AND OTHER SKETCHES 125 



and Mohawk was just then thought by his owner, John 

 Forbes, to be good enough to run against any man's 

 horse. Old Nettie was looked upon as out of the count, 

 a good mare though she had proved herself in a score 

 of hard fought fights ; she was considered outclassed and 

 the most enthusiastic backer of the White stable couldn't 

 pluck up nerve enough to do more than take one or at 

 most a couple of the three-dollar snaps. The day of the 

 race was as fine as one could wish for, and a large crowd 

 of people gathered to witness the sport. Prior to the 

 start of the big race, which was a dash of two miles, pool- 

 selling was continued with great vim, the Quimby com- 

 bination sticking to Belle and the Forbes contingent pil- 

 ing it upon Mohawk. 



As the horses cantered past the judges' stand in a pre- 

 liminary pipe opener, neither of the two favorites filled 

 the eye equal to the daughter of Kennet. Leary had 

 eased her up for a week or so after her early summer 

 campaign, and certainly she looked and acted fit to run 

 for a man's life. With the sheen of satin on her coat 

 and an eye bright as a hawk, many a one familiar with 

 the gameness of the pride of Halton regretted they had 

 not taken a few of the cheap ones that had all along been 

 going a-begging. The veteran Leary was in the saddle, 

 and his old head was worth seven pounds any day against 

 boys, especially in a two-mile dash. There was very little 

 time wasted on the start. At the second attempt the flag 

 was lowered with the favorite on the lead, Mohawk in 

 second position and the Canadian trailing three lengths 

 behind. To the half mile these positions were unchanged, 

 then Mohawk moved up a little closer, the jocks on both 

 the leaders watching each other with jealous eye, appar- 

 ently caring nothing for the trailer on their path. 



Past the judges' stand on the first mile Mahone had a 

 length to the good, Mohawk following, and Nettie still 

 three lengths behind ; round the quarter Mohawk respond- 

 ed to a call and closed upon the leader ; a sharp skirmish 

 took place to the half mile, resulting in the mare still 

 having a half length the best of the argument. But now 



