i8o The American Tborougbbred 



handsaw by offering to pay $1750 to call it off. 

 The full forfeit was ^2500. Rather than pay 

 that, the Colonel started Brilliant and had the 

 dissatisfaction of seeing him finish second to 

 Black Maria in both heats. 



She had her first trial at four-mile running in 

 the following spring, when she finished second to 

 Slender, a five-year-old mare by Sir Charles. As 

 a four-year-old Black Maria went along, to be 

 beaten nine days later at three-mile heats by an 

 aged mare called Lady Flirt. There were four 

 starters, and Black Maria was second in the two 

 heats. Not going again to the post until the follow- 

 ing October, or in 1830, Black Maria beat Leopold, 

 Lady Hunter, and Lady Flirt at four-mile heats, 

 in straight heats, doing it cleverly, too. Lady 

 Flirt was distanced in the first heat of this race. 

 On October 2 2d, Black Maria met Leopold, Peggy 

 Madee, Medora, and Lady Hunter, at four-mile 

 heats, and beat them from end to end, winning 

 the heats straight. 



Colonel Johnson came back at her with another 

 one in the spring of 1831, and beat her in straight 

 heats with one that the turf well remembers, by 

 name Bonnets o' Blue, by Sir Charles. The story 

 of Bonnets o' Blue is almost as strong as that of 



