News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-01-02


| hats and futtering of handkerchiefs,
followed shout that echoed again and
; again through the neighboring fields
J and woods.
The horses had appeared upon the
track; down the stretch they came to-
ward the stand to receive their places
from the judges, with jockeys sitting
as gracefully and firmly as though a
part of the animals themselves. An
other thunder of applause as the an
nOunCements were made. Thirteen
; horses to start, and every one of them
as swift as the winds, the perfection
of breed and training, their long,
sinewy bodies fairly quivering with
excitement. No wonder that the vast
throng held its breath when the start
was made.
Randall was on every tongue,
thousands of dollars were behind him,
and as he pranced and quivered under
me L thought again and again, 'the
time has come; will he be equal to it."
L tried to be cool and collected, but
who could at such a moment and in
such place astride of such a noble
animal, and with thousands of eyes
and minds bent upon him, who, with
all these, could remain insensible to the
thrill that pervaded animals and men?
My hand shook a little and my voice
trembled some, as | stroked the horses
neck and endeavored to soothe him till
the drum tapped. l well knew that all
his efforts would be required. There
were other horses every whit as swift,
but l relied on his devotion and the
thought that the others might know
that he was not to win.
Directly the judges voice is heard.
In an instant we are off, Randall and |
at the very outer side. Lady Rose led
off with the speed of the wind, just
keeping her white nose in front of the
others that came laundering on by her
side. For few seconds | was almost
dizzy with excitement, not knowing
exactly where l was nor what the
chance. AS we sped under the wire
[ had caught glance from Wharton's
eye. 1t was glance that burned into
my very brain, and never for mo-
ment faded till the race had been won
and lost. 1t plainly told me of the
| frightful consequences that would fol-
low any disobeyance of orders. He
was shade or two paler than usual,
and his agitation was plain from the
way in which he nervously walked to
and fro close to the rail. Maybe he
mistrusted me- never knew.
On we flew, the very earth trembling
and resounding beneath the mighty
strides of the now thoroughly aroused
horses. Gradually became less con-
fused, though my excitement grew
more and more intense. | was still
little behind as we rushed down the
back stretch, then inch by inch Randall
advanced to the TANKS of the gray mare
on his left around the next pole
with no change, every horse painting
and steaming with the effort. No whip
or spur had touched my beauty's sides;
he was but little used to either, and
from me he had never received any
urging but stroke on the neck with
my open hand or few words of en-
enlargement.
"'Steady, boy; steady, now," as we
neared the home stretch on the first
half. had been watching my oppor-
tunity, and now as we rushed down to
the front of the stand, | dextrouslv
dropped behind a few PAGES, and
wheeling Randall across the fleeing
TANKS of the five or six that had kept
the leading pace, placed him at the
pole length behind the superb sorrel,
Lady Rose, who had kept her lead all
the way round.
The race had but fairly begun; the
last half was to tell the tale; as we
crossed the wire, not a shout came
from the thousands of Threats that be-
longed to the thousands OF eyes that
were riveted upon the flying horses.
Fortunes and honors hung on the re-
suit, and probably lives-who knew?
Again we were nearing the back
stretch, and still Randall was behind.
Would he fail; no, it could not be.
Bending low in the saddle 1 gently
patted his vein-covered neck.
CHOW, Randall, now!"
Instantly the intelligent animal re-
sponded to my voice. With leap after
leap-leaps that seemed to say, 81 |
will not fail" he gained the side of |
the sorrel. Another and another, and |
he was at her neck. Now, the breath |
of his red nostrils Kissed and struggled
with the breath from hers. Another
leap and his head was in the light.
Then again | spoke:
"Faster, Randall, faster!"
AS if understanding the very thoughts
that burned my brain he redoubled his
efforts. Never spur, never a cut
from the whip, but only few earnest
words and few light taps on the
streaming neck. | turned in my sad
die, and saw the flaming nostrils of the
grey and the sorrell.
"Faster, Randall, faster!"
Now we are clearly in the lead.
of his pursuer. The wire is only few
yards off. Will he fail; no, for the
race is ours.
But what will John Wharton say
yes, what will he say? What will the
people say? All! know what they
will say. l hear it already, as burst
of enthusiasm that wakes the echoes of
heaven comes to me as we rush on by.
Yes, what will John Wharton say?
What will the people say-and what
will little Willie say as he looks down
from his snowy perch above? An
other outburst, then stiffness as of
death. l saw no more, heard no more,
felt no more. All is blank. What
had happened? Had we lost, or was
it the sympathy of the happy for the
unfortunate that made the silence? |
did not know; | could not understand.
When l regained consciousness |
was in a bed, with long row of 9TH
ers on either side. There was a pain
full numbness in my arm and leg, or
the place where those limbs should have
been.
1t was a hospital. The doctors told
me how | came there. John Wharton
was standing close to the railing when
we passed under the wire-Randall
and lon that great day. We had
won; he had lost. With bound and
an oath he sprang at Randalps head.
That frightened him and caused him to
fall. In an instant the other horses
were upon us, trampling us beneath
their iron feet.
l was picked up more dead than
alive-and this empty sleeve and that
crutch tell you why | am no longer /
Jockey.