THE TROT'TING-IIORSE OF AMERICA. 291 



when tlie latter went any thing like his best rate; aad, to 

 satisfy the lookers-on, Doble was compelled to bid good-by 

 to Eoff and the stallion in order to show a fast mile. Por 

 my part, I never liked the system, and have never had any 

 thing to do with it ; but if the people who pay for it, know- 

 ing what it is, are satisfied, I have neither the right nor the 

 inclination to interfere. 



In 1858, Flora did not trot on Long Island at all ; and it 

 is a question whether she trotted at more than one place 

 that year where there was not some kind of dividing ar- 

 rangement made with the horse that appeared with her. 

 The first place at which she came out was the Chestnut-hill 

 Park, Philadelphia. The purse was $1,000, mile heats, 

 three in five, in harness ; the date, June 16 ; and the other 

 horse was Lancet. She won in 2.29, 2.31, 2.35. Before 

 she trotted again, she had been purchased by Mr. William 

 McDonald, a wealthy gentleman of Baltimore, for $8,000. 

 The price of horses was not as great then as it has since 

 become, and Flora Temple was worth all the money he paid 

 for her. The change of ownership made no change in the 

 system of management, as she remained in charge of her 

 former owner, Mr. McMann. On the 22d of June, the Ox- 

 ford-park Course, Philadelphia, gave a purse of $1,200, for 

 which Flora and Lancet appeared. She won in three heats, 

 — 2.31, 2.274^, 2.29f. The two then went to the Central 

 Course, Baltimore, and two races there (if they can be called 

 races) resulted in just the same way. The mare was driven 

 to win every heat ; and this she did with great ease, as Lan- 

 cet was no competitor for her in harness. After the second 

 race at Baltimore, which was on the 8th of July, Flora lay 

 by until October. 



Many people were still under the delusion that Lancet 

 could beat Flora, as the wonderful private time of the geld- 

 ing continued to be talked about. I offered to mdtch her 

 against him for $5,000, provided I could get the mare ; but 



