Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-11-09
From the Knickerbocker for November.
Race with n RuII.

Some forty years ago the members of a.
racecourse near Brownsville on the Monon-
gahela, published notice of race, enc
mile heats, on particular day, for a purse
of one hundred dollars, "free for anything
with four legs and hair on"
A man in the neighborhood named Hays,
had bull that he was in the habit of rid
ing to mill with his bag of corn, and he de-
termined to enter him for the race. He
said nothing about it to any one, but he
rode him around the track 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
particular dsagreeable, 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 on horseback-on his bull
Instead of 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, aud offered to en-
ter his bull for the race; but the owners of
the horses objected Hays appealed to the
terms of the notice, insisted that his bull
had "four legs and hair on" and that there.
fore he had right to enter him. After a
good deal Of swearing the judges declared
themselves compelled to decide that the
bull had the right to run, and he was en-
tered accordingly.
When the time for starting arrived, the
bull and the horses took their places. The
horse racers were out of humor at being
bothered with the bull, and at the burlesqe
which they supposed 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 blast with his horn, and
sunk his spurs into the side of the bull, who
bounded off with terrible bawl at no tri
fling speed-the dried oxhide tapping uT
and down, and ratting at every jump, ma
king combination of noises that had neve
been heard on a racecourse before. Thc
horses all flew the track, every one seemin!
to be seized with sudden determination T.
take the shortest cut to get out of the Red
stone country, and none Of them could bC
brought back in time to save their distance
The purse was given to Hays.
A general row ensued; but the fun fth
thing put the crowd all on the side of tn,
bull. The horsemen contended that they
were swindled out of the purse; and, if
had not been for Hays horn and oxhide
(which he ought not to have been permitte'
to bring upon the ground, the thing woulC
not have turned out as it did.
Upon this Hays told them that his bul
could beat any of their horses anyhow, anC
if they would put up one hundred dollar
against the purse he had won, he woulC
take off the oxhide and leave the tin horn
and run fair race with them. His offe
was accepted and the money staked. The,
again took their places at the starting posi-
; and the signal was given. Hays gave tn
bull another touch with his spur, and tn
bull gave tremendous below. The hors
es, remembering the dreadful sound, though
all the rest was coming as before. Ava
they went again in spite of all the exertiou
of their riders, while Hays galloped his bu
\ around the track again and won the money