552 THE HORSE. 



sally regarded with regret; as thousands were thereby deprived 

 of an opportunity of seeing him, and witnessing an exhibition of 

 his wonderful powers. This general feeling of regret shows the 

 strength of the interest in the trotting horse throughout the 

 country, as it exists entirely free from the passion for betting, for 

 no one would bet against Dexter. His superiority had made the 

 purses raised from the admission fees to the various race-courses 

 where he trotted, the principal source of his profit to his owners. 

 The price paid for him was also an evidence of the high value 

 placed upon the trotting horse for pleasure-driving, and induces 

 the hope, that in the popularity of this pastime the horse and the 

 turf may be relieved of the odium which immoral practices have 

 brought upon both. 



During the summer the great fairs held in the interior had 

 attracted most of the best horses and professional horsemen, and 

 the stables and race-courses of Long Island were deserted; but by 

 the end of September most of them had returned to their old 

 quarters, and were in the best condition for the severe work of 

 the fall season. 



On the 30th of September a race took place between Lady 

 Thome, Lucy, and a new horse, Mountain Boy, bred in Orange 

 county. New York, of the Hambletonian stock, and owned by 

 Commodore Vanderbilt. He had recently risen into high favor, 

 and from certain private trials it was assumed that he was more 

 than a match for Lady Thorne. This assumption, however, proved 

 incorrect, as Lady Thome won the race in three successive heats, 

 making a record which has been surpassed but a few times in the 

 whole history of trotting. 



The second race between Lady Thorne and Mountain Boy came 

 off on the 7th of October, and was won by the latter; but the 

 best time made was slower by one and one-half seconds than the 

 time made by Lady Thorne in the previous race. Mountain Boy 

 has since trotted a mile in harness in a public trial, in 2 m. 21 i s. ; 

 but it is still doubtful whether he can draw a wagon, and beat 

 Lady Thorne. 



The races of General Butler, George Wilkes, May Queen, 

 George M. Patchen, Jr., Daisy Burns, Mountain Maid, Ben 

 Franklin, and Empress, which took place in various parts of the 

 country this year, were in the best style of these fine horses. 



On the 10th of October a race took place on the Fashion 

 Course, which is noticeable for the great interest with which it 

 was regarded by breeders. It was projected a year before it took 

 place, and was between colts three years of age, and all by Ham- 

 bletonian. There had been sixteen entries of promising colts 

 scattered all over the country, but on the day of the race only six 

 appeared on the ground. The winner was a full brother of Bru- 



