Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-09-06

SteeplechaSe rider III tne kln9uOm,
and should be on Blueskin. But,
after all, Galgey is a splendid horse
man; and 1t is all London to an or
ange on Blueskin against the mare
The thing is over, remarked another.
IF any of you want to win money,
90 aud put it ON now Captain Black,
the stable commissioner, ! know, is
piling. on every farthing he can get
on Blueskin. you know inquir-
ed a keen looking individual in the
group. How do you know We'll,
/ was present when he put on a pony
with Watts at two TO one; and he said
that it was the last farthing he could
invest for the stable" The keen indi-
vidual turned aside. THAT is good
enough for me, he muttered. 4
know Black, and if Blueskn was to
win, he would not be going around
the ring taking buffers into his con
fidence. Whatever wins, Blueskin
won't win" And then, after deliber-
ating seriously he audibly continued,
II put flyer on the mare Queen Bess
Quincy rides her, and | am not able
to read large print if she is not meant
10 land heap Of Coin for the captain
and his cronies." saw him 90 TO a
man in a suit Of flaming red, hand
him a IS note and get card in return,
and then he lit a cigar and appeared
satisfied.
The horses were now beng stripped
and saddled, and the jockeys weighed.
My brother Harry, came and asked
me to have a look at the horses. There
were twelve starters, he said. but there
was only one horse with a chance
Blueskin Blackleg, his owner, had
told him so. He had a mare, Queen
Bess, in it; but she was merely on trial,
to see what could be made out of her
for few hundred pound plates And
so we found ourselves in the paddock.
Horses and grooms predominated.
There was Blueskin, asplendid animal,
liver colored, and with an eye all
light, and a shining coat-the admired
of the ring. Queen Bess, grand look
ing steel-gray mare, trained to the
hour. with the clean-cut ears and deli
cate nostriIs which show breeding. had
her admirers. A gray horse, called
Rupert, was much spoken Of, and
many believed that nothing could
beat him. There were three others on
whose chances IA great deal of money,
understand was risked There was a
fom-year-old, bay colt,
named Stream; a great, powerful,
slashing mare, called Calypso; and,
to my eyes, a mean-looking animal,
whose name was Steelribs This was
the horse at which the gentlemen,
Captain Black and his friend Colonel
Backlog were looking when | met
John Brown. His coat was uneven
his bones appeared to be sticking in an
awkward fashion against his skin, and
he had shabby trick of hanging his
head ! did not like his appearance,
but he was backed to win an enor-
nous stake 1t was strange that,
though at a little distance he looked
rough end unkept, when you examine
him closely his skin was smooth and
glossy The unevenness was under
the skin. The Jockeys We're now
going out for the preliminary can
ter
There goes your money" said
Brown. you can't mistake him
white Jacket and scarlet cap No
other white jacket in the race. When |
he white jacket disappears your mon /
~ is gone "
1T is gone already said l. Since
he day | was born / never had one
Dit of luck. | will not be whit the
worse without it. ~
1T has not gone yet, " said Brown
And taking my hand he continued
1T would be one of the sweetest DAYS
Of my life if could say that ! was
in restoring the friend
Of my boyhood to the position of
which he was robbed The first an
mal to leave paddock was Steelribs
He went out like a carthorSe-no ex-
element, no prancing, but with his
head raised somewhat-not as he
stood at the paddock, with quick
look all around, and firm foot under
him When his rider called ON him
it was a picture TO see his movement.
He went like a piece of machinery.
The ground seemed to disappear be
fore him, and he did not look as if it
cost him any eNertion to move,
lie would win, " whispered Brown
to me, but there is a country boy
up If Cluney were ON Steelribs,
from what | have just heard he
would run away from the lot
The starter now took them in hand.
and they went to the starting post.
Some of the steeds were fractions and
wanted to start before the flag fell,
but the good and we'll trained animals
waited with much lmpatience. The
length of the race was three miles, and
the course was almost circular The
horses started from the elevated ground
opposite, but about a quarter of a mile
distant from the stand house This
structure was just on the edge of the
circle. \ long straight led up TO it
from the right, and the race was To be
won ON the third round the winning
post being opposite the grand stand
The twelve runners were now mar
shalled, and in their bright colors,
were moving about uneasiIy in front