50 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



parison to this. Here for nearly two hours there 

 was no abatement in the strain. I was uncon- 

 scious of everything else, and found, when the 

 race was concluded, that the sun had actually 

 blistered my cheek without my perceiving it. 

 The victors were, of course, exultant, and Purdy 

 mounted on Eclipse, was led up to the judges' 

 stand, the band playing, 'See the Conquering 

 Hero Comes. ' The Southerners bore their losses 

 like gentlemen, and with a good grace. It was 

 suggested that the comparative chances of Adams 

 and Jackson at the approaching presidential elec- 

 tion should be tested by a vote of that gathering. 

 ' Ah, ' said Mr. Randolph, ' if the question of the 

 Presidency could be settled by this assembly, 

 there would be no opposition: Mr. Purdy would 

 go to the White House by acclamation. ' " 



The first heat was run in 7.37|^, the second in 

 7.49, and the third in 8.24. Not very fast time 

 considering what has been done since; and con- 

 temptible according to the pretensions made by 

 race-horse owners of the present day, when " four- 

 mile heats" are obsolete because they interfere 

 with the business of the sport, and do not give the 



