The first heat had been a tough one and had taken its toll on all three horses, but particularly on Lexington, who, in addition to having his shoes removed, had been heavily fed for three or four days following his earlier victory.  “Lexington, soon after the heat, appeared much distressed, as he had evidently been hard driven nearly the whole way…” but the colt recovered well in time for the second heat, which was to be another exciting and controversial contest, with Lexington’s loss being blamed on bad riding by his inexperienced jock, Henry Meichon.

Several days after Lexington’s first and only loss, Ten Broeck wrote Lecomte’s owner, Thomas J. Wells, challenging his colt to a match race for $10,000 a side at four-mile heats over the Metairie Course. When Gen. Wells declined the invitation, Ten Broeck in desperate frustration, wrote the Sprit of the Times with a challenge, aimed at Lecomte, beginning a series of recriminations and accusations, not equaled on the turf before or since.

The dueling correspondence continued between Ten Broeck, Wells and others through the pages of the Spirit until finally, in a letter dated June 3rd, Ten Broeck accepted a challenge to run Lexington against “the fastest time at four miles that has ever been run in America”.  However Lexington was injured and his chance to beat Lecomte’s record 7:26 was not to come until April 2, 1855.

On the appointed day, Lexington appeared at the track around 3:00 p.m. with his two pacemakers Arrow and Joe Blackburn.  Lexington built up so much speed heading toward the start that he left Joe Blackburn behind and many felt he was run much too fast for the first mile, which he completed in 1:47¼.  The second mile was a considerably slower, 1:52¼.  In the third mile, Arrow closed the gap, causing Lexington to pick up the pace slightly and complete the lap in 1:51½.  Lexington ran the fourth mile virtually alone in 1:48¾ to finish the four miles in 7:19¾, beating “time” by 6¼ seconds.

Following Lexington’s victory, Ten Broeck accepted a challenge from Wells for an inside stake (a private bet) to take place on Saturday, April 14.  The week before the race, Lecomte was treated for colic, but never fully recovered, which was quite evident in the race.  Lexington took the lead, and, despite an exceptionally game effort by his weakened rival, easily beat Lecomte in the first heat with a time of 7:23¾ .  Wells, having seen the distress of Lecomte, who was almost distanced in the heat, withdrew him from the second heat and the purse went to Lexington