Gazette and sentinel., 1860-04-14
PLAQUEMlNE, PARISH OF IBERVILLE. LA, APRIL IA. 1860.
Race with a Bull.

Some forty years ago, the members
of a ace course neal Brownville, on
the Monongahela, published notice Of a
race, II mile heats, on aparticular day,
for Il purse Of 500, free for anything
with four legs and hair on"
\ man i'll the ncighborhoOd named
Hays had a bull that he was in the hab-
it 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 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 considered particularly
diSagrceablc; so much so that he al
ways beloved when they were applied
to his sides.
On the morning Of the race. Havs
came upon the ground on horseback
on his bull. Instead of a saddle, he
had dried an Oxhide, the head part of
which, with the horns still on. he had
placed on the bulls rump. He carried
a short tin horn in his hand. He rode
to the Judges stand and offered to en-
ter his bull for the race; but the owners
of the horses objected. Hays appealed
TO the terms of the notice, insisting that
his bull had -four legs and hair on"
and that therefore he had q right to en-
ter him. After a good deal of swear
ing the judges declared themselves COM
PEELED to decide that the bull had the
right to run, and was entered accord
ingly.
When the time for starting arrived,
the bull and the horses took their pla-
ces. The horse racers were out of hui
NOR at being bothered with the bull,
and at the burlesque which they sup
posed was intended, but thought that it
would be over as soon as the horses
started.
When the signal was given, they did
start. Hays gave q blast with his horn,
and sunk his spurs into the side of the
bull, who bounded off with a terrible
bawl, at no trifing speed, the dried OK
hide tapping up and down, and rafting
at every jump, making a combination Of
noises that had never been heard on a
race course before. The horses all flew
the track, every u seeming to be seiZ-
ed with a sudden determination to take
the shortest cut to get out of the Red
stone country, and non of them could
be brought back in time to save their
distance The purse was given to Hays.
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 if it had not been for Hays
horn and ox-hide which he ought not to
have been permitted to bring upon the
ground, the thing would not have turn
ed out as it did.
Upon this Hays told them that his
bull could beat any of their horses any
how, and if they would put up 500
against the purse he had won he would
take off the ox-hide and leave the tin
horn, and run a fair race with them
His offer was accepted and the money
staked.
They again took their places at the
starting post, and the signal was given.
Hays gave the bull another touch with
his spur, and the bull gave a tremen-
dous hollow. The horses, remembering
the dreadful sound, thought all the rest
vas coming as before. Away they
went again, in spite of all the cxertions
of their riders, while Hays gallopcd his
bull around the track again and won the
money.