The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-11-29
4 RACE THAT MAS NOT SOLD.
Ichicago Field.I

&c Bet YOU a cool hundred that can
name the winner, and the speaker tapped
his long riding-boot complacently with
his whip, and expectorated the juice of
the wecdwith precision, that could only
have been the result of many years of
practice. "Done! Donew was answered
upon every side, and crowd imme-
diately gathered around and produced
welf-flled " calfskins.
"Pll take all the bets. Here's the
money Colonel Randolph, you will hold
the stakes
The various wagers were soon ar
ranged-half an hundred bales" (cot-
toni added, and then the name .of the
horse upon whose speed and bottom so
much had been risked, was demanded.
Ny mare, Lizzie Clay" was responded.
BY some the selection was sneered at !;
others shook their heads doubtfully /;
others appeared to favor the choice. But
upon one thing all agreed. 1t was that
talking produced thirst, and they adj
journed for the inevitable mint-julep"
and peach and honey
It was during the " flush times /" in the
bluegrass region. Cotton was un-
disputed king all through the Southern
States, and disputed the scepter with
kingcoal inthe North; money was plenty
and horse-racing a passion. To own a
winner was about as much glory as to
be President, and the fortunate posses
sor of !" Boston or ;" Peybonian an
equally envied individual,
With the crowd always gathered upon
~. .-AT L i b. n
get up scrub race" and shake
purse at any time. The sheds were
filed and fences lined with horses of ey-
cry description, from the very best blood
ofVirginia and Kentucky to the broken
down hack that had not sufficient am
bition remaining to wag his ears with
enough of energy to incommode the flies.
And upon ordinary occasions, no time
would have been lost in arriving at de-
cision-the straight, well-beaten road of
ferlng convenient track, and the va
rious distances Of Quarter "half u
and "mile," having been so often meas
. ured and marked that there could be nc
questioning.
This affair, however, had assumed faI
more than usual proportions. A dozen
well-known cracks amongthe aristoc.
racy of horse flesh had been named, and
the money invested an hundred fold
more than was common. So (by agree
ment of parties) the trial was postponed
until the following week, in order tf
have the nags in condition, and possibly
that more funds might be raised.
Yet though the test was DELAYED the
discussion waxed hot, the cons,imptior
of the fayorite beverage threatened .
mlnt famine, and many a man rodehomt
3 upon horse that would not belong To
him, and gave orders to servants wbt
would have another master befor,
another change of moon. In fact,
horse convention" had never befor,
produced such intense excitement il
that locality, or one that would impoy
erish so many. Everything tangiblewa
wagered, and that failing, "my word o
honor" took the place of cotton an,
horses and gold and negroes.
It'll bust half the county,n said on
of the irrepressibles, as he and the owne
OF the favorite mare were jogging home
ward together.
=" You are right, Colonel, and we hav
acted like fools" replied Marion Simms
"More'n likely, and if my cotton an,
horses and mules and niggers go II
have to pack up for Red River, sure
Kurnal."
q And I shall not be much better Gil
cumstanced.n 21G -
make us lose."
Happen, 7whatg' was questioned il
alarm.
q" OF thar's thousand things, Kurnal
Their mar might be taken sick with th