THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 363 



first quarter, wtich was 37s. ; then Dexter got into his stroke 

 and trotted very fast. They were head-and-head at the 

 half-mile, and that quarter was 34Js. We went on neck- 

 and-neck until Butler broke, and I took the lead. The 

 black horse made another break before we entered the 

 stretch. Half-way up I took Dexter in hand, and this 

 enabled Butler to get within a length and a half of him at 

 the score. The time was 2m. 27:^s. 



They now offered ten to one on Dexter, but nobody took 

 it. Butler had two lengths the start of us, and Dexter 

 broke on the turn, and lost three lengths more. The black 

 horse was thus five lengths ahead at the quarter in 37s. 

 Dexter was now settled, and began to overhaul the " Con- 

 traband," just as a custom-house official overhauls a smug- 

 gler — provided he isn't bribed. At the half-mile, Butler's 

 lead was reduced to a length, and on the Flushing turn I 

 passed him : at the head of the stretch I had a slight lead, 

 but in the straight side he came with a line rush, and got 

 even with me ; but he did not pass Dexter, and, being press- 

 ed to his utmost, he broke three or four lengths from the 

 score, and ran over it. In the third heat, I took the word' a 

 couple of lengths behindhand; at the quarter, in 38s., But- 

 ler's lead was only a length. Dexter continued to gain, and 

 trotted this quarter so fast that at the half-mile he was head- 

 and-head with Butler, in Im. 14s. We went as near neck- 

 and-neck as might be till nearly the head of the stretch, 

 where Dexter broke. In turning into the straight side 

 Butler had a strong lead ; but I collected the brown horse, 

 and ho gained so that at the distance Butler's lead was 

 reduced to a length. It was necessary to get this length 

 and a little more to win ; and this was not very easy to do, 

 for Butler was trotting very fast. There was not a better 

 finisher on the trotting-turf than Butler, except Dexter 

 himself; and the struggle was close and fast: but Dexter 

 beat him by a neck and shoulders in 2m. 29s. 



Darius Tallman drove Butler in this race, and drove him 



