148 THE TItOTTINQ-EORSE OF AMERICA. 



and, wlien Dutchman left Rattler in the tweHtli, it was by 

 inclies only. Moreover, there were but two breaks in this 

 race, and each horse made but one in his twelve mUes. 

 That was trotting ; and, though both the horses afterwards 

 acquired more speed, they never exhibited more obstinate 

 game or more thorough bottom than in this race. Eattler 

 was an honest, fast horse, with a great deal of bottom in 

 his light, waspy, wiry make. He was a very long strider ; 

 and, when going his best, it sometimes seemed as though 

 his thin waist would part in the middle. That was the last 

 time of his trotting before he went with Whelan to Eng- 

 land. In that country he beat the Birmingham mare and 

 Glasgow mare, and challenged the world. 



I was within an ace at one time of going over with 

 Dutchman to take up the challenge, but did not do so 

 Whelan says he could have beaten me in England; for 

 Eattler had taken to hearty feeding and gained strength, 

 and much improved in speed. But the truth is, that Dutch- 

 man had shown increased speed, too ; and I had no doubt 

 then, nor have I had any since, about his ability to beat 

 Eattler, if he had gone to England and done well. I think, 

 too, that the strong probability of this will appear to the 

 reader, when we come to review the performances, since 

 unequalled in spite of all our improvement and latter-day 

 advantages, which Dutch A&n afterwards made in my hands. 

 As I have said above, his three-mile time yet stands at the 

 head of the record ; and, though it is often said that it 

 would be very easy to beat it, I think we may reasonably 

 conclude, in view of the failure of Flora Temple and 

 General Butler to do so, that it is not quite so easy as it 

 seems. Besides, I always remark, when this allegation is 

 made, that it would have been easy for Dutchman to do the 

 three miles faster than he did ; and this I shall prove when 

 we come to speak of the time-race. It would, however, be 

 easy for Butler to belt it under saddle. 



