Year: 1872

The race between Longfellow and
| Harry Bassett was the finest ever wit
messed in America. The tables were
completely turned, and the time was
unprecedented, at least on this side of
the Atlantic. The pools sold at three
to one on Longfellow. After an un-
important contest, the bugle sounded
for the Saratoga cup. The runners
were Longfellow, Harry Bassett and
Defender. Harry Bassettwas the first
to show, and as he entered slowly by
the stand, the occupants greeted him
with loud cheer. The horse was in
grand order, and not the most fastidi-
Gus connoisseur in horse flesh could
find a fault with him. He moved
along with more life and vim than he
seemed to have at Long Branch. Al
though Harry Bassett was warmly
greeted, it was nothing to the reeep-
tion that was accorded Longfellow.
As he swept by the stand q ringing
cheer burst forth from the male spec
tators. At length the prelininaries
were arranged, and the horses took
their positions at the head of the
stretch. They were started at once,
and came flying down the stretch
Harry Bassett was length in front of
Longfellow as they passed the stand,
both horses going we'll within them
selves. but the pace was terrific, and
Defender soon dropped away to the
rear. Going round the turn Longfel-
low closed upon Harry, and as they
ran by the quarter pole his head was
at his opponents girths. Down the
back stretch they flew in the same po-
sitions, Harry Bassctt having the in
side track and as neither horse show
ed any signs of quitting, the excite
ment became fearful. Men screamed
with delight, and when the horses
came up the stretch side by side the
stand was simply mass of crazy peo-
pie. Some of those who had invested
on Longfellow grew white with anxiety,
for they never expected to see Harry
Bassett hold his own so long; while
those who were supporting the latter
were correspondingly clated. At the
stand Longfellow crept up to Bassett's $
shoulder, but after going round the
turn he suddenly faltered, and in an
instant Harry Basset was length
ahead. This made the friends of the
latter delirious with joy. Longfcllow
then made another grand squirt, and as
| they passed the half-mile pole he got
his head up to Bassett's neck; but,
though apparently making gamey
race, it was evident that Harry Bas-
-sett had the best of it. He gradually
drew away again and came into the
stretch nearly length in front. But
Longfcllow was not done with him,
and, responding gamely to the call Of
his jockey, he made last grand effort
to catch his opponent 1t was like
the charge of Napolen's Old Guard at
Waterloo-a magnificent, but futile
attempt to change the fortunes of the
day; for Harry Bassett swept along
with undiminished spead, and won the
tbest and fastest race ever run in Ame4


lea, by half length, in 1850. Those
who pinned their faith on Longfellow
could hardly believe their eyes; but
when their horse was pulled up it was
seen that he was dead lame. He had
twisted the shoe on his near foot du


ring the race, and it was hanging to
his hoof by single nail And this
was not the worst, for the shoe had
struck against his hind leg, cutting il
badly. No more extraordinary per-
formancc by race horse has ever been
witnessed. His jockey says that he
met with the accident just before
reaching the quarter pole on the last
mile, so that he literally raced three
quarters of a mile with one of the best
horses in the world on three legs
This was what caused him to falter,
and the only wonder is that he was not
beaten much further.