The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-02-23
It Was Sixty-Miie Run Over
the Track at Deer Lodge.
The Staying Qualities or Two Animals
Were Amply shnw"-sIO 900
Changed HaudS.


ever run on the American turf took
place at Deer Lodge, Montana, the 18th
of November, 1870, says the Lump
Gulch Miner.
A dispute arose as to the staying
qualities of the two horses, named Liz
ard and Billy Boy, owned by Walton &
Talbot and Col. c. G. Thornton, res
pectively In order to settle the ques-
ton of supremacy a bet Of $1,000 each
was wagered by the owners of the
horses and a race was made for 60
miles, ''go as you please" continuous
running. The money was put up and
at the appointed time the race took
place.
: The race has created considerable dis
cussion in the east of late, and by many
is doubted. DR.. A. H. Mitchell, Hon
r. S. Kelly, Hon. Orren Emerson,
Messrs. Thomas Stuart and George S.
Miller of Deer Lodge, William Ham
mond of Phillipsburg, and many others
now residents of Montana were eye
witnesses of the contest W. w. Dix
on, Hiram Knowles and Thomas L.
Napton were judges of the race.
Lizard was bred and raised by John
Deschneau, of upper Deer Lodge val
ley. His sire was a horse known as
Pappoose, a very blood-like looking
animal, blood bay about 15% hands
high and weighing about l 100 pounds.
He was stolen by the Indians on the
old emigrant road when a colt in 1858
or 1853, and afterwards falling into the
hands of some Indian traders of whom
he was purchased by Mr. Louis De-
mars, and brought to Deer Lodge about
1868 and afterwards belonging to James
Stuart. Billy Boy was a half brother
of Lizard and was raised by Leon Cues
nellie of Deer Lodge.
THE AGREEMENT.
On the 4th day Of November, 1870 the
owners of the famous little nag, Liz
ard, Walton & Talbot, made a match
and signed articles with Col. Thornton
to run a "single dash" Of so miles
against Billy Boy, CThorntons saddle
horse) for a purse of $4,000, the contest
to take place on Wednesday, November
H. on Olins race course. The following
is substantially the agreement: Both
horses to start at a given signal, and
the first horse terminating the Goth mile
to take the money; go as they please
and change riders as often as they see
fit. Lizard was a much lighter horse,
weighing only 600 pounds, against
Billy Boys $50 Both horses, and Liz
ard especially, were noted for their
powers of endurance, and it was ex-
pected to be the most exciting race
ever witnessed.
The novelty of the race, the certainty
that the hackers had nerve and lucre
and the established reputation of the
horses for speed, spirit and endurance,
attracted quit a number of strangers
to the town.
Just before noon a look was taken at
the horses Lizard was years old,
1871 hands high and weighed 720
pounds when in ordinary condition,
and $50 pounds when trained. He was
known generally as a cayuse, but had
good blood, his sire being Pappoose a
thoroughbred Kentucky horse, captured
from an emigrant train by the Indians
many years ago on the Platte, and
traded up into this country, where he
finally became the property of the Stu
art brothers. 1t is told of Pappoose
that he was ridden from Blackfoot
to the Big Hole, 104 miles, between sun
rise and sunset. Lizards dam is said
by some to have been a full-blooded
American horse, and by some to be
three paying forfeit-and lost two One
of the latter was against Sleepy Dick,
in 1869, in which Lizard was taken right
off grass, carried a 160-pound rider and
wore Ia pound shoes; the other was a
4-mile race at the territorial fair at
Helena, September, 1874, in which he
was beaten by 20 feet by that devil on
four legs, owned by Lieutenant Nc
Il
the name of Dragon. In all, previous
to this race he had taken in $1,000 for
his owners on matched races, and was
held by them at the eXhorbitant price
of $3.50.
THE RIDERS.
The first riders selected were: For
Billy, Nat Evans, so pounds, Bobby
Graham, 50 pounds, Eddy Evans, Il
pounds. For Lizard, Tommy Woods
SO pounds, and Ben Phillips, 81 pounds
the intention being to change every ter
or fifteen miles, as the articles permit
ted the horses to go as they pleased
between start and stop. Olin's track
was in superb condition-never better
The rain a few days before had satur.
ated it, and the day or two of fine
weather Immediately preceding We'd
nesday had left it just as nice as ever
horse put foot to. At II m. Billy was
on the track, and a few minutes later
Lizard put in an appearance, botf
horses showing good condition and spir
it. AS the covers We're slipped from
them Billy. however, looming up bis
along side the hound built Lizard, hi
200 pounds excess of bone and muscle
seeming an advantage that would tel
sadly against the little fleet foot on thu