The Cecil Whig., 1850-07-13
Sham Hays and his Bully Race.
BY A NEW OHIO CORRESPONDENT.

Some forty years ago, the managers of
q race course near Brownsville, on the
Monongahela-pubished notice Of race,
one mile heats, on particular day, for
purse OF one hundred dollars, Stree for any
tlins vith four legs and hair on !''
A man in the neighborhood, named
Hays, had bull that he was in the habit
Of riding to mill, with his bag OF corn, and
he determined TO enter him for the race.
He said nothing about it to any one, but he
rode him around the track number Of
times on several moonlight nights, until
the bull had the hang of the ground pretty
well, and would keep the right COURSE
He rode with spurs, which the bull con-
sidered particularly dsagreeable; SO much
90, that he always beloved loudly when
they were applied to his sides.
On the morning Of the race, Hays came
upon the ground son horseback on his
bull. Instead Of saddle, he had a dried
ox.h,de, the head part OF which with horns
still on, he had placed on the BULBS rump.
He carried short TN horn in hand.
He rode to the judges stand and offered
10 enter his bull Tor the race, but the OWL
srs OF the horses that were entered objec-
ted. Hays appealed to the terms OF the
notice, insisting that his bull had ''iour
legs and hair on" and that therefore he
had right to enter HIM. After good
deal of 'cussln' and 'discussin' the Judges
declared themselves compelled to decide
that the bull had the right to run.
When the time for starting arrived, the
horses took their places. I he horce-Ia-
GERS were out OF humor at being bothered
with the bull, and at the burlrsque which
they supposed was intended, but thought
that all would be over as soon as the horses
started. When the signal was given, they
did start. Hays give blast with his horn
and sunk his spurs into the bulls sides,
who bounded off with terrible bawl, at
no triAing speed, the dried ox-hide flap
ping up and down, and rafting at every
jump, making combination OF noises that
had never been heard on race-course be-
fore. The horses all flew the track, every
one seeming to be seized with sudden
determination to take the shortest cut TO
get out of the Red stone country, and not
one of them could be brought back IN time
to save their distance. The purse was
given to Hays, under great deal of hard
swearing on the part OF the owners Of the
horses.
A general row ensued, but the fun OF
the thing put the crowd all on the side Of
the bull. The horsemen contended that
they were swindled out OF the purse, and
that il it had not been for Hays horn and
the ox-hide, which he ought not TO have
been permitted to bring on the ground,
the thing would not have turned out as it
did.
Upon this, Hays told them that his bull
could beat any ofthelr horses any how,
and il they would pu, up hundred dol
lars agalnlt the purse which he had won,
he would take off the ox-hlde, leave his
tin horn, and run a fair race with them.
They again took their places at the START
ing post, and the signal was given. Hays
gave the bull another touch with his spur,
and the bull gave another tremendous bel
low.-The horses remembered the horri-
bic sound, and thought all the rest was
coming as before. Away they went again,
in spite OF all the exe,tions OF their riders,
while Hays galloped his bull around the
track again and won the money. From
that time they nick-named him Sham
Hays. He afterwards removed 10 OHIO
but his nick name stuck to hum as long al
he lived. ISpirit Of the Times.