1 62 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



the race. Hambletonian, it is related, started 

 with the lead and maintained it till the last half- 

 mile of the course was entered upon, when 

 Diamond, stealing up, challenged. The struggle 

 for victory was a keen one ; each jockey rode his 

 very best, Hambletonian being ridden by the 

 famous Buckle, while Dennis Fitzpatrick had 

 charge of the other horse. As the animals neared 

 the winning-post it looked all over as if the 

 contest would end in a dead heat, but almost 

 in the last stride Buckle nerved himself for a 

 great and final effort, and won the race by little 

 more than a head. According to the best 

 authorities, the four miles were run in about eight 

 minutes and a half. 



Large sums fell to be paid and received over 

 this event, the betting having ruled high, York- 

 shire to a man supporting Hambletonian, and 

 the Newmarket people backing Diamond. When 

 the horses started the state of the odds was about 

 "even money," either you liked. Hambletonian 

 was foaled in 1792, and won almost every race for 

 which he was entered, including the St. Leger 

 and the Gold Cup at Doncaster ; indeed, he was 

 only beaten upon one occasion when he un- 

 fortunately ran out of the course at York August 

 Meeting, 1797, when running against Deserter 

 and Spread Eagle. This famous animal, after 

 a fairly successful time at the stud, died on March 

 28th, 1 81 8, in the twenty-seventh year of his 

 age, having begot Norval, Camillus, Joan of Arc, 

 and many other high-mettled steeds that have 

 figured in turf history. 



Another match that excited almost as much 

 attention as the struggle between Hambletonian 



