556 THE HORSE. 



ranked with the greatest on the turf. Of these, Joe Elliott 

 is the first. On the 16th of November, 1870, this six-year old, 

 driven by John Murphy, and carrying over track weight, trotted 

 a mile at Prospect Park in 2m. 18 s. On the same day, Poca- 

 hontas, driven by Dan Mace, and carrying full track weight, 

 trotted a mile in 2m. 19s. Pocahontas had, a few weeks pre- 

 viously trotted a mile on the Fashion Course, with light weight, in 

 2 m. 18 s. These are the fastest miles ever trotted on Long Island, 

 excepting Dexter's performances. In August, 1870, Dexter 

 trotted half a mile at Fleetwood Park to a road wagon in 1 m. 6 s., 

 which is several seconds faster than any other horse ever trotted 

 even to a skeleton wagon. The fine horses, George Palmer and 

 American Girl, have greatly distinguished themselves in races 

 during the past year. In one race to wagon in which they were 

 the contestants, very fast time was made. George Palmer won 

 the race in four heats. The first was in 2m. 25 $ s. The second 

 was in 2m. 24$ s., and in this heat the mare, American Girl, was 

 only a length behind the winner. This is not, as has been stated, 

 the fastest time to wagon on record; but it beats the 2m. 25s. 

 of Flora Temple and George Wilkes. The best time on record to 

 wagon, is 2m. 24s. This time was made by Dexter in a race 

 with Lady Thorn on the Fashion Course, and was afterwards made 

 by Lady Thorn herself on the same course. But Dexter has 

 trotted much faster than this to wagon. In a public trial at 

 Prospect Park, the same course on which George Palmer trotted 

 in 2 m. 24 s., Dexter trotted a mile to a road wagon in 2m. 21 f s. 

 He drew on this occasion 319 pounds. As this feat, however, 

 was not accomplished in a race it is not upon the record. The 

 most recent addition to the ranks of the fleetest horses on the 

 trotting turf, is Gazelle, a mare by Hambletonian, dam the Clay 

 mare Hattie Wood. Gazelle has never yet trotted in a public 

 race or at a public trial, yet her speed is well known, and it is an- 

 nounced that she has been sold by the owner of Stony Ford, by 

 whom she was bred, for $25,000. We are well acquainted with 

 this mare, having picked her out from a field of colts as a good 

 one when she was a yearling filly. We have no doubt but that 

 if she lives to make a public exhibition she will surprise the world 

 by her speed. J. E. 



New York, January 1871. 



