way. When Starter Merrill gave the word, Lee was 

 fairly fl5dng, the runner trailing him around the turn, 

 the timers registering 29I sees, at the quarter. " Too 

 fast ! " said some of the critics, for that first quarter 

 at Lexington is a slow one ; but the clip increased, and 

 the gallant bay was skimming the ground like a swallow 

 in full flight when Ed. Wise pulled in behind him with 

 the second runner. Past the half he flew, and the timing- 

 board showed 58 J sees., the second quarter in 28} sees. 

 Could he come home ? was the question. The 

 way he answered it was superb, worthy of the king of 

 horsedom. Around the far upper turn the trio thun- 

 dered, and a thousand watches snapped at i min. 27J 

 sees, as the champion's nose showed at the three- 

 quarter pole. The middle half had been covered in 

 57I sees., the pride of the clan of Axworthy was leading 

 the chase, was holding the Scythebearer safe. 



In the stretch the supreme test came. Crouched 

 low in the sulky, Ben White was calUng on the champion 



