The Horse 267 



three removes in descent from the immortal 

 Lexington. Light-Foot had the heels — she 

 could leave any of the rest yards behind, but 

 she vfzs not so stout-hearted as the colts. In 

 the beginning everything ran. It was laugh- 

 able to see the big brood mares lumbering 

 prankily forward, looking over the shoulder 

 at their foals. For a little way the brood 

 mares could go with the best, but mother- 

 love hampered them inconveniently. 



One after another dropped out, and went 

 to grazing, until maybe there were but three 

 contenders left. Then came the real pinch. 

 It was marvellous to see the blood things, un- 

 girthed, unreined, unbitted, without whip or 

 spur, lie down to it, stretching till they almost 

 lay flat on earth, eyes flaming, ears laid back, 

 straining nerve and sinew to the uttermost in 

 big greyhound leaps. Sometimes these last 

 contenders went twice about at that heart- 

 breaking pace. Oftener it lasted but through 

 a half-round. If one or the other drew two 

 clear lengths ahead he checked, flung up his 

 head, turned it sidewise, and nickered shrill 

 triumph all across the field. Then he went 

 off at a dainty mincing run, head and tail in 

 air, punctuating his running with little side- 

 wise jumps. The lifted head and tail are 

 enormously characteristic of horseflesh after 

 a quick triumph — so characteristic, in fact. 



