Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-04-22
SHAM HAYS AND HIS BULL RACE.

race course, near Brownsville, on the Monon.
gahela, published notice of a race, one mile
heats, on particular day, for purse of one
| hundred dollars free for anything with -four
legs and hair on" a man in the neighbor-
hood, 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 fol
the race. He said nothing abont it to any
one; but he rode him around the track a
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 consider
ed particularly disagreeable; so much so that
he always beloved when they were applied
to his sides.
On the morning of the race, Hays came
upon the ground, horseback on his bull
Instead of saddle he had dried OK hide
the head part of which, with the horns still
on, he had placed on the bulls rump. He
carried short tin horn in his hand. He
rode to the judges stand and offered to enter
his bull for the race, but the owners
of the horses which were entered, OBJ
jected. Hays appealed to the terms of the
notice, insisting that his bull had 9 four legs
and hair on, and therefore he had right to
enter him. After a good deal of discussion
the Judges declared themselves compelled to
decide that the bull had the right to run, and
he was entered accordingly.
When the time for starting arrived, the
bull and the horses took their places. The
horse racers were out of humor at being both
cred with the bull, and at the burleSque 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 gave blast with his horn,
and sunk his spurs into the bulls sides, who
bounded off with terrible bawl, at no trifing
speed, the dried ox-hide tapping up and
down, and rafting at every jump, making a
combination of noises which had never before
been heard on race course. The horses all
flew the track, and each one seeming to be
seized with the sudden determination to take
the shortest cut to get out of the Redstone
country, and not one of them could be brought
back III 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
liOIStS' ~ SCucItt row eIiSue(t, out L1e run
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 if it had
not been for Hays horn and the ox-hide which
he ought not to have been allowed to bring
on the ground, the thing would not have
turned out as it did. Upon this Hays told
them that his horse could beat any Of theirs
anyhow, and if they would put up hundred
dollars against the purse he had won, he
would take of the ox-hide and leave his tin
horn and run a fair race with them. They
again took their places at the starting point,
and the signal given. Hays gave the bull
another touch with his spur, and the bull
gave another tremendous below. The hors-
eS remembered the terrible sound, and thought
all the rest were coming as before. Away
they went again in spite of all the exertions
Of their riders, while Hays galloped his bull
around the track again and won the money.
From that time they nicknamed him Sham
Hays. He afterwards removed to Ohio, but
his nickname stuck to him as long as he
lived.