The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-02
the FIRST DARK HORSE.
How One of the Most Familiar OF Slang
Phrases Originated.

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How One of the Most Familiar OF Slang
Phrases Originated.
Among horsemen and politicians the
use of the term dark horse" has be-
come very frequent. The expression
belonged originally to the turf, and the
following story is related OF It's origin:
Sam Flynn was well known In early
times among professional racing men In
Tennessee. He was shrewd fellow who
watched closely what was known as
scrub races, at one time so popular as
well as profitable to many horse-owners
in that State. He often rode or drove
himself the horses which he had en-
tered. and seemed to capture more
than his proportionate share OF the
rich prizes wont to be offered In those
days. On one occasion just prior 10
the races in the famous racing town OF
c., when there remained only a
short time for entering, at the eleventh
hour Sam came riding into town
astride 1ery plain black horse, be-
grimed with sweat and dust. Such
horse as this appeared to be-
and especially one handled as Sam s
rough riding into the village
would indicate, was hardlyOto be
suspected by the town's-people as a
promising entry in the great races then
announced. Therefore, when Sam did
enter his black roadster it only pro-
voked the derision of those concerned
in the betting, who, it seems, soon. losi
sight of ''the dark horse in the race''
until the issue OF the chief event was
known.
The willy Sam circulated freely just
before the race was called, and took
every bet he could secure against his
black horse Peter When the judges
of the race entered the box one of them,
Colonel McMinamee, who happened to
know something of the redoubtable
Samuel Flynn, inquired how the betting
stood. On being told that certain
bay horse was the favorite with great
odds, that another horse was heavily
backed, and that q third horse had
many friends in the pools, he then
asked: But how about Flynn's horse?"
The response came: 30, he is not con-
sidered." McMinamee smiled, and re-
marked, knowingly: well, gentle
men, there's dark horse in this race"
And truly there was. A little later
the racers went laundering by, The
eyes of the multitude were conferred
upon the favorite, hard pressed by the
others that had been honored in the
pools. The despised Peter was behind
at a laughable distance. At the three
quarter pole, however, Sam Flynn
ceased to pull upon the reins, giving
the dark horse his head, and piled both
whip and spur. Wherenpon he closed
the gap with rush and collared the
favorite. Then, OF course, the atten-
ton of the great concOurse was riveted
upon the dark horse, and in one mo-
ment more he sprang under the wire
an easy winner, with plenty of speed
to spare. Thus was the Colonels pre-
dictions verified that there was dark
horse in the race" and thus did his
language become an enduring proverb.
The dark horse had taken the purse.
After the race it was learned that the
horse, Peter, was almost thoroughbred,
and that he had a degree of speed and
endurance that far out-classed that OF
all his competitors in the race. This
was one of Sam Flynn's tricks, we'll
known in other parts of TIE State. He
not only kept a dark horse on hand,
but so far as possible kept dark him
self. and entered only when he was
sure of outclassing his rivals.-Chicago
journal.