LIFE WITH THE TEOTTEES. 403 



"being as follows: I was at that time a resident of Philadel- 

 phia and had gone to New York at the request of my friend 

 Sam Keyes (still alive and hearty and as fond as ever of 

 pacers) to arrange if possible for a race between the pacer 

 Magoozler and Dexter, both to go to saddle. Mr. Keyes 

 had told me to make the match for $5,000 if I could, and 

 the reason I was selected to conduct the negotiations look- 

 ing toward the race was because it was intended that I 

 should ride the pacer, and the further fact that I was well 

 acquainted with Hiram Woodruff and somewhat a favorite 

 of his made it natural that I should be sent on the mission. 

 After reaching New York I made my way to the Fashion 

 course on Long Island, it being the day that Dexter was to 

 trot against General Butler and Vanderbilt. When I 

 reached the track I met Mr. Woodruff and almost the first 

 thing he said to me was: "Come over here, my son, and I 

 will show you a horse that is in condition." He referred 

 ■of course to Dexter, and we went together to the gelding's 

 .stall, and I can remember perfectly well with what boyish 

 admiration for the skill of Woodruff I gazed on the hand- 

 some animal as he moved about the box-stall with that lithe, 

 sinuous motion that was peculiarly his own. Having looked 

 the horse over from all po nts I thought it time to 

 broach the subject of my visit, and accordingly said: "I 

 liave a proposition to make to you, Mr. Woodruff," and 

 was going to state the terms when he interrupted me by 

 .saying: "Well, I have got one for you." Of course that 

 stopped my tongue at once and I waited for what was to come 

 next. Said Mr. Woodruff: "Dexter has been sold to go 

 west. I cannot accompany him, and the man to whom he 

 now belongs wants someone that can train, ride and drive 

 him-, and I am going to recommend you for the place." 



I was practically speechless with a mingled feeling of 

 astonishment, pride and gratification when the most famous 

 driver in the world said this to me, but without giving me 

 time to express myself in the matter at all he walked with 

 me from the stables to the track and as we stepped on the 



