256 The American Thorongbhred 



This was one of the most extraordinaiy races 

 of the season, and contributed more to Fashion's 

 reputation than all her previous performances 

 combined. John Blount, in his three-year-old 

 form, as in his fourth year, had been regarded 

 as the best colt in Virginia, and he came to 

 Baltimore, after beating Tyler easily in a match 

 for $5000 at Petersburg. Tyler was the only 

 competitor who had come off victorious in a con- 

 flict with Fashion, and then when she was amiss. 

 The latter, in beating Blount twice, at a longer 

 distance, fully cancelled her debt to Tyler. 



On the entries being announced, John Blount 

 was immediately made favorite vs. the field ; in 

 the evening he became so at odds of four to three; 

 in the morning he advanced to two to one, and be- 

 fore the start one hundred to thirty-five was freely 

 offered. Fashion had but few friends, but those 

 few, " old and tried," " shelled out their coin " to 

 great advantage ; rumor with its thousand tongues 

 had placed John Blount second to Boston only, 

 and this but made the timid more fearful. 



In the first heat Stockton led off at a rapid 

 pace, with Blount and Lady Canton well up, and 

 Fashion, hard in hand, in the rear of all. They 

 kept these positions till near the end of the 



