152 The American Thoroughbred 



a hard pull, during the first, second, third, and for 

 about three-fourths of the fourth round or mile ; 

 the pace all this time a killing one. 



" It may be proper to note that the course is 

 nearly an oval, of one mile, with this small varia- 

 tion, that the back and front are straight lines of 

 about a quarter of a mile each, connected at each 

 extremity by semicircles of also a quarter of a 

 mile each. When the horses were going the last 

 round, being myself well mounted, I took my 

 station at the commencement of the stretch or 

 last quarter, where I expected a violent exertion 

 would be made at this last straight run in, when 

 they left the straight part on the back of the 

 course, and entered upon the last turn. Henry 

 was, as heretofore, not less than three lengths in 

 the clear ahead. They had not proceeded more 

 than twenty rods upon the first part of the sweep, 

 when Eclipse made play, and the spur and whip 

 were both applied freely; when they were at the 

 extreme point or centre of the sweep, I observed 

 the right hand of Crafts disengaged from his 

 bridle, making free use of his whip ; when they 

 had swept about three-fourths of the way round 

 the turn, and had advanced within twenty-five 

 rods of my station, I clearly saw that Crafts was 



