Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-05-04
Atliistellaneous.
Sam Hayes and his Bull Race.

S411 HAY CS aaMO A1AS buAA kHACCs
Some forty years ago, the managers of a
racelcourse, near Brownsville, on the Mo-
nongahela, published notice ola race, one
mile heat, on particular day, for purse
of one hundred dollars, free for anything
with four legs, and the hair on"
A man in the neighborhood named Hayes
had a 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 1t to any one; but be
rode him around the track for number of
times on several moonlight nights, until the
bull had the hang Of the ground pretty well
and would keep in the right course. He
rode with spurs, which the bull considered
particularly disagreeable, so much SO, that
he always beloved loudly when they were
applied to his sides. On the morning OF
tie race, Hayes came npon the ground on
horseback. on his bull Instead of a saddle
he Lad dried OK hide, the head part OF
which, with the horns still on, he had plac-
ed on the BULBS rnmp He carried short
tin horn in his hand He rode to the judg-
es' stand, and offered to enter his bull
for the coming race, bnt the owners Of
the horses that were entered objected
Hayes appealed to the terms of the notice,
insisted that his bull had flour legs and
hair on,' and that, therefore, he had right
to enter him. After good deal Of "cuss-
in and discussin'," the judges declared
themselves compelled to decide that the bull
had the right to run. When the time fol
starting had arrived, tie horses took their
places The horse racers we're out Of hu
NOR at being bothered with the bull, and
at the burlesque which they supposed was
intended; but thought that all would be over
as soon as the horses started. When the
signal vas gisc,l they did start. Hayes
gave blast with bis horn, aid sunk bis
spurs into the bulls sides, who bounded of
with terrible bawl at no triling speed the
dried ox-hide Tapping up and down, and
rafting at every jump, making combina-
ton of noises that had never been heard on
racc-course before. The horses. all Few
The track, every one seeming to be seized with
a sudden determination to take the shortest
cut to get out of the Redstone country, and
not one of them could be brought back in
time to save their distance. The purse was
given to Hayes with great deal of hard
swearing on tie part Of the owners of the
horses A general row cnsued, but the fun
OF the thing put the crowd all on the side OF
the bull The horsemel contended Chat
they were swindled out Of the purse, and
that if it had not been for Hayes horn and
OK hide, which he ought not to have been
permitted to bring on the ground, the thing
would not have turned out as it did. Upon
this, Hayes told them that his bull could
beat any Of their horses anyhow, and if
they'd put hundred dollars against the
horse-wbich he had won, he would take
off the OK hide, his tin horn he'd leave, and
run 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. Hayes gave the
bull another touce with his spur, and the
bull gave another tremendous below =
The horses remembered the terrible sound
and thought all the restl was coming as be-
fore. Away they went again, in spite of
all the exerons Of their riders, while Hayes
galloped his bull around the track again,
and won the money From that time they
nick named him Sham Hayes. He after
wards moved to Ohio, but his nickname ever
stuck to him.