300 The American Thoroughbred 



ties of flight, and quietly awaiting the conclusion 

 of the directions to the riders for the tap of the 

 drum. 



"At length the tap of the drum came, and 

 instantly it struck the stationary steeds leaped 

 forward with a start that sent everybody's heart 

 into his mouth. With bound on bound, as if 

 life were staked on every spring, they flew up 

 the quarter-stretch, Lexington at the turn draw- 

 ing his nose a shadow in advance, but when they 

 reached the half-mile post — 53 seconds — both 

 were exactly side by side. On they went at 

 the same flying pace, Lexington, again drawing 

 gradually forward, first his neck, then his shoul- 

 der, and increasing up the straight side amid a 

 wild roar of cheers, flew by the stand at the end 

 of the first mile, three-quarters of a length in the 

 lead. ' One hundred to seventy-five on Lexing- 

 ton !' Time, 1.49^. 



" Onward they plunge ; onward without pause ! 

 What makes this throbbing at my heart ? What 

 are these brilliant brutes to me ? Why do I lean 

 forward and insensibly unite my voice with the 

 roar of this mad multitude } Alas, I but share 

 the infatuation of the horses, and the levelling 

 spirit common to all strife has seized on all alike. 



