Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-21

Some forty years ago the managers Of race
course near Brownsville, on the Monongahela, pub
lisbed notice Of a race, one mile heats, on par
tcular day, for purse Of a hundred dollars, free
for anything with four legs and hair on
man in the neighborhood, named Hays had
bull that he was in the habit Of riding to mill with
his bag of Germ, 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 weI and would keep the right
course. He rode with spurs which the bull CON
sdared particularly dissgreeable, so much so that
he always beloved when they were applied to his
sides.
On the morning of the raee, Hays came upon the
ground on hoFseback-on his bull. Instead OF
saddle he had dried an OK hide 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 tosthe judges stand, and offered TO
enter his bull for the race but the owners OF the
horses that were entered objected. Hays appealed
to the terms of the notice. insisting that his bull mad
"fOur legs, and hair on and that he had right 10
enter him. After q good deal of swearing, the
judges declared themselves compelled to decide that
the bull had the right to run, and was entered &C
cordingly.
When the time for starting arrived, the bull ana
the horses took their places. The horse racers
were out Of humor at being bothered with the Dull
and at the buresque which they supposed was In
tended but thought that it would be over as soon as
the horses started.
When the signal was given. they did start Hays
rave a blast with his horn, and sunk his spurs
into the side of the bull, who bounded OFF with q
terrible baw at trifing speed, the dried ox-hd'
/ flaming I'D and down and rafting at every Jump
making a combination Of noises that never had beer
! heard ON a race course before
The horses all flew the track, every one seeming
/ tn he seized with a sudden determination to taxi
he shortest cut to get out Of the Redstone cOun
try and NOT one of them of them could be brough
back IN time to save their distance. The purse wa
! given to Hays.
A general row now ensued; but the fun Of tn
thing put the crowd all on the side of the bull TIL
horsemen contended they were swindled out Of thei
nurse and that if it had not been for Hays hOr
and ox-hide which he ought not to have been PEI
mitted to bring upon the ground, the thing wOul
not have turned out as it did.
Upon this, Hays told them that his bull could bea
any of their horses anyhow, and if they would pU
up hundred dollars against the purse, he wOul
take off the ox-hide and leave his horn, and run
fair race with them. His offer was accepted an
the money staked.
They again took their places at the starting pos
and the signal was given Hays gave the bull Al
other touch with his spur, and the bull gave tn
mendous below The horses remembering Il
dreadful sound. thought all the rest was comm
as before Away they went again, in spite Of a
the efforts of their riders while Hays galcped h
bull around the track and again won the money.