i6o The American Tborougbhred 



matters, rules, and practices, and familiar with 

 sights of this kind, it was impossible I could be 

 mistaken. I was not mistaken, the honest belief 

 of some gentlemen to the contrary notwith- 

 standing. 



" Time, this second heat, 7 minutes, 49 seconds. 



" Third heat. It was now given out, that in 

 place of the boy Walden, who had rode Sir 

 Henry the two preceding heats, that Arthur 

 Taylor, a trainer of great experience, and long a 

 rider equalled by few and surpassed by none, 

 would ride him this last and decisive heat. At 

 the expiration of 30 minutes the horses were 

 once more summoned to the starting post, and 

 Purdy and Taylor mounted ; the word being 

 given, they went off at a quick rate ; Purdy now 

 taking the lead, and pushing Eclipse from the 

 score ; and indeed, the whole four miles, applying 

 the whip and spur incessantly ; evidently resolved 

 to give Sir Henry no respite, but to cause him, if 

 determined to trail, to employ all his speed and 

 strength, without keeping anything in reserve for 

 the run in. Sir Henry continued to trail, appar- 

 ently under a pull, never attempting to come up, 

 until they had both fairly entered the straight 

 run towards the extermination of the last mile. 



