174 Tbe American Tborougbbred 



" Lady Relief and Slim were almost unknown 

 to fame ; but certain individuals present were 

 aware that the former had, upon a previous occa- 

 sion, won the last half of sixteen miles ; and they 

 looked for sport unexpected by others, if it should 

 happen that the first two heats were not taken 

 either by Trifle or Maria. The latter, it was 

 known, had the foot of Relief, as they met on 

 the first of the month at Poughkeepsie and con- 

 tended together for the three-mile purse, which 

 was taken by Maria with great ease. 



" At the tap of the drum the four went well off 

 together, Relief taking the lead within the first 

 quarter, closely followed by Slim, then by Trifle, 

 and last but not least by Black Maria. The first 

 mile indicated a waiting race, as all the riders had 

 their horses under the hardest pull, each seeming 

 desirous that his antagonists should take the lead. 

 Trifle, impatient with such trifling, began to make 

 play, and this aroused Black Maria, who was trail- 

 ing along quietly behind the whole. With a few 

 huge strides she brought herself to the front, 

 passed the whole before she came to the judges' 

 stand, followed closely by the gallant little Trifle, 

 who 'stuck to her' like an accompanying phan- 

 tom. At the beginning of the third mile the 



