The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-29
A Bull VS.. RacehOrses.

Some forty years ago the managers
of q race-course near brownsville, on
the Monongahela, published a notice OF
race, .onemile heats, on particular
day, for purse of 500, "free for any
thing with four legs and hair on" A
man in the neighborhood, named Hays,
had a bull that he was in the habit OF
riding to mill with his bag of corn,
and he determined to enter him for the
race. He said nothing about it to any
one, but he rode him around the track
a number of times on several moonlight
nights, until the bull had the hang OF
the ground pretty well, and would keep
the right course. He rode with spurs,
which the bull considered disagreeable,
so much so that he always beloved
when they were applied to his sides.
The morning of the race Hays came
upon the ground upon horseback-on
his bull. Instead of saddle he had
dried an ox-hide, the head part of which
with the horns still on, he had placed
on the bulls rump He carried a short
tin horn in his hand. He rode to the
Judges stand and offered to enter the
bull for the race; but the owners of the
horses that were entered objected.
Hays appealed to the terms of the no
tice, insisting that his bull had "four
legs and hair on" and that therefore he
had a right to enter him. After good
deal of swearing, the judges declared
themselves to be 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 horse-racers were out of
humor at being bothered with the bull,
and Mt the burlesque which they sup
posed was intended, but thought that
it would be over as soon as the horses
started. When the signal was given
they did start Hays gave blast with
his horn, and sunk his spurs into the
sides of the bull, who bounded on with
a terrible bawl, at no trihing speed
the dried oX-hide tapping up and down
and rafting at every jump, making a
combination of noises that had never
been heard on race-course. The
horses all flew from the track, every
one seeming to be seized with a sudden
determination to take the shortest cut
to get out of the Redstone country, and
not one of them could be brought back
in time TO save their distance. The
purse was given to Hays.
A general row ensued; but the fun
of the thing put the crowd all on the
side of the bull The horsemen con-
tended that they were swindled out of
their purse, and that if it had hot been
for Hays horn and oX-hide, which he
ought not to have been permitted to
bring upon the ground, the thing
would not have turned out as it did.
Upon this Hays told them that his bull
could beat any of their horses anyhow,
and if they would put up 500 against
the purse he would take off the ax-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. Hays gave
the bull another touch with his spur,
and the bull gave tremendous below.
The horses remembered the dreadful
sound, and thought all the rest was
coming as. before. Away they went
again, in spite of all the exertions of
their riders, while Hays galloped his
bull around the track and won the
money