The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-20
SHAM HAYS AND HIS BULL RACE.
From the Spirit OF the Times.

Some forty years ago the managers OF
sracs course near Browpavilie, on the
MS.aaaGaci., :, I.blieLGd y notice Of d
race one. mile heats, on particular day,
for a purse of 500, free for anything
with four legs and hair on. A man In
the neighborhood named Hays had a
bul that no Was 10 the habit OF riding to
mill with his bag of corn. and he deter
a. mined TO enter him for the race. He
said nothing about it to any one; but he
rode him around the track number OF
times on bright moonlight nights, until
the bull had the hang Ipf the ground
pretty well. and would keep the right
course. He rode him with spurs, which
the bull considered particularly dlsagrte e.
able; 30 much that he always beloved
when they were applied to his sides.
On the morning of the race, Hays came
upon the ground"on horseback" on his
bull Instead Of saddle be had dried
ox.hide, the head part of winch. with the
horns still on, he had placed 'on the
bulls rump. He carried a short tin horn
in his hand. Hs rode to the Judges
stand and offered to enter his bull for
the race, but the owners OF the horses
that were entered objected. Hays ap-
pealed to the terms of the notice, insist
ing that his bull had -four legs and hair
on" and that. therefore. he had rig0t
to enter him. After II good deal of
"cussin and dlscussin'," the judges
declared themselves compelled to decide
that the bull had the right to run and
was entered accordingly.
When the time for starting arrived,
the bull and the horses took their places.
The horses.racers were out OF humor at
being bothe-rd with the bull, and at the
burlesque which they supposed was in-
tended, but thought that would be over
az soon as the horses started. The
signal was given and they did start HAYS
gave blast with his horn, and sank his
spurs into the bulls side, and the animal
bounded off with terrible below, at no
trihiug speed, the dried ox.hide aopping
no aud down and rafting at every jump.
making combination of noises that had
never been heard on race course before
Toe horses all flew the track, every one
seeming to be seiz-d with q sudden de.
termination to take the shortest cut to
get out of the Rsdstone country, and not
one of them could be brought back in
time to save their distance. The purse
was gwen to Hays, under great deal Of
hard swearing on the part of the owners
OF the horses.
A general row ensued, but the fun OF
the thing put the crowd all on the side
of the bull. The horsemen contended
they were swindled out OF the purse, and
if it had not been for Hays horn and
the ox-h,de. which he ought not to have
been permitted to bring on the ground,
the thing would not have turned out as
it did. Upon this Hays told them that
his quill could beat any of their horses
anyhow, and if they would put up o
hundred dollars against the purse be had
won, he would take off the ox-hide and
leave his tin horn and run fair race
with them. His offer was accepted and
the money staked. They again took
their places at the starting post. and the
signal was given. He gave tho bull an.
other touch with the spurs, and the bull
gave another tremendous below. The
horses remembered the horrible sound
and thought oil the rest was coming Of
before. Away they went again in spite
of all the exertions of their riders, while
Hays galloped his bull around again ant
won the money. From that time the,
nioknsmed him Sham Hays. He after
ward removed to OHIO, but his nickname
stuck to him as long as he lived.