Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-28
AN OLD TIME HORSE RACE.

ateN Gays once ~ frAlrle Qu Cneln, and there
witnessed horse race, which will perhaps re-
mind some Of the old settlers Of Dubuque of
similar occurrences here. We were travelling
In those days with an eccentric companion who
although Methodist ministers son. was con-
siderable OF "horse man." and knew the
points of an animal as well as any other man
He dearly loved q race, and would stake his
money any day upon the result even to the last
cent In his pocket.
We might as well call him Jenks as that is
eognomen endeared to us all and will answer
as we'll as another. He is now q shining light
in the ministry, so you see it would not do to
"blow" on him under bis true colors.
The race track was a strip Of level sandy
road, leading northward from the city, and wss
very good ground for the purpose. The stakes
TO be run for was a catch purse of FIVE dollars
free for everybody and everything. 1t was a
fine sunny afternoon, and the circumstances
seemed to bid fair for sport. The ground
around the judges post was crowded with q
mixed crew of half Indians, French
Canadians, backWoodsmen, and an addition of
Indian ponies, boys and squaws, to make the
group complete.
Two very decent nags were being walked
over the course by their riders, preparatory to
the contest, .wh ich was soon to take place.
One was bay horse, blind of an eye, who gave
promise Of doing some very respectable work,
while the other, neat little mare, appeared to
possess wind and bottom enough to have made
II was agreed there should be Eve heats, the
best three in Ave to win the purse. Aside from
the purse. bets multiplied rapidly among the
bystsnders, the wagers ranging from drinks
up to ten, twenty, and sometimes fifty dollars
aside. Odds were given on the horse, who
seemed to be favorIte.
When the time for starting had arrived, both
horses were up to the scratch, and eager for
the word. The jockeys, two half breed boys,
were stripped tO their boots and pants, and
were without exception, the best riders we ever
saw.
0An ready?''
AYE, aye"
''One, two, three, and away you CO."
At the word three they both bounded away
as if they had bean shot out Of a cannon.
"Here they come Get out Of the way
Clear the track The mares ahead! Good
on her. Stand back and give the mare
chance, or I'll bust your head Three cheers
for the mare, Hurraw! Five to one on the
mare Amt she a doin' on it beautiful
Yip." said the mares parts ans, while on the
other side the hackers Of the horse had not as
yet lost confidence in their fsyorite as might
be seen.
''The hoss amt be-ginnin' to try his best
lieks," said they. ''He's Jest throwin' of on
her for bigger bets. He can give her the two
FIRST heats, and then win. But, by golly, see
how the dodrotted critters a-craHlin' up on
her. swan to q man they are neck and neck
Hurrsw for hurraH. Where's the man that's
bettin' Eve to one on the mar? I'd like to
take few Of them thar bets"
In less time than is consumed in detailing
the above exclamatiOns, the first heak was over,
being won by the little msre, who came cut q
neck ahead. Excitement ragged furious.
There were three fights in i've minutes,
besides sundry other SQUAD bles occurring among
the niggers, Indians, and Frenchmeu. The
horses were slowly led back TO the starting
post, and allowed to rest for few minutes.
A squaw, with about three sheets In the
wind, as the phrase goes, forced her acquaint-
snceship upon as, and insisted on betting the
whiskey with Us on the mare. We endeayored
to excuse ourself from the honor, but it was no
20: We must bet. So We backed the horse to
the amount Of a couple Of snifters, to get rid of
her, in which We succeeded admirably, for the
horse beat, and the aborigi ness kept out of
sight the remainder Of the afternoon, for fear
she should have to pay Us the wager.
The horse did much better At the second
heat, having fairly distanced the mare, though
that Wss probably to a certain degree attribu-
table to q cOllusion between the jockeys and
ssme Of the knowing ones. A general season
Of fighting again took place, as every loser
though himself cheated, and perhaps was not
far from right.
At about this time an individual Of somewhat
verdant aspect who was sitting sstride defect
ed gray horse covered with gals and harness
marks, took occasion to deride the race in no
measured terms. He, however, directed his
most dispsraging remarks towards the horse,
whom he designated as ''cussed old one-eyed
mule, and not wuth q copper darn for running"
The owner Of the horse, who was peppery
little Prsnchman, fred up at this, and stewed
ats great rate.
"By gar, yOus have called my chevsl, my
horse, one eoppare darn, and cannot make re
run saere, I will bet i've, ten, cinquante,
oui, fifty dollar, you can't him beat. Here Is
"I never run HOSES In my life, but tain't be-
cause ! Wouldn't like teu But, my friend,
you'd be mighty fooled eff you should see this
ere cid boss gallOp wonst. He's great On gal
lOpin', that old boss ID"
.sN'importel you ave ean my horse rle roi,
one mule yieux ane. Here is fifty dollar in Ie
gold; If you will not cover him you are one
bsggar, IN chifoniers, un pauVre diable, sans
courage"
ar don't keer much foryer ffty dollars, and
W0uldn't be the chap to squawk ef should
lose twicetas much but I'llbe dog squiZzled eff
don't thiRk my old hoss can beat your'n the
best day he ever seed 50 here, you little frog
spawn you, here's the rhinO for to cover that
pile Of your'n."
Saying this be drew out q buckskin purse,
and counted out five golden eagles, then
coming up 10 rs he said
Stranger, want soms honest man to hold
stakes and pay EN- over to the man what wins
the next hsst."
We looked Up to his face, and beheld dis
gzissa By an old greasy wool hat, the familiar
phiE Of our travelling companion jerks. Our
th-csncsalsd astonishment received warning by
. quick look Of intelligence from him.
Nov, understand me, stranger" said he |;
"ef beat Johnny Grapes one-eyed hoss the
next heat the money Q mine; If not 1t Is hizren.
II that the talk, Frongray?''
''Yes, O'sstil."
.Pnps somebody else would like to lose
Eve or % to see this ere race come of. might
as well clean out the crowd while I 10 about
it."
>One or two more bets of ten and twenty dol
lars were got, and the money placed in our
hands, making in all some two hundred dollars
in our possession. We rolled IL mp In q silk
handkerchief for safe keeping, and held u IN
our hands. Jsnks and his horse were IS
rough pair Of customers as you would meet in
syssr, especially the horse, who stood alone In