The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-04-07
Race with a Bull.

Some forty years ago the managers of a
race course near Brownsville, ON the Monon-
gahela, published notlce OF race, one mile
heats, on particular day, ior purse OF SluO
free Tor anything with 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 deter
mined to enter him 1or the race. He said
nothing about it to any one; but he rode him
around the track number of times, oD sew
eral moonlight nights, until the bull had the
hang of the ground pretty we'll, and would
keep tie right course. He rode with spurs,
which the bull considered particularly dis
agreeable, so much so that he always below
ed when they were applied to his sides.
On the morning of the race Hays came
upon the ground ION horse -bacR-on his
bull. Instead of a saddle, he had dried OK
hide, the head part OF which, with the horns
still on, he had placed on the bulls rump.-
He rode 10 the Judges stand, and offered to
enter his bull for the race; but the owners OF
the horses that were entered objected. Hays
appealed to the terms of notice; insisting
that his bull had -four legs and hair on, and
that therefore he had right TO enter him.
Aftera good deal OF 'cussin' and 'hissin,' the
Judges declared themselves compelled to de.
eide that the bull had the right to run; and
was entered accordingly.
When the time for starting arrived, the
bull and the horses took their places. The
horse-race were out of hurnor at beinns
bothered with tie bull, and at the burlesqu(
which they supposed was intended, bu
thought it would be all over as soon as thu
horses started When the signal was giver
they did start. Hays gave blast with hil
horn and sunk his spurs into the sides OF th'
bull who bounded off with terrible bawl
at no triaing speed, the dried ox-hide flap
ping up and down, and rattling at every
Jump, making combination OF noises tina
had never been heard on race course before
The horses all flew the track, every one seem
ing to be seized with a sudden determination
to take the shortest cut to get out OF the Red
stone country, and not one Of them could b
brought back in time to save their distance
The purse was given to Hays under grea
deal OF hard swearing on the part oil tn
owners of the horses.
A general row ensued; but the fun of th'
thing put the crowd all on the side of th,
bull. The horsemen contended they wer
swindled out of their purse, and that if j
had not been for Hays horn and ox-hide
which he ought not TO have been permitted
to bring upon the ground the thing woult
not have turned out as it did. Upon thi
Hays told them that his bull could beat an,
of their horses any how, and if they woulI
put upa hundred dollars against the purs
he had won, he would take off the ox-hide
and leave bis tin horn, and run fair rae
with them. His offer was accepted and th
mon y ssaked.
They again took their places at the startinf
post and the signal was given. Hays gav'
the bull another touch with his spur, and tho
bull gave a tremendous below. The horse
remembering the dreadful sound, thought al
the rest was coming as before. Away the,
went again in spite Of all the exertions q
their riders while Hays galloped his bul
around the track and won the money.