32 



whole country for weeks. Some questioned the accuracy of 

 the distance of the track, and it was decided to have a care- 

 ful measurement made by the civil engineer of the State. 

 This was done the next day and the track was found to be 

 something over a mile, as the certificate showed. 



A great twenty-mile race took place over the Union 

 Course at Long Island, and was won by Black Maria, who 

 defeated Trifle, Lady Relief and Slim; the lormer was by 

 Eclipse and the latter by Sir Charles' Relief, also by Eclipse. 

 The great Slim, by Flying Childers, was also in the 

 race, and it was a battle royal. Trifle was made the favor- 

 ite. Black Maria's chances were thought lightly of, and she 

 had few admirers. It was a struggle between the North and 

 South. 



At the post Black Maria stood as motionless as a statue. 

 She was perfectly cool and not in the least excited. It then 

 began to be whispered about that she had a chance. They 

 got off well together. Lady Relief taking the lead, with Slim 

 close up. Trifle was next and Black Maria was absolutely 

 last. It was apparent from the start that a waiting race was 

 being run by all the riders, and that the winner was hardly 

 likely to turn up until in the last turn of the heat. 



Black Maria moved up rapidly at the end of the second 

 mile and took the lead, closely pressed by Trifle. Thus it 

 was during the third mile. When about half the distance 

 had been gone over in the fourth mile Trifle moved up and 

 took the lead. She seemed to have it won until the last six- 

 teenth. At this juncture the rider of Black Maria called on 

 her and she responded nobly. Like a flash she shot past 

 the fleet-footed Trifle and passed under the wire a winner. 

 The time was 8:06. 



Trifle was still the favorite when the horses came to the 

 post for the second heat, but the owner of the sable-hued 

 mare bet everything he had on her chances. Lady Relief 

 got off in front, with Slim second, Trifle third and Black 

 Maria last. At the end of the mile Trifle took the lead. Slim 

 quit in the third circuit and refused to run any further. By 

 this time Black Maria had moved up from the rear and took 

 the lead. At the last turn the boy on Black Maria turned to 

 look back to see where Trifle was, and the latter, close be- 

 hind, the result was a dead heat. But Black Maria was not 



