Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-12-07
Miseellanp.
Racing Extraordinary at the Ohio State
Fair.

AS"OAn5 GAtA 6oLUL1dry at C0e On1O 0CaGe
Fair.
On the second day of the Fair at Cleveland
when the buods were trying their blood in the
shape Of fast horses, the following ludicrous
incident occurred, as told by a looker-on, in
the Plaindeaer of that city =
To-day one of the most Iaudable affairs oc-
CURED that have ever witnessed. The horse
ring, which has been open during the afternoon
for the use Of such gentlemen as might wish
10 practice their horses, contained some six OF
seven fine horses elegantly caparisoned and at
tached 10 light sulkles, which had grown so
excited by the sport that the whole affair had
become merged into spirited race. The con-
test was strong, and every horse was urged 10
his utmost speed. vast crowd had collected
for the purpose Of enjoying the sport, and loud
shonts atiested their appreciation of the favorrle
horses.
Just aboU; the height of the race, the rope
that protected the entrance to the ring was
lowered, and one Of the ueiest looking speci-
mems of the horse kind that had ever seen en-
tered. He was one Of dun color one-sided,
loosely built, ring-boned and spawned His
driver an old man with a short grey beard,
was clothed in a rusty suit of grey. with seal
skin cap, and was seated in an old unpained
suky, with a bnndle of straw beneath the
seat, from which an old rusty umbrella pro-
Iruded.
Al his very entrance he was greeted with
shouts from the crowd, Of take him out
move him, wo-haw, and other dersive
shouts that showed him as setting out under
the most unfavorable circumstances.
Almost at the start he had been overtaken
by the iHer horses, who had been the popular
favo!es, aud as they came up 10 the oid dun,
the leaders of the race called out to the driver
to get out of The way. Alter few awkward
efforts, he did try to do so, but il was after
manner little expected for the old horse shook
his ears aud began to strike out an an awf ful
pace, and the bloojed horses began TO feel the
need Of trying their bottoms. Away they
went. and by the time they came round TO the
starting place, the old dun was considerably in
advance. The faster he went the ugller he
looked, and his gait was SO awkward that the
crowd roared with laughter. AWAY he went,
and away went the blOods in pursuit. The
farther the old dun went, the ugIer he looked,
and at every round he was greeted with Go il,
old Claybank.' Old Clay bank did go it, aud
the way he went was sin To croakt rs.' By
the fifth or six round he had Just gained the
length of The track on his competitors and
came up in their rear like canebrake on fire.
The excitement was now intense, and The roar
ing and believing of the crowd almost deaf
ening.
The old dun never minded the crowd whit,
but held himself down 10 his work, and as he
came round again. he had passed Two Of his RI
walls, and was abreast of the third.
Go il. old Claybank,' shouted the specia-
tors, and without whip or word from his
driver, he came up to the scratch. By the
time this round was finished there remained
but one horse ahead of him-a fine bluoded
considered by all the best horse, in all
points, on the ground. As they reached the
entrance, the two horses were abreast, and the
grey eyed his opponent with a siding glance
as he shambled alongside Of him. The old
man now reached down behind him and drew
the umbrella from the sheaf of straw beneath
the seat, and to which it was fastened, and
with great flourish over his head, brought it
down on the hip-bones of the old dun. 1t was
hard to tell which ratified most, the old UNI
brella, or the bones of old Claybank but
from that moment the race was at an end.
The grey was left far behind, and the old dun
come up to the entrance at one of the most
awkward, shambling, and yet swiftest PAGES,
| have ever seen, beating his rival consider
:ble distance, and presenting within himself
the ugliest piece of horse-fesh that has ever
been seen in this section Of country. 1t is
needless to say that old CIaybank was the ia
yorite the balance of the day.