The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-08-14

sure something Of moment hung in the
for watching.
Suleiman and The Brave had come
back from the rub down. Both had
been warmed up very gradually, walk
ing first, then cantering, then set in a
brushing gallop, and ending with half a
mile on the dead run. The Braves
trainer scowIed a little as he went TO
the chestnut's head, and ran his hand
down the clean swelling throat. Al
though he was was a hundred yards of,
Bascom, through his glass. noted the
scowl. He wondered a little at it. The
trainer Mark Harris, was a genial fellow.
commonly in love with himself and life
and things. Bascom had NO time to spec
ulate over the scowl. Harris spoke short
ly. and with emphasis to the jockey, who
leaned from the saddle to hear, held up
his hand. as though in warning, then
waved the lad on. The jockey looked over
his shoulder. Suleiman was coming, per
haps % yards behind. He shook his reins
and whistled very low Instantly The
Brave began to move, not in whirlwind
fashion, but with slow, easy strides. Sclei-
man passed him in a rush, and ran buck
ing and ramping ahead. Suleiman had
the family temper, and something in the
rundown had not been to his mind.
why, Suley II spread-eagle that fell
low the pursy man said, colnplacently.
Il tell you, gentlemen, my money goes
on the blue horse, no matter at what
odds"
Better wait and see the finish" a
second n cold GOOD hnmnrp6lv A
third, a newcomer, tall and florid, and
smiling under a cavernous SLOUGH hat,
nodded assent. That's good advice
ne said. I've come 10 miles this morn
n a-DurpOse to see The Brave. He's
l sort or old acquaintance of mine-bred
n Kentucky, you know, where live. In
TACT, | know the man who bred him, and
saw the colt the day after he was foaled.
It's as much on account of Major Thomp-
on as myself that l came this morning.
lie charged me the last thing before l
eft, BE sure you bring me a true ac-
cunt of that colt
you've seen him in a race?" the
,ursy man said, tentatively.
The other man shook his head. 'No,
worse luck to me-" he said. I'D like
to see him in the Searchlight, but that
out of the question. Still, l think if
they let him run true this morning l
shall be able to pick the S~earchlight
winner"
''Then-you've seen Suleiman rum
from the pursy man. The Kentuckian
nodded: Twice" ne said: won a
couple O thousand over him in the Lake
side derby. Great horse-still unless the
others changed a heap since 1 saw him
in the pasture, I've a notion he's just
a bit better"
There is comfy among trainers. AS
soon as it was seen the big racers were
out for a trial, the bulk of the horses
drew to the outer half of the course. Thus
the inner half was free as for a race.
The men at the corner slowly wheeling
glasses to eyes, could see all the way
round. At first it was tame enough.
Suleiman ran like a mad horse, fighting
for his head, sayaging his pace-maker,
and buck-jumping every three strides,
but under double wraps, SO the pace was
slow. In spite of the slowness The
Brave hung still so yards back. Now
and again he turned his head, whicker-
ing family to his stall-mate a yard be-
hind. Impatient murmurs rose among
the watchers:
Why don't they let 'em at each 9th
er?' the pursy man said. Bascom
laughed a hard laugh. That would never
do-never in the world he said. 1.-The
main use OF trials is to show what a
horse can't do. If he was up against
the other fellow they might show what
he could"
"Hold still. You'll see something if you
wait long enough" the Kentuckian sang
out cheerily. The horses were in the
straight before the, stand, a little more
than half a mile from the start. The
pace was ~Quickening sensibly. Sulei-
man no longer ran zigzag. He was set
Ting into a long leaping stride, high
and free, and open as the day.
"Jove! He's fencing all the way one
man said. Another nodded sagely, That's
his way" he said. I believe he hates
the ground. He always runs as far from
il as be can"
"He gets there just the same" the
pursy man said eXultantly. Talk tc
me about your Brave. Look at him
row"
He is worth seeing" Bascom said
smiling TRANQUILITY. The Kentuckjan
laughed aloud. At the third quarter pole.
Suleiman led by near a hundred wards
The Brave had decided it was time for
running. He stretched himself, lowered
Eis head and struck into an easy sweep
ing, S toaling stride that devoured
the course faster than even Suleimar,s
~iavelin bounds. At the text farlong pole