Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-01
A GOOD STORY.
How Sam Hays and His Ball Beat
the Field at q Horse Race.

Some forty years ago the managers OF a
race course near Brownville, on the Mon
ongahels, in the old Keystone State, pub
lished the notice of race, one mile heats,
on particular day, for purse of 500, free
for anything with four legs and hair on. A
man in the neighborhood, named Hays,
had bull that be was in the habit of riding
to the 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 a number OF
times on several bright nights, and the bull
had the hang of the ground pretty well,
and would keep the right course. He rode
him with spurs, which the bull considered
particularly disagreeable; so much 80 that
be always beloved when they were applied
TO his sides. On the morning of the race,
Hays came upon the ground "oa horse
back on his bull. Instead of saddle he
had dried oxhide, the head part of which,
with the horns still on, he had placed on
his rump. He carried short tin horn in
his hand. He rode up to the judges stand
and offered to enter 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
| to enter him. After q good deal of "cussin"
and discussin', the judges declared them
selves compelled to decide that the bull had
a right 10 run, and he was entered accord
inely. When the time for star ting arrived
| the bull and the horses took their places
the horse.racers were ont of humor at being
bothered with the bull and at the buriesque
which they supposed was intended, but
-l.G ~. he
horses started. The signal was given,
and they did start. Hays gave blast with
| his horn and sank his spurs into the bulls
sides, which bounded with terrible bel
low, at no trifing speed, the dried oxhide
| Hopping up and down, rafting at every
| Jump, making q combination Of noises that
had never been heard on race course
| before.
The horses flew off the track, every one
seemed to be seized with sudden determi-
nation 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 theil
distance. The purse was given to Hays
under q great deal of hard swearing on the
part OF the owners of the horses. A gen
eral row ensued, but the fun of the thing
put the crowd all on the side of the bull
The horsemen commended that they were
swindled ought of the purse, and that If il
had not been for Hays horn and ox-hide
which he out rot TO have been permitted x
bring upon the ground, the thing would 10
have turned out as it did.
Upon this Hays told them that his bull
could beat any of their horses, and if they
would put up 500 ag.inst the purse he hat
won, be would take off bis OK hide and lesv
his horn and run fair race with them. hi
offer was accepted and his money staked
They again took their places at the starting
post, and the signal was given. Hays gav'
his bull another touch with his spurs, an
the bull gave another tremendous below
The horses remembered the horrible sound
and thought ali the rest were coming as be
fore. Away they went again In spite Of tn
exertions of their riders, while Hays gal
Hoped his bull around the track again an
won the money. From that time the
nickDamed him Sham Hays. He afterwsr
removed to Ohio, but his nickname stuc
To him as long IS he lived.