THE TROTTING-nORSE OF AMEIilCA. lib 



His first trot in 1842 was in May (just when the much 

 talked-of match between Boston and Fashion was pending), 

 and it was over the Beacon Course, two-mile heats in har- 

 ness, against Confidence and Lady Sufiblk. Whelan drove 

 Confidence, Bryan Lady Suffolk, and I Eipton. Confi- 

 dence was the favorite ; but Eipton won in two heats, in 5m. 

 lO^s. and 5m. 12^s. He won these heats very easily, and 

 thus added much to his reputation. 



The following week the great four-mile race between 

 ■ Boston and Fashion came off over the Union Course. It 

 was a regular carnival all over this part of the Island, and 

 immense numbers of people attended. The sportsmen had 

 come from all parts of the country to see this great race 

 between the famous old horse and the Jersey mare. After 

 it was over, and the mare had won, almost all the people 

 proceeded to the CentreviUe Course, to see Lady Suffolk 

 and Eipton trot two-mile heats in harness. At the start, 

 he was the favorite at two to one, but the mare beat him. 

 She won the first heat in 5m. 10s., and the second in 5m. 

 15s., in good style. 



Eipton did not act as well as I could have wished and 

 expected; and I was anxious to give the gray Lady of 

 Suffolk another meeting, that same distance and way of 

 going. In about six weeks or two months, I was afforded 

 the opportunity. It was at the Hunting-park Course, 

 Philadelphia, two-mile heats in harness, and Eipton and 

 Lady Suffolk were the only ones in it. Eipton went away 

 at score, and took the lead. He kept it throughout the 

 two miles, and did the heat in the then unparalleled time 

 of 5m. 7s. The accomplishment of this feat in harness 

 caused a vast amount of interest and excitement among 

 trotting-men. It was like that which sprung up when 

 Flora Temple outdid herself, and morally distanced aU that 

 had gone before by making a mile in harness below 2m. 

 20s. When we started for the second heat, the odds were 

 large on Eipton ; but he met with a mishap, and it was all 



