The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-21
How Farmer Hays Won a Horse Race
With His Bull.

This locality, originally known as
RedstOne, now Brownsville, some six
ty years ago. was the scene of a most
comIcal occurrence. which Is related
by an old resident of RedstOne who
witnessed the scene. AT the period
Teferred to, the managers of a horse
race track published a notice OF a
mile heat race on a particular day
free for anything with three legs
that had hair on" for a purse of 500.
4 farmer IN the neighbOrhoOd. named
Hays, had bull he was In the habit
of riding 20 mill with his bag OF corn,
and the idea occurred 70 him of
entering his bull for the race. He
said nothing to any one of his inten-
tfon to enter the bull for the race,
but quietly commenced training the
bull by riding him around the race
track on moonlight nights. In this
manner he trained the bull until he
got the hang OF the track pretty well
and would keep on the right course.
He rode the bull with spurs and when
the spurs were applied to the bull he
would below frightfully.
On the day of the race Hays rode
TO the race ground Ion horseback
on his bull Instead of a saddle he
had a dried ox-hide, the head part OF
which, with the horns still on, he had
placed ON the bulls Tump and IN
stead of a whip he carried tin horn
in his hand. He rode to the judges
stand and offered to enter his bull
! for the race, but the owners OF the
horses entered objected 70 the bulls
entrance. Hays appealed to the
terms of notice, insisting that his bull
had -four legs and hair on" and
therefore he had a right To enter his
bull" After a good deal of ''cussin' +"
on the part or the horse owners and
considerable 'fussin' on the part Of
the judges, It was decided that the
bull had a right to run, and w5s
accordingly entered
When the time for starting arrived
/ the bull and horses took their places.
The hOrsemen were out OF humorat be-
ing bothered with the bull and at
the burlesque which they supposed
was intended, but thought IT would
all be over as soon rs the horses
: w IltAl kllC HlElltal - do EAHCAl
HAYS gave a blast with his horn and
sunk his spurs into the side OF the
bull, which bounded off with terri
BILE bound, and the dried ox-hide,
Tapping up and down and rattling al
every jump, made such combination
of noises as was never before heard
on horse race course. The horses
all Immediately flew the track, ever!
one seeming to be seized with a sud.
den determination to take the short
est cut out of the RedstOne country.
and none of them could be brought
back in time to save their distance
The purse was to Hays, whose bull
had run around the course, and ;
great deal of swearing was done by
the Eorseowners. They cOntendeC
that they had been swindled out of the
purse, and that If ii hadn't been fol
Hays's horn and ox-hide the thing
wouldn't have turned out as it did
Had not the fun of the thing put tn:
crowd in a good humor and all on tht
side of the bull, general row woulC
have ensued.
HAYS told the indignant hOrsemeI
that his bull could beat either o
their horses any way, and If the!
would put up 500 against the purs'
he had won he would take off the OK
hide. throw away his tin horn anC
run a fair race with them, whiel
proposition was eagerly and prompt
" accepted and the money staked.
The bull and the horses were again
at their starting post in their places
ready for the word go, and the nom
ent the signal was given Hays CAV,
the bull a touch of his spurs, and tn
bull gave tremendous below. TIL
horses, remembering the dreadfu
sound, thought all the rest was com
ing as before, and away they wen
again, in spite OF all the exertions o
their riders, while Hays galloped hi
, bull around the track and won tn
I money.-BTOiCnSrilte Pa. Corr.