XXXIV. 



Flora and Lancet. — The Morgan Horses. — Ethan Allen. — His Breeding 

 — His Produce. — Flora and Ethan Allen. — Flora's Winter-Quarters. — 

 Flora and Rose of Washington. — Want of Condition sure to beat any 

 thing. — Value of a race in Public to produce Condition. 



IT is my belief, that, when Flora Temple distanced Tacony 

 in 2m. 24^s., she had about reached her greatest excel- 

 lence. It is true that ghe trotted faster afterwards upon 

 the same course ; and that race in which she beat Geo. M. 

 Patchen, in three heats, was one of the very best she ever 

 made. But, as I observed in the preceding chapter, she 

 could have gone in 2m. 20s., or thereabouts, in the race with 

 Tacony. She was then eleven years old, thoroughly 

 matured, with a constitution that nothing could surpass, 

 and none of her vigor at all impaired. She was younger at 

 that time in strength and vigor than many colts are at three 

 and four years old. She did not long remain idle ; for a 

 match was made between her and Lancet, for a thousand 

 dollars a side, he to go under saddle and she in harness. 

 The place was the Centreville Course ; the day, the 30th of 

 September. 



It was made rain or shine ; and the backers of the gelding 

 found to their huge delight, when they got up in the morn- 

 ing, that it blew great guns and rained hard. This was 

 very disadvantageous for Flora. The south side of Long 

 Island is a very wet place in wet weather. The sea-mist 

 comes up along with the gale and the rain, and sets every 

 thing so much a-drip that it seems as if the island was afloat, 

 md about to shove off ir.to the bay. It was as bad a day 



2S1 



