206 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 



Douglas, she was matched against Taconey, mile heats, three in 

 five in harness, the race to come off on July 14th over the 

 Union course. 



Taconey was a roan gelding bred in Canada ; he already had 

 a trotting record, under the saddle, of 2.25J, consequently this 

 match created much excitement and the betting ran high, and 

 it was about even. Flora had not made so fast time as had 

 Taconey, but her record of 2.28 to wagon was considered as good 

 as 2.25£ under saddle, and, besides, the game and bottom ex- 

 hibited by Flora in her great race of desperate heats with 

 Highland Maid, and then her contest with Black Douglas only 

 two days after, had inspired her friends and admirers with 

 great confidence in her ability. 



On this occasion, however, her opponent won in three 

 straight heats. The first, after a desperate struggle, was won 

 by a neck in 2.28, the second by a> head only in 2.27, and the 

 third by a throatlatch in 2.29. The attendance at the course 

 was large and the spectators were treated to a race affording 

 great excitement. 



Before the day was over these horses were again matched 

 to trot two-mile heats in harness in five days. Flora won the 

 race easily in two heats — 5.51 and 5.01. This was the best 

 two-mile time that had then been made. 



Flora engaged in several other races that season, the last 

 one being on October 15th, when at Philadelphia she tried 

 titles with the Morgan mares, Green Mountain Maid and Lady 

 Yernon, mile heats, three in five in harness, for a purse of 

 $1,000. This Green Mountain Maid was considered one of the 

 greatest opponents Flora had ever before met. She had 

 already beaten several of the best trotters then on the Ameri- 

 can turf ; but the race resulted in a victory for Flora, winning 

 easily in three straight heats in 2.33, 2.33£, and 2.33£. 



Flora trotted, altogether, twenty-one races in 1853, winning 

 seventeen of them. She also beat all the horses that beat her, • 

 and beat them more times than they defeated her. In 1854 

 she was purchased by D. L. Pettee of New York city, and who 



