The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-30

Neticker, better known as the sCalifor-
nia Boy" whose wonderful perform
ances III the saddle have won for him n
wide celebrity. wonld ride fifty miles in
three hours, drew quite fair humber of
ladies and gentlemen to the Hamtranck
lace Course Saturday afternoon, To
enable the young horseman to execute
his arduous undertaking, o dozen feet
California ponies were in waiting near
tue grand stand, thus enabling the rider
to change horses ut the end of each mil,
MIR. Reticker has upwnrd of thirty of
these ponies, all selected tor their speed
and bottom, which he takes with him
wherever he goes; but it was not neces.
sary to bring them all into reouisition
for this race. Four experienced grooms.
who also travel with the horseman. were
In attendance. At precisely 2. 81 O'Clock.
'Chan" stepped briskly from his dress
ing-room in the judges stand, and sig
nailed for the first horse to be brought
up. Reticker is well-built, active. fine.
looking young fellow, and was dressed in
Jockey costume, consisting of blus
shirt, with wide rolling collar and white
cults, white corduroy knce-breeches,
white stockings, etout riding shoes, and
q red, white and blue cap. He is about
twenty-five years of age, and for the last
ten years has almost literally lived in the
saddle. He was for long time in the
employ OF the Adams Express Company
on the Plains, and when but twelve
years OF age, rode pony express from
st. Joseph to Sacramento. The wiry
little pony was brought up, paving and
prancing, and so eager for start that it
seemed rather difficult undertaking for
the rider to mount. With one bound.
however, he was in the Mexican saddle,
and the pony being released, made tre-
men dous spring and was off like rocket.
The little sorrel went flying down the
back stretch and past the half-mile post
IN LOS, when his rider evidently checked
his speed, and he came in under O steady
pull in 2.26. AS Reticker reached the
stand, he leaped from his pony, spranp
into the saddle of the fresh horse which
the grooms brought out, aud was off
again before the spectators got through
applauding. On this and the succeeding
circuits OF the track, he took his time.
coming in in 2.34 aud 233. Resicker
then took q swallow of ice water. and.
mounting his horse, started off at O pace
which indicated fast time. He came in
in 2.12. Mile after milo was accom-
plished by the dashing rider, who exhi
bited no signs of fatigue, aud rode as if
he rather enjoyed ii.
At the conclusion of the sixteenth
mile, Reticker mounted an ugly, vicious
sorrel pony, who admirably answered to
the description Of Mark Twain's cele-
brated bucking horse. Several minutes
were lost in endeavoring to induce the
animal to do anything except stand on
his hind legs, when he suddenly mani.
tested strong disposition to lie down,
and 1.-THE Boy" was compelled to dis
mount and take another steed. On the
seventeenth turn of the track, he made
up for lost time. coming home in 2.O7,
The fastest time Of the race. The frat
twenty miles were made in fifty-fve mi.
nutes, and the twenty-five miles in one
hour and nine minutes. Retioker then
retired to his dressing-room and rested
for nearly ten minutes, when be re-.
mounted and continued his ride. It
was then plainly to be seen that he would
accomplish his feat within tho allotted
time, and have considerable time to
spare. 30 it was decided not to prolong
the race beyond the fortieth mile This
was accomplished in $50, making the
entire distance. including stoppages and
changes. in one hour and ffty-six mi
nutes. AS this left him one hour and
four minutes in which to ride the re-.
naming ten miles, the spectators an
nounced themselves as satisfied, and the
race was ended. Reticker was as fresh
as the gentle daisy after summer shower
when he got through, and did not expe-
rience the slightest fatigue.
He then retired to his dressing. room, =,
and, after few moments. reappeared as
gushing blonde in an aggravated
Dolly Warden" resembling a small
flower garden. Mounting fresh horse,
equipped with side-saddle, he started
around the track, his beautiful blonde
tresses flying in the breeze, and resem-
bling the taii OF Mr.. Plan.amour's comet.
When half way around the track, off
came the dolly Warden" and the blonde
wig. then the saddle, and "the boy" ur-
rayed in the everyday costume of a
Brule Sioux warrior, came dashing down
the home stretch on his bare backed
steed. AS he passed the grand stand he
threw of the horses bride, and accom-
plished the wonderful feat of riding an.
other mile without saddle or bride. Re.
ticker then donned another full Indian
costume-not the postume of full In
dian-and mounting his pet pony, o
hoQnf f,I nd ol,o HI a.