The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-06-01

hiNef-DaTihS EAhinitiohs Oh h0rse-
manship.
L NEw YoRk, May Is. The great mus
tang race of 800 miles in l5 hours, to
be ridden by one rider, using 80 horses,
took place at Fleetwood Park today.
Before the hour fixed for the start there
was a small attendance at the course,
as it was yet quite dark, but fresh ar
rivals constantly came in. The race is
understood to be for very heavy stake.
The horses,
THIRTY WILD MUSTANGS,
were brought from California expressly
for the race. They are owned by G..
V. Hand, and he staked $4,000 against
S25,000 that both horses and rider
would accomplish the feat in the time
allowed. George Parker, the rider, is
26 years old, and was born in Arkansas.
He is man of splendid physique, 1.-THE
as an arrow, and lust rs straight. He
weighs 175 pounds. He occupied the
saddle in a manner showinga perfect
control of the animals he rode. His
fine dashing horsemanship called forth
great applause. Hewas assisted in the
management by Francisco Peralto, a
Mexican, and also a horseman of mar
velous skill, and who showed great dex-
terity in managing the mustangs.
PerGlto had the animals ready for re-
lay, and saddied and bridled them for
Parker's use.
At three minutes before 4 this morn
ing, the-bell on the judges stand was
rung and Parker dashed in front of the
stand, mounted on a sorrel mustang,
which showed his mettle by rearing and
plunging, as his rider held him in. The
Judge asked, "Are you ready?n 81
am" shouted Parker. Then .i.t.i
"Go!" CRIED THE JUDGE, B ..
and exactly at O'Clock Parker bent
forward, gave rein to the mustang,
away dashed man and horse like. 4
whirlwind, and the great race was be-
gun. The excitement of the spectators
increased rs the horse and rider could
hardly be seen on the back stretch, ow-
ing TO the darkness, but a running cheer
greeted them as they swept past in
front. In 2 20 the first mile was COM
pleted, and Parker by a sudden power
a dead stop, and, throwing himself
quietly from the saddle to the ground,
vaulted into the saddle of afresh horse.
The animal feeling her rider plunged
forward and continued the race, very
little time being lost in making the
change. Sometimes the mustang held
as relay by Peralto would become frac-
tiOus and unmanageable, in which case
it would be Instantly exchanged for an
other one. Ten seconds was allowed
for the change, but they were all made
within that time, and sometimes as soon
rs four seconds.
The second mile was made in 2:50
and the third in 2:30. The early part
of the race, as he completed each mile,
he took fresh horse. 1t required the
greatest amount of skill and frmness,
at times, to preserve his seat, as the ami
mails would
BACK AND PLUNGE,
and rear and balk, but Parker never
once lost his seat. At the end of 30
miles he had gained five minutes upon
the time allowed him. On the 2lst mile
he drank glass of water, while he was
riding at the highest rate of speed dur
ing the morning, and afterwards threw
the glass from him clear of the track.
The first 80 miles were run in two hours
and 81 minutes, being 10 minutes ahead
of time. The first 100 miles were con-
cluded in four hours and Al IN nutes,
being % minutes ahead of time; l4O
miles were completed 10 minutes ahead
of time. The rain began to fall about
9 a. m, which made the track very
heavy, but the race continued, never
thelesS. Up to the thIrty-seventh mile
Parker had ridden with Jacket Dis
mounting on the thirty-eighth mile he
caught off his jacket and made the re-
mainder of the first 100 miles in shirt
sleeves and with his h. ad barred.
NO sTIMULANTS .
were taken, save frequent drinks of
water, which he swallowed while riding.
On completing the hundreth mile he
drank glass of lager, and sprang on
a fresh horse, little fatigued. Occasion
ally he would rest on horseback by
throwing his hands forward on the
mustangs neck, and, thrusting tGe
rowels IN the saddle-girth, he would
stand almost upright. He would stop
his horse at the end of a mile by vari-
Gus methods. One of the most effective
was placing his hands before the ami
mails eyes, when the mustang would
stop, and Parker would spring on a
fresh horse. The rain began falling
Just as Parker ended his 1O5th mile
He was jacketless and his hair streamed
in the wind, but he did not heed the
rain, and was determined to accom-
plish his object. The 115th mile was
finished in hours and Is minutes, and
was made in 1928. At 20 p. IN. 10
miles had been made under many dis
advantages, the track being heavy.
The mustang, which had proved in
tractable, baked in the l6lst
mile, and carried Parker round
the stables, the grand stand and
other buildings to the gate, losing him
six minutes. His clothes all forenoon
were thoroughly soaked. Occasionally,
to vary the motony and avoid riding al
ways in the same direction, he took the
other course round the track, but this
was not often. At about p. NJ. the
sky began to clear and the rain ceased.
At p. m. 179 miles had been made,
and many hundreds of visitors arrived.
At this time Parker was behind time,
he having consumed few minutes in
exchanging his wet garments for dry
ones and taking a slight refreshment.
The four hours exposure to the rain dur
ing the forenoon, however, was begin
ming to tell upon the rider, and it was
evident that he was becoming stiff. He
got in and out of the saddle painfully.
The two hundredth mile was compile
ted at 2:02 p. m; the 220th mile at
$40, being 16 minutes behind time.
Parker was confident of winning, des-
pite his stiffness and soreness. He had
now been riding II hours, and on mount
ing for the 22lst mile he was very evil
IDENTIFY fatigued. The next four miles
were accomplished in fair time, but
Parker's endurance was clearly ex-
hausted.
HE GAVE OUT
on the 226th mile. This was a great
disappointment to all who had believed