440 The American Thoroughbred 



from start to finish, and passed the judges so 

 close together that it was impossible to separate 

 them. Mr. Keene, who viewed the race from 

 the stewards' stand, just above the judges' stand, 

 thought Domino had won ; and Mr. Croker, who 

 sat in the club-house gallery, was equally con- 

 fident that Dobbins was the winner. Admirers 

 of the two horses naturally sided as their predi- 

 lections inclined them, but the race was palpably 

 so very close that no one cared to express any 

 positive opinion. Even the jockeys, Simms and 

 Taral, would not say that they believed either 

 horse had won. 



There was betting on the match early in the day. 

 Domino was quoted at three to five and Dobbins 

 at even money. It was the general trend of 

 opinion that Domino would win, and the constant 

 stream of Domino money forced the Keene colt to 

 one to two when the race was called, while Dob- 

 bins went back to eight to five. There was a great 

 deal of speculation on the result, and also on the 

 time at four to five under i.iif and even money 

 over. Dobbins cantered in front of the grand stand 

 before the race, but Domino was not brought out 

 on the track. He wore his bandages. Both colts 

 were the centre of admiring throngs in the pad- 



