8o EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 



The following year, 188i, I made a trip over East., as 

 usual, and trotted him his first race at Mystic Park, Boston, 

 June 10, where I met Ezra L., 2:21;^, the great horse from the 

 State of Maine, and the bay mare Amelia C, 2:19^. They 

 were entered in the 2:22 class. The roan gelding Ezra L. was 

 very much thought of. There was nothing notable about 

 this race, only it was a good one, as we trotted five heats. 

 Ezra L. won the first heat in 2;26|- ; King Almont the second 

 in 2:25, the third in 2:25 ; Ezra L. winding up the race by 

 winning the fourth and fifth heats in 2:22|- and 2:29. 



The next week, June 17, we met at Providence, R. I. I 

 was anxious to win, and McAloon, the driver of Ezra L. 

 seemed to be willing I should, consequently we put the 

 money on King Almont. There was in the race : Dan Smith, 

 2:21^; Happy Thought, 2:22^ ; Ezra L. and King Almont. 

 Ezra L. went off and won the first and second heats in 2:22^ 

 and 2:22|. King won the next three and race in 2:24;|-, 2:23 

 and 2:24. After the fourth heat there was a good deal of 

 squea:ling and kicking with the public. They complained to 

 the stand that Ezra L. was not being driven to win, and asked 

 for a change of drivers, but the judges could not see it in that 

 light, and let us go on, and I wound it up by winning the 

 ' fifth heat. By this time McAloon and I had got well ac- 

 quainted and had many discussions as to the merits of the 

 two horses. Mac though he had quite a little the best 

 horse, but I was not so sure about it. We talked it over, and 

 as usual in all branches of business, we both wanted to make 

 money, so we practically entered into an agreement that 

 when we trotted at Albany, N. Y., which was to be the next 

 week, June 28th, we would try and make a little sure money 

 for ourselves, as the boys call it. When we met at Island 

 Park, McAloon, the driver of Ezra L. ; Pat Sullivan, the 

 owner of Judge Davis, 2:18|-, who was one of the contending 

 horses, and a very good one he was too, and myself agreed to 

 play Ezra L., as we all thought he was the best horse. Mc- 

 Aloon declared he could drive him three heats better than 



