204 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 



his brother George, the previous spring for $575. This shows 

 that the winning of a great race often adds immensely to the 

 value of a horse for racing purposes. 



In 1853 her first race was with Black Douglas — a young 

 horse of great private reputation — mile heats in harness, best 

 three in five, on the Huntington course, April 28th. The mare 

 was then too fat and soft for racing and lacked the required 

 seasoning ; the result of which was that the horse beat her in 

 three straight heats in 2.35£, 2.30£, and 2.35. This was a great 

 performance for a green horse of that period; but the little 

 mare was forthwith matched to try titles with him again on 

 the 17th of the next month. 



Her next race was on the 4th of May with Lady Brooks, a 

 good mare, and held in such high esteem by her friends and 

 admirers, who boasted so much of her speed and staying quali- 

 ties that 100 to 60 was laid against Flora. This race was 

 trotted on the Centerville course for $1,000 a side. Flora won 

 the race in three straight heats in 2.31J, 2.32, and 2.33J. They 

 were all won with great ease and plenty of speed in reserve. 



Flora was now eight years old. She was sound and of 

 good constitution ; she was a capital feeder, and all the time she 

 was improving. Consequently, on her next meeting with Black 

 Douglas, on the 17th of this month, and when driven by " Old 

 Hiram" himself, Douglas was of no comparative account to 

 her, and she won the race in three straight heats in 2.32|, 2.35, 

 and 2.31J. 



Flora's next<race was with Highland Maid, an exceedingly 

 well-bred mare of her time, being by Sultrum, by Kentucky 

 "Whip, out of a gray Messenger mare, and her dam was also of 

 Messenger blood, consequently she was an in-bred Messenger. 



This race was trotted on the Centerville course, June 15, 

 1853, in harness and to wagons. The owner of the Maid, Mr. 

 Hodine, drove her in this race, and Hiram Woodruff piloted 

 Flora. Much interest was centered upon the race, and much 

 money was staked, as it was said by the knowing ones that 

 Highland Maid was possessed of much greater speed than she 



