Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-05-08

ing up the field to par with the favor
ite, and second choice found few takers.
Kitty had astonisbed them, and they
hardly knew how to bet On the second
heat there were two false starts again,
and each time Jack rode Kitty up to
me, and patted and talked to her.
Then away they darted again and at
the first quarter Flyaway and Light
ming were neck and neck ard Kitty half
a length behind. "They've finished the
mare" said a man near me, "and it's
between them"
watched them nervously. At tho
second quarter the people shouted, "The
mare creeps aheadw Then saw her
nose just peering past the favorites. l
had no doubt it would encourage her if
she could hear my voice and know that
l witnessed her performance. But then
she did know. And now came the fear.
full home stretch. :, l could see that the
rider thrust his spurs into the favor;te IS
TANKS, and slashed him with his whip.
Then heard Jack, in the quiet that
precedes the final outcome of so close a
race. calling in louder tones of entreaty,
Nov, Kitty! Now"
Her ears Rugged her heck, Jack said,
and she brought him six inches nearer
the ground, as she made her final springs
and passed under the line winner of the
heat and race by neck. How the peo-
pie cheered!
I ran toward her with blanket and
water. She saw me, and blown as she
was, walked forward to meet me--yes,
gentlemen, to meet me, and while
caressed her, the tears coursed down
my cheeks. Since l have been man,
l never remember shedding them but
twice, and this was the first occasion.
When she had been sponged and blank
eted, and had somewhat recovered her
breath, she thrust her nose over nv
shoulder, and laid my cheeks against
hers.
was standing thus when a Ken
lucky vendor asked my price for her.
answered "the State of Kentucky"
She had won for me eight thousand six
hundred and the stakes. The gentle
man smilingly replied that l didn't want
to sell very bad, and after examining
her TANKS, said to Jack:
"Did she do it without spur'"
II only wear these for ornaments
when l ride her." replied the Jockey,
and, winding my arms about her head,
l said 20 Kitty:
"Td like to see the man who'd dare to
put spur in your flesh, pet"
After five years had elapsed, and my
thoroughbred had won many purses,
she ran her last raca on a Southern
course, where she was a favorite. On
that occasion, a six-year-old, very like
her in appearance, called Revenge, was
entered by woman ope Madame Des-
carlos. Madame was yonng-not more
than twenty-four, and superintendent
personally all the arrangements regard
ing her animal. She: went heavily into
the pools,by her agent, against the ia
vorite, whom l backed strongly, of
course. During most of the time sh e
was on the field in a close carriage, and
just before the race began, drove down
to the track and beckoned to her rider,
who brought Revenge up to where she
stood. Her back was toward me, as l
watched her through my glass. l saw
her mare throw her head up aud down,
and Jack tod me afterwards that Mad
anne had said "You will win this race,
won't you, Revenge p and the animal
had nodded at wave of her hand.
Then saw her take the animals nose
in her delicate palms, and lay her yelled
cheek against it's face. The': when the
bell rang, she patted its No ok and it
went off quietly to its placel
There was a send off the hrst trial
and at the first quarter, Kitty was
leading by half length, with Revenge
pressing her hard. Away rolled Mad
ame's carriage to point midway in the
last quarter. She got out and stood on
the edge of the track. l could see Kitty
about neck ahead, as they PASSED the
last quarter pole, but when they We're
just opposite Madame, Jack said she
shouted, Revenge" The animal strain
ed every muscle at her voice, and there
was the novel sight of two thorough
breds coming in Oh the home stretch
without whip or spur. Their noses
broke the line so nearly at the same
instant that the judges pronounced it a
tie. Away went Madame's carriage
down the track, and l could see her
groom sponging and blanksIing, while
she caressed the animal. Then, while
the groom walked her about circuit,
Madame sat in her carriage, and each
time the animal came around, it thrust
it's head in at the open door for white
hands to rub it's face.
This horse made me feel uneasy. Its
disposition was so like Kitty's. Jack
shared my fears. "You had better give
Kitty shout on the home." he said,
I'm afraid she's beaten, if that mare
has as good bottom as Kitty had at
her age.
Accordingly, in the next heat, I took
my place behind Madame. The horses