Eclipse and Henry 151 



" At length the appointed hour arrived, the 

 word was given to saddle, and immediately after- 

 ward to mount. Eclipse was ridden by William 

 Crafts, dressed in a crimson jacket and cap, and 

 Sir Henry by a Virginia boy, of the name of John 

 Walden, dressed in a sky-blue jacket with cap of 

 same color. The custom on the Union Course 

 is to run to the left about, or with the left 

 hand next to the poles ; Eclipse, by lot, had the 

 left or inside station at the start. Sir Henry took 

 his ground about twenty-five feet wdde of him, to 

 the right, with the evident intention of making a 

 run in a straight line for the lead. The precon- 

 certed signal was a single tap of the drum. All 

 was now breathless anxiety ; the horses came up 

 evenly ; the eventful signal was heard, they went 

 off handsomely together. 



" Henry, apparently quickest, made play from 

 the score, obtained the lead, and then took a hard 

 pull. By the time they had gone the first quarter 

 of a mile, which brought them round the first 

 turn, to the commencement of what is termed the 

 back side of the course, which is a straight run, 

 comprising the second quarter of a mile, he was 

 full three lengths ahead ; this distance he with 

 little variation maintained, running steadily, with 



