146 STORIES ABOUT HORSES.

breed and some of those of the best English
blood, in the year 1825. The distance was
forty-seven miles. A number of the best horses
from the Don, the Black Sea, and Ural, were
brought to compete with English racers. Many
trials were made of their powers, and the
fleetest and most enduring horses were selected.
‘There were two Cossack horses, which were
tried against two racers, named Sharper and
Mina. When they started, the Cossacks took
the lead, followed by the English horses, at
about two or three lengths’ distance. Before
they were halt a mile off, one of the stirrup-
leathers of Sharper broke, which startled him,
and he ran away with his rider, followed by
Mina; and it was not until they had gone more
than half a mile up a steep hill, that they could
be checked. ‘They accomplished half the dis-
tance in an hour and four minutes, Sharper and
Mina being then quite fresh; but only one of
the Cossacks was up. They were returning m
good style, when Mina fell lame, and discon-