58 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



he issued a challenge to run Lexington against 

 Lecompte's time, 7.26, which was the record. 

 This challenge was accepted and the trial was 

 made over the Metarie Course in New Orleans in 

 April, 1855. The most famous jockey of the time, 

 Gil Patrick, was taken from Kentucky to ride 

 Mr. Ten Broeck's horse, and again the sporting 

 world of the country crowded to New Orleans. 

 Lexington beat the record, doing the four miles 

 in 7. 19 J, and Mr. Ten Broeck was $20,000 richer 

 for his belief in his horse. There was at that time, 

 and is now for that matter, a feeling that a record 

 made against time is not so satisfactory as one 

 made in an actual race, so the friends of Lecompte 

 were not cast down by Lexington's performance. 

 This trial against time took place on the 2d of 

 April. On the 24th of April was to be run the 

 Jockey Club Purse of $1000, and both Lecompte 

 and Lexington were entered. Mr, Ten Broeck 

 and General Wells, the owner of Lecompte, bet 

 $2500 against each other, though in the general 

 betting Lexington was the favorite at $100 

 to $80. A writer of the day thus describes 

 the race: 



