The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-11
THE GREAT Mt,srASa RACE.
The Beauty, srced. viciousncsr. and Mnrvei-
ious Ehdarance of the Ponies.

The drove Of mustangs which Mr. Z. V.
Hand has brought from California will be taken
to Flc twood Park to-day for exercise. " pira-
tory to the remark tie race which they are TO
make 9rainst time IN Tuesday next. Mr.. Hand
cxhi tied the mn. tauEs In their pasture NJ sea-
c ucus, n. j., to his Fri nds ytsterd'y and had
Then riding qualities tested by CiNforni n ana
Mexican riders. there are thirty-six horses IN
the drove. and thirty Of them are entered ter the
race. each u them being expected to run Ten
mills in malt an hour to make the wagered 800
miles In nfteen hours. They are SMALL light
horses, averaging fourteen hands three Inches,
and vcic hing about LCC0 pounds each. All ar
Ahout Ave years 81 arc. Although they have
been broken In and used to some extent upon
their native ranches. they are as wild as so many
bunrsioes Prcttier animals were never seen. In
spite Of the crowns and crosses, poothooks and
letters that their various owners have burned n
their TANKS, and although their shaggy coats are
strangers TO the currycomb aud brush, the nat
urai beauty Of their well proportioned bodies,
muscular aud nnelv-fashicncd legs, and proud
lv-heil heads, i SIN AMP rent. Ihirty-two OF
them have lust been snod for the Il 81 time.
They resented the performance OF the operation
so Justify that some OF them had to be thrown
upon their nncks, others were slung IN midair,
could gather round them, When oil were shod.
Reilly, tue blacksmith OF the SCI lement looked
a. though ne bad been worsted In prize nght,
Ills nose was torn upward. hts shoulder ana
stins skinned, his che Il gashcd and Que arm
terribly bruised. "Thank Godl' said he, when
the thhty-two were shod, they've left me 50 I
can stand up.'
The Caifornians and Mcxicnns one Of whom
Is TO ride the horses during the ID hours of the
race were brought mp among the fiery crca-
lures, aud understand them as they do each
other. Yesterday each rider buced on his
mustang a great cumbrous Mexican saddle,
weighing forty pounds and looking like a leather
cradle, hung his long che ok rope in coil at one
side, donned hrs cruel long. spiked spurs. fitted
a great, cutbed and sharp plated bit In his
horses mouth, ard watched his chance while
the animal reared. and plunged, and srortcd. to
le y upon us back. Once on, the
ranc lmen rode like mad, the animals
stating with series Of frantic le1ps,
then subsiding into steady, rapid galop, tOss-
ing mud and stones behind them, and disap-
returned, painting from exertion and bleeding az
the mouth from the wounds their bits had in
nctcd. y rider threw away his bit and birdie
and trusted to "a halter. After race If ten
minutes, he W = clad TO be rescued from his un-
InIndgcanle siced by another hursenan. VINO
fastened tue end of the ruuaway's halter TO the
pummci OF hs own saddle. and brought the
horse to a sudden stop.
Forty thousand dollars has been wacercd unon
the race, $4,000 against the horses and $1,000 In
their favor. Two wealthy gentlemen, who have
never rcen identified with sporting affairs, and
do not wish to be, have put up the money. Tine
race VIII begin at four O'Clock on Tuesday morn
ing. one man riding all the horses. Some Won
deriul feats have teen reformed upon the
backs OF horses OF the same hrccd us these. A
relay rider, named Jack Powers. In 1850 carried
the mails from Los Angeles in southern 4. L.
fofntt t. =, onterey in Mexico. distance Of 70
miles, over plans deserts, ana mountainous
roads. Ia "a hours lussoing and saddling his
he rode 100 miles Ia less than hours, using IA
horses.