286 The American Thoroughbred 



animated appearance, and the feeling in favor of 

 the gallant Lexington was general and decided. 

 And as the predestined hero of the day appeared 

 upon the course, — in company with his stable 

 companions, who were to be partners for a time 

 in his toils, his feelings, and his fame, — his bold, 

 reaching, and elastic step, his unequalled condi- 

 tion, and his fearless, defiant look — conscious of 

 superiority and of victory — gave strength to his 

 backers that all was as it should be. 



" Of the temerity of his backer and owner, 

 Mr. Richard Ten Broeck, in standing before the 

 world, bidding defiance to all the previous per- 

 formances ever marked by horse, we have before 

 spoken, as our feelings dictated, and his extraordi- 

 nary self-reliance, based upon well-directed judg- 

 ment and sound sense, cannot fail to place him 

 in the estimation of true sportsmen as the leader 

 of the host. He knew that he had an animal of 

 unflinching courage, coupled with lightning speed, 

 and bravely did his gallant ally respond to the 

 call. 



" The betting was large. Lexington's appear- 

 ance made him a favorite, and before starting it 

 was firm at one hundred to seventy-five against 

 Time, and but few takers. The greater portion 



