12 



setting like a stream in one direction, with here and there a counteract- 

 ing eddy, interrupting its progress for awhile, but soon recovering itself, 

 moving on steadily and unitedly as before. The road becomes more 

 thronged, and thicker crowds, stirred by one interest, animated by one 

 absorbing passion, press more eagerly forward as they approach the gates. 

 Race horses, shrouded in all the covering of hood and body-clothes, 

 are led on the ground by their faithful grooms, and followed by their 

 riders. Jockey stands, filled to overflowing with spectators, in their holi- 

 day finery, gazing on the passing scene, with eager, happy, and expect- 

 ant faces ; whilst on both sides of the roped arena, in the vicinity of the 

 starting post, are huddled together carriages, in tiers, three or four deep, 

 with the horses taken off, in the best positions to see the race, packed as 

 closely together, as Sam Slick would say, an pins in a paper. The 

 horses, which have been entered for the coming event, paraded in the en- 

 closure by the starting post, display, in their elastic step, the attributes of 

 racers. Then follows the usual preparations : weighing the riders; the 

 unbuckling of straps and surcingles; blankets scientifically, with a sort 

 of sleight of hand, turned off over the loins and croup of the animals, so 

 as not to disarrange a hair of their glossy coat, exhibiting them in the 

 pride of the highest condition ; rubbing down and saddling the horses ; 

 the expression of opinion in favor of one horse, and of doubts on the 

 others ; the mounting of the jockies ; the anxiety on the part of the 

 grooms to get a favorable start ; the hum of anxiety as the word is given 

 " to go" — and they are off; the diversified colors of the riders — purple, 

 pink, green, scarlet — resembling mosaic work, as they unfold their hues, 

 and blazon, rainbow-like, in the sun ; the excitement of the populace as 

 the coursers change places in the race, the interest increasing with every 

 fresh struggle, till towards the close of the contest, the straining steeds 

 enter the last quarter stretch, urged to their utmost speed and exertion, 

 whips and spurs doing their work, and they near the distance post ; the 

 ground resounds beneath their rapid strides, 



" Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum ; " 



the noise of their hoofs increases ; the breathless moment of suspense is 

 at hand ; they are all together ; it is any one's race ; the earth trembles ; 

 they come ; they fly by ; they pass the post ; the welkin rings with the 

 delighted shouts of thousands, and all is over ! 



Instantly, on all sides, " around and about," there is a sea of human 

 beings moving to and fro : some on horseback, or in vehicles, hurrying 

 from point to point ; some on foot, vociferous, swaying hither and thither ; 

 all animation and anxiety for a while before the race, then breathless, 



