Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-12-30
RACING EXTRAORDINARY.

Cleveland, when the bloods we're trying
their blond in the shape of fast horses,
the following ludicrous incident occur.
red, as told by looker-on, in the Plain
dealer of that city:
"To-day one of the most laughable
affairs occurred that | have ever witness.
ed. The horse.ring which has been
open during the afternoon for the use OF
such gentlemen as might wish to prac'
tice their horses, contained some six or
seven fine horses, splendidly caparison-
ed, and attached 10 light suIkies, which
had grown so excited by the sport that
the whole affair had become merged in.
to spirited race. The contest was
strong, and every horse was urged 10
his ulmos, speed. A vast crowd had
collected for the purpose of enjoying
the sport, and loud shouts attesteJ their
appreciation OF the favorite horses.
Just about the height of the race, the
rope that protected the entrance to the
ring was lowered, and one of the ugli.
est specimens of the horse kind | had
ever seen, entered. He was of dun
color; one sided, loosely built, ring.bo.
ned and spawned. His driver, an old
man with short grey beard, was cloth
ed in rusty suit of grey, with seal
skin cap, and was seated in an old un.
painted sulky, with bundle of straw
beneath the seat, from which an old rus
,y umbrella prolruded.
At his very entrance lie was greeted
with shouts from the crowd, Of stake
him out !" "move him!" "wo haw!'
and other derisive shouts, that showed
him as setting out under the most unfa'
yorabe circumstances. ........ .
Almost at the start he had been over
taken by the finer horses, who had been
the popular farori,es, and as they came
up to the old dun, the leaders of the
race called out TO the driver to get out
of the way. After few awkward Of:
forts, he did try to do SO, but it was af-
ter manner little expected; for the
old horse shook his ears and began to
strike out at an awful pace, and the
blooded horses began to feel the need
of trying their bottoms. Away they
went, and by the time they came around
o.the. starting t,laes. the old dun was
considerably in advance. The faster he
went the uglier he looked, aud his gait
was so awkward that the crowd roared
with laughter. Away he went, and a
way went the bloo1s in pursuit. The
farther the old dun went tho uglier he
looked, and at every round he was greet
ed with cries of f" Go it old CIaybank! !"
Old Claybank did go it, aud the way he
went was "sin to Crockett" BY the
fifth or sixth round he had just gained
the length of the track on his competi-
tors, and came up in their rear like a
cane,brake on fire. The excitement
was now intense, and the roaring aud
believing of the crowd almost deaten-
lug.
The old dun never minded the crowd
whit, but held himself down TO his
work, and as he came round sgain, he
had passed two of his rivals, aud was
abreast of the third.
"Go it, Old Claybank !" shouted the
spectators, and without whip or a 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 blooded grey
considered by all the best horse, in oil
points, on the ground. AS they reach.
ed the entrance, the two horses were
abreast, anu the grey eyeu MS oppoHtHl
with siding glance as he shamhled
ALONGSIDE of him. he old man now