XLIV. 



Oextet'S Three-Mile Heats — Match with Stonewall Jackson of Hartford 



Descnption of Stonewall. — Dexter and Gen. Butler. — Dexter and 

 Lady Thorn. — Description of Lady Thorn. — The Three-Mile-Heat 

 Race under Saddle. — Dexter and Gen. Butler under Saddle. — Dexter, 

 Butler, and George Wilkes. — Dexter against Time, to beat 2m. 19s. 



AFTER the trial I described in the last chapter, I was 

 pretty well convinced that this young horse, Dexter, 

 was as good a one as had ever come into my hands. Here 

 was a young horse that had never had a quart of oats until 

 he was more than four years old. In his first season, and 

 with very little handling, — for it is to he remembered that 

 he was turned out from June to October, -^ he had trotted 

 a trial ia 2m. 23js., and had finished in masterly style. 

 My opinion of him was so high, that during the winter I 

 matched him to go three-mile heats against a horse that 

 had great fame just then, and was thought by many to be 

 invincible for a long distance. This horse was StonewaU 

 Jackson of Hartford, who had beat Shark with great ease 

 after the race in which Dexter hit himself. After I made 

 this match, some of my friends thought I had been im- 

 prudent and overweeningly confident. The Hartford par- 

 ty, who had the other horse, certainly thought so too. It 

 was to trot a race of three-mile heats, to go as they pleased, 

 on the Fashion Course, June 26, — rain or shine. Tha 

 stake was $2,500 a side, half forfeit. 



When I came to talk to Mr. AUey about it, I found that 

 he was not much in favor of letting Dexter trot. He said 

 that he was but a young horse, was not soasoned, and that 

 he believed three-mile heats might be too long for him 



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