■^86 THE TROTTINQ-nORSE OF AMERICA. 



public. She was seasoned, and fit for tLe exertion of all her 

 powers. Flora was not fit to exert hers. In the nature of 

 things she could not he. But still she was the favorite in 

 the betting, and a capital chance was afforded to win money. 

 It was a hundred to seventy-five on her ; but she acted so in 

 scoring, that Eose was backed at nearly even before we got 

 the word. We got away together in the first heat ; and 

 Flora tried to head me, and take the pole. I was glad to 

 see her rushing off as hard as she could go ; for, in her con- 

 dition, that was just the way for her to lose it. She got 

 half a length ahead of Eose on the turn, and then went all 

 to pieces. That burst had settled her. At the quarter, I 

 led her a length, and, at the half-mile pole, was five or six 

 in front. Eose won it easily in 2m. 30|s. 



The second heat was all one way : Eose won it easily in 

 2.39. Tallman then got in to drive Flora, at the importunitj' 

 of those who had backed her at the long odds. But it made 

 no difference who drove her : the evil was not in the driving, 

 but in the want of condition in the mare. She trotted a 

 quarter with Eose in the third heat pretty well, and then 

 broke up, and disappeared from my view. I beat her about 

 fifty yards in 2m. 37 Js. It is almost unnecessary to say that 

 it was not Flora Temple who was beaten that day by Eose 

 of Washington. Flora, coming from Lloyd's hands after 

 one of her usual winterings, could commonly trot with a 

 short preparation — but she wanted some preparation. 

 And there remained the fact that she had been at Holmdell 

 not merely in the winter-season, but for above seven months. 

 She was in no condition, and -I knew it. With aU her 

 excellence, she was subject to the same laws of nature as 

 other horses ; and I have never had, or read, or heard of one 

 that want of condition would not beat, if the opponent 

 could only force the pace, and keep it strong. Charges were 

 made by some, that Flora's owner had had her defeated on 

 purpose ; but they were very unjust. His only fault was 

 overweening confidence in his own mare, and an underesti- 



