OLD-TIME TROTTEKS. 205 



had ever shown in public. It was afterwards reported that in 

 her preparations for this race she made a trial mile in 2.18. 



The day was a beautiful, balmy one in June, of just the 

 right temperature for pleasure and comfort ; the crowd at the 

 track was immense, perhaps the largest ever before assembled 

 there. 



Highland Maid took the first heat in 2.29, the second in 2.27, 

 and was distanced by Flora in the third heat. 



Flora's next race was a wagon race with this same mare, 

 Highland Maid. It took place on the Centerville course on 

 June 28th. George Spicer drove the Maid, and Hiram "Wood- 

 ruff drove Flora. Hiram was much pleased with Flora that 

 day, as she had already demonstrated her ability to "train on" 

 and become better and better for racing as the season advanced 

 and as she became better seasoned and toughened by much 

 hard work. This great reinsman felt confident, on that June 

 morning, that he was " up " behind one of the best bottomed,, 

 resolute, gamy, and altogether best little mares in the world 

 to rely upon, and, consequently, he determined to force the 

 pace. 



Flora won the first heat in 2.28, thus breaking the previous 

 wagon record of 2.31, and this was considered a most marvel- 

 ous performance at that time. In the second heat of this race 

 Flora broke and lost the heat in 2.32. The third was a dead 

 but very exciting heat in 2.32. Flora also broke in the fourth 

 heat, and lost it in 2.33. The fifth heat was an old-fashioned 

 horse race, being trotted from end to end without a break or 

 skip by either, Flora winning by a neck in 2.31£. In the sixth 

 and deciding heat of this great race Flora had it almost all 

 her own way, winning the heat and the race m 2.35. 



This race did not seem 'to have much effect on Flora, for 

 two days after it she beat Black Douglas easily in 2.32, 2.32, 

 and 2.36. 



After the great wagon race of June 28, 1853, Flora was the 

 acknowledged queen of the trotting turf in that way of going. 



Soon after Flora had defeated Highland Maid and Black 



