284 The American Tbowugbhred 



because of the readiness of the Southerners to 

 meet him, Lexington in the next year returned 

 to New Orleans and ran the great public trial 

 which caused his name to become the synonyme 

 of horse greatness throughout this entire land. 



Gil Patrick, the premier jockey, who had ridden 

 Boston in all his greatest races, was taken to New 

 Orleans to ride Lexington in the dash against 

 the watch. From the New Orleans Picayune is 

 taken this description of how Lexington demon- 

 strated the remarkable development of the Ameri- 

 can thoroughbred : — 



" The most brilliant event in the sporting annals 

 of the American turf, giving, as it has, the palm 

 to the renowned Lexington, came off yesterday 

 over the Metairie Course, and its result greatly 

 surpassed the most ardent hopes and enthusiastic 

 expectations of the friends of the winner and the 

 lovers of the turf sports. 



" The day was the loveliest of the whole season. 

 As the hour appointed for the great contest ap- 

 proached, the town was all astir with the excite- 

 ment incident to the occasion. Vehicles of all 

 sorts were in requisition, and our beautiful level 

 shell roads were filled with them from the last 

 paving stone to the gates of the course. The 



