The excited and over-nervous Frou-Frou lost in the first moment, and several horses started ahead of her, but before reaching the brook Vronsky, who with all his strength was holding back the mare that was tugging at the reins, had easily passed three riders, and ahead of him there was only Makhotin's chestnut Gladiator (whose hind-quarters moved regularly and lightly just in front of him), and in front of all, the exquisite Diana, carrying Kusovlev, who was more dead than alive.
Para los simples espectadores, todos los caballos corrían a la vez, mas los expertos apreciaban diferencias de segundos que tenían gran importancia para ellos. «Fru–Fru», nerviosa y demasiado excitada, se retrasó en el primer momento y algunos caballos partieron antes que ella.