Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-05-08
TEE RACE
ANEVENT THAT OCCURRED IN CANADA
A FEW YEARS AGO.
From j. W. Shaw's New Novel.

Anew YEARS AGO.
From j. W. Shaws New Novel.
My pct, Kitty Wells, was in daily
training, aud the jockeys told me conf
IDENTIFY that she was sure to win money.
l visited her at her stable every day,
and she was always glad to see me
would greet me from the stall, when she
heard my voice outside. Gentlemen,
you can hardly conceive how great an
affection l had for her. To love and be
loved will soften, measurably, the hard
nature, though the object of that love
be only a horse"
Hear! hearw cried the President
shear hear ~
II believe you are correct-I believe
you are" groaned Mr.. Squizzle.
The race day arrived. She was en-.
tered against the best running stock of
Kentucky, ana stood new candidate
for honors, without a record. With her
light, muscular jockey "Jack" in blue
and white, upon her back, l thought
she looked grand, while, with keen eye,
she watched the preparations. She
knew very well that it was her great
day of trial, and when l approached
her she whinnied. She always greeted
me so and placing her nose on my
shoulder, seemed to whisper in my ear,
Don't be uneasy, Jim, I'll win this
ra'e, or die trying"
do you know the horses entered ~
eDquired CT Jack.
"Yes," ereplied. "She's got the best
field against her have seen on this yer
course, but / reckon she'll win"
"And what makes you think sop l
asked.
swell, first, know how to ride her,"
he remarked with pardonable vanity
for be did ride well. "'rhen she's got
bottom and last, which is the biggest
card, she will keep cool. Why she's
knowed this thing was comm for some
time; but after you would come and
see her every evening, she'd jist rest as
easy-only dreamin' little, and sleep
as sound as if she was winterin' oyer.
Do you see that horse yonderG That's
Lightning-one Of the fastest He will
be the favOrite, but he's nervous. If
you 60 up and examine, you will find
the veins out full, the muscles twitch-
ing and ears jumping back and forward
all the time. He didn't sleep a wink
last night. Kitty isn't troubling her.
self-wish you would just stand by her
most of the time before the bell rings
rank in the field. Bet your bottom
dollar on the field"
"The pools opened. I didn't have
much money bat for every five with
which l backed the field, there were
forty for Lightning and Flyaway first
and second choice.
My friends told me to 60 in heavy,
and they would see me through. Well,
the pools closed for the first heat, the
bell rang, and the horses gathered.
They were wonderfully excited-some
stood quivering, with eyes full of fiery
Impotence. Six Of them gathered for
the start. l could see Jack patting
Kitty on the neck and talking sooth-
ingly to her. "Now, quiet, Kitty, stand
STILL" One ear was bent back to
catch his tones, and the other forward
Oh the track.
The flag dropped and they galloped
forward to the send off. "Quiet, Kitty
lheard Jack say, as he refined her up
There were several tagging, while one
of the favorites, anxious for the lead,
dashed away for hundred yards before
he could be checked, and returned
much excited. Jack rode Bitty up to
me, and l rubbed her nose, and she
went back to the stand as cool as at
first. There were two false starts, to
which l felt sure Jack contributed but
when the send off came, the horses pass.
ed the line in a bunch, and the race
began.
When they reached the second quar-,
ter, there was a wide gap between three
in front and three behind, and l saw
through my glass that Kitty was lead
ing Lightning by head, and Flyaway
was about neck behind the latter.
Jack was leaning forward in the saddle;
he didn't touch the seat be used Meth.
er whip nor spur, but just patted her on
the neck now and then, and knew he
was urging her only with the words,
"Now, Kitty
Cent? men, perhaps none of you have
ever known what it is to be in love
with horse, and can hardly appreciate
my feelings when l saw her in the lead
at the third quarter, untouched by whip
or spur. l felt that she knew who was
waiting to caress and feel proud of her
when she came in. was compelled to
gulph down my emotion and shade my
eyes as l hastencd from the stand and
went beyond it to greet her. l heard
the people talking and caught the ex-
pressions, "GOod mare p "Best ride
on the coursen' "Who owns her, and
what's her name7' Then a knowing
fellow said, "Ah, Lightning and Fly
away are just knocking the bottom out
of her, while they put her in the pools
for the green's to lose on" Then l saw