290 The American Tboroiigbbred 



" It must be a source of the highest gratification 

 to the rider of Lexington that he guided him 

 through his perilous journey successfully, despite 

 the prophecies and hopes of defeat that attended 

 him. In this connection we may fearlessly assert 

 that through a long career of usefulness and suc- 

 cess of more than twenty years upon the turf, 

 the name of Gilbert W. Patrick, the rider, has 

 never been tainted with even the breath of sus- 

 picion, and that the bright escutcheon of his 

 name remains untarnished ; and as this is per- 

 haps his last appearance in public, it is the 

 writer's hearty wish that he may live to enjoy an 

 uninterrupted flow of worldly comfort, and that 

 when death calls him to answer that to which 

 all living must respond, he may be full of years 

 and honor. The names of Gil Patrick and 

 Lexington are inseparably connected with the 

 greatest achievement upon the American turf. 



" That this race will go down to generations 

 yet unborn as the fastest ever made is the 

 honest conviction of the writer." 



The following is the record : — 



Monday, April 2, 1855. Match for ^20,000; 

 Lexington to beat the fastest time at four miles, 

 being 7.26. 



