St. Landry democrat., 1879-12-27
01zF:ay's Horse Race.

Five years ago, when the Utes and
Navaj0es were not warning with each
other or employed i'll investigating the
tirmness with which the white mans
scalp was attached, they devoted them
selves to horse racing, betting blankets,
ponies, and then SquaWs even, upon the
= results of the contests. Now, although
there is no horse flesh in the world that
can leave Ute pony behind when climb
ing rough and rugged mountain trails
or holding out for long journeys, they
. are not fast runners on level ground.
So, however Notifying the confession
was, after q week OF daily races the
Utes were obliged to acknowledge that
their horses were inferior to those of
the.Navajoes; but by the time they were
convinced of this fact the whole tribe
were nearly banll llrupted.
The Navajoes gathered up their spoils
and departed foTtheir tents, while the
Utes went to Outlay with their tale OF
woe. SaDenars, Shavino and Coioe
were all heavy losers, but at the council
which Ouray called, could suggest no
plan to retrieve $beir losses except to
follow the victorious N;avajoes and by
force deprive them OF their booty. To
this proposition Ouray would not assent,
saying that such deed would stain the
name OF their tribe, and dismissed the
council, telling the Utes to challenge
the NaVajoes to another series of races
two months from that time, September,
1874, and he would attend to the rest.
Through IL. +. Bond, tho agent, Ouray
having raised $500 by the sale of some
Of his stock, sent to ST. Louis and pur-
chased d Mambrino racer, IL bay, and
had him brought to his house. At the
expiration of the two months the Nava-
joes came down, bringing with them
their best racer, one who bad won eight
races i'll the former contests, and called
Wachita by the Nayajoes. Ouray caused
it to be given out that he had brought
q pony from Utah to contest the races
and the Navajoes were Oh tho tip-toe
OF expectation as io was brought forth.
When the blankets with which he was
covered from cad tofoot) were removed
and painted I'LL over to present the ap-
bay appeared, II shout of derison rent
the air from the throats of the Navaioes,
and they began to bet odds (three
blankets to one, and the liIle) against
his winning. The Utes said nothing,
but, instructed by Ouray, took every
bet that was. offered, even il they risked
their last blanket. The course used by
them was about three miles long, level
a,asa. Wacilita was ridden by his own
.er and the bay by the son Of Sapavanaro
The word was given, and the horses
started amid an anticipating shout of
victory from the Navajoes, which quay
cred away into q groan as they crossed
the line.
But they did not give up. The close
race made them think the defeat of the
Wachitt was due to the had riding of
his owner. In the twinkling OF an eve
he was pulled off the horse by dozen
hands and Math-o kan, a sub-cllief of
the Navajoes, put on the back of Wachi
ta. This time the betting was heavier
than at first, the Utes betting eagerly
and the Nlvaioes deperatelv. Sapa-
vanaro's boy gave the bay his head and
he came across the line nearly quarter
OF q mile ahead of Wachita. The. Ma
vajoes were { busted" !" aud the Utes rich
They had not only recovered what they
had before lost, but their tepees were
filled with blankets and buffalo, robes.
while each Navajo was The poorer by a
poney. So completely broken were
they that the Utes tell with glee how
they Went to their homes, some riding
double and others walking. This Incl
dent greatly increased Ouray's influence
over his tribe, and caused all them to
= look up to him as q wise man.