3i6 The American Tboroiighbred 



reached the two armies it was camp-fire talk and 

 trench tattle even when the minie balls were 

 singing a death song over the heads of the men 

 in the ditches. 



This performance of Idlewild stands out so 

 particularly and peculiarly on account of some 

 conditions surrounding it that a brief account of 

 the race is of exceptional value. 



The report of this effort of hers is short, but 

 comprehensive. It was this: — 



" Centreville, Long Island, June 25, 1863. 

 Dangerous had the inside — the blind side of the 

 mare ; Jerome on the outside was on that of her 

 good eye. She, sandwiched in between, reminded 

 one of the great Queen Bess, with Philip of Spain 

 on one side and Louis of France on the other, 

 and more than a match, in craft and power, for 

 both. At the word they jumped off together, 

 but Idlewild was soonest on her legs in earnest, 

 for she was ahead of the others going round the 

 turn. But Tommy Patton's orders were to wait, 

 and he pulled her to the rear as soon as he 

 could. 



" Gil Patrick on Jerome Edgar now made the 

 running, but not at a strong pace. At the half- 

 mile pole he was four lengths ahead of Dangerous, 



