THE TURF AND THE TROTTING HORSE. 551 



Dexter. His best performance made in this way. was nearly a 

 second slower than Dexter's 2 m. 18J s., and the latter's power of 

 endurance was acknowledged by all to be superior. The race 

 excited the greatest interest. It took place on the Fashion Course, 

 on the 21st of June, in the presence of many thousands of people! 

 There was the largest amount of speculation, and conning over of 

 the records of the turf, in order to arrive at a more correct approx- 

 imation of the result; but this was all to no purpose, as the result 

 was entirely unprecedented. Ethan Allen and mate won in three 

 terrific trials, in 2 m. 15 s., 2 m. 16 s., 2 m. 19 s. Dexter's time 

 was 2 m. 17 s.. 2 m. 18 s., 2 m. 21 s. Although beaten, Dexter 

 surpassed himself and all his predecessors on the trotting turf. 

 The advantage of a running mate, great as it was known to be, 

 was not until now fully appreciated. Ethan Allen's best time, 

 single, does not approach the time made in this race by Dexter. 

 Notwithstanding this, the sterling qualities of this grand old horse 

 must not be overlooked or depreciated. As the^ antagonist of 

 Flora Temple and George M. Patchen, as well as of Dexter, he is 

 entitled to rank among the first trotting horses of his time. 



Dexter, after trotting two two-mile races with Lady Thome on 

 the Fashion Course, in the first of which he made his best two- 

 mile time, 4 m 51 s , started on another tour through the country, 

 trotting for purses at the principal cities. 



July 4th, at Middletown, New Jersey, he encountered Ethan 

 Allen and running mate a second time, and with* the same result; 

 the team winning in three successive heats. July 10th, he beat 

 Lady Thorn at Trenton, New Jersey. 



It was now established that there was no horse in the country 

 capable of competing with Dexter on equal terms; and his next 

 three races were with Brown George, assisted by a running mate. 

 But the latter, thus assisted, was not equal to the New England 

 champion ; and Dexter beat him in three successive races, winning 

 each race in three successive heats. The time made by Dexter in 

 the last race, which took place at Boston on the 30th of July, 

 shows the terrible demand upon him in these uneven contests. It 

 was 2 m. 21f s., 2m. 19 s., 2 m. 21J s. 



On the 14th of August he trotted at Buffalo in a race against 

 the time he had just previously made at Boston, 2 m. 19 s. He 

 was allowed three trials, in the second of which he trotted a mile 

 in 2 m. 17J s. This was in harness, and was altogether unex- 

 pected and unprecedented. After this race it was announced that 

 he had been sold to Mr. Robert Bonner ; and that, so soon as his 

 engagements at Chicago were fulfilled, he would pass into that 

 gentleman's hands, and be added to the unequalled collection of 

 famous horses in his private stable. 



The withdrawal of this great horse from the turf was univer- 



