326 The American Thoroughbred 



a tear dimmed more than one eye unused to 

 weeping. 



Asteroid returned to the West to luxuriate in 

 the stud; and the fond dream of seeing him 

 measure strides with Kentucky was at an end. 

 Kentucky was not satisfied with the laurels he 

 had won. He aspired to eclipse the great per- 

 formance of his sire. He was backed to run 

 against time — four miles in 7 minutes and 20 

 seconds, carrying 120 pounds. 



The trial took place Thursday, October 17, 

 1867, in the presence of twenty thousand people 

 at Jerome Park, The day was beautiful, one 

 of the softest of gloriously tinted autumn. Ken- 

 tucky was badly ridden, was outpaced in the first 

 two miles, and he lost the race by iif seconds. 

 The only time that the people ever saw him 

 show signs of distress on the turf w^as coming 

 down the home-stretch, in the last mile ; he 

 was weak, tottering, and his courage failed him. 

 Had he been properly managed, on that lovely 

 October day, we do not think that he could 

 have been successful. The task was too great 

 for him — he was overmatched. He carried too 

 much weight; and every ounce tells upon the 

 speed and endurance of a horse, especially in 



