100 EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 



know some horses always have their speed, but she was not one 

 of that kind, her speed came with her work, and she had to be 

 properly conditioned before she was at an edge. I did not 

 pay any attention to trials with her, just simply gave her the 

 proper work and care, and when the race came she was ready 

 to do her part and give you a good race for the money. This 

 proved to be the case in her first race in the spring of 1887, 

 which took place at Hartford, Conn., June 14th. She was en- 

 tered in the 2:19 class, in which was J. B. Thomas, 2:18^, 

 Billy Button, 2:18J, and Libby S., 2:19J. This race was quite in- 

 teresting, as the public had several surprises and disappoint- 

 ments. Libby S. was supposed to be the winner beyond a 

 doubt as she had on May 20th at Belmont Park, Philadelphia, 

 trotted a great race and made a record of 2:19|-. My mare 

 was high in flesh and I did not care to give her a hard race. 

 I guess Turner felt about the same about Button. Libby S. 

 went out and won the first heat in 2:19^. That made her so 

 strong a favorite that the betting came to a stand still. S. W. 

 and I had played a little money on the short end because it 

 was cheap, and I think Turner had done the same, as we said 

 to each other, " We can't lose much and something may hap- 

 pen,'' and there did- in the second heat, for Libby S. threw a 

 shoe and was distanced. Thomas won the heat in 2:20^, and 

 then he was about as big a. favorite as Libby S. had been pre- 

 viously. The Libby S. delegation was trying to get their 

 money back on him. He won the third heat in 2:20|-. In 

 the fourth heat the three horses were well bunched and I was 

 willing on my part that Thomas should win the heat and race, 

 but he tired soon after we rounded into the stretch and 

 Turner moved up and won the heat in 2:23|-. When we came 

 out for the fifth heat I said to the boys, " It is now or never ; 

 I am going to move up and see if I can win a heat." So 

 when we got the word I went right at Button and Turner 

 and they showed fight ; the heat was very exciting, first one 

 showed in front and then the other, but I won by half a 

 length in 2:24|. 



