The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-12

racers walked or cantered or galloped
along it, some swathed in blankets and
bandages, some stripped as if at the
bugle call. Every trainer stood, time
piece in hand, watching with intense
eyes his own particular charges. Now
and again one sent long hail at boy
who rode too fast or too slow. Now
and again also a reckoning hand stopped
a string short, waved them away to
quarters, a rub down and the test OF the
thermometer. There was something
uncanny in the space, the silence, the
movement, above all in the files of
sheeted figures, each with a semi human
lump crouching upon its back. 1t was
amazing to recall that some of the
Jumps were Jockeys, world-famous, with
incomes a prince might envy, imperious
to all the world outside, yet here almost
abject before the Slow silent men, with
hard lined faces, who spoke shortly when
they spoke 1T all, and directed affairs
in a sort of grotesque pantomime.
AS more and more racers came Out
from the ub-down, stripped, and shin
ing like satin, the spectacle frightened
Among the satin coats there were blacks
a-plenty, the merest sprinkles Of grays
too many dull washy sorrels, and bays
and dark chestnuts in platoons. Near hall
the sorrels and chestnuts wore white
stockings all round. The bays were as
largely white-starred and shipped. will
even an occasional skewbald. Against
their mass as against an indistinguisna
BILE background two unique racers were
thrown into high relief.
One was pigeon blue, with white name
and TAIL the other that rarest of al
things, perfect golden chestnut. Boil
we're stations. years old, and magnif
Gently bred. Suleiman, the pigeon-blue
was grandson to Bend'or, if he did throw
back in color to some remote Barb an
cestor. He stood 16 hands full, big,
slashing, long strding beast up-headed,
and full or fire, yet playful as kitten.
The Braves coat was no such puzzle OF
heredity-it came straight from his sire,
ST. Blaise, and was further legitimized
by his dams pedigree-on both sides she
was inbred to Lexington. AS tall as Sulei-
man, in action he appeared half hand
lower. Suleiman ran all above ground.
The Brave had a fashion of lying very
close to it when he burnt wind down the
home stretch.
80 Tar the VaBdrIeS OF Il peCulldF rae
ing season had kept the pair apart Sulei-
man had moved down the west, just as
The Brave had conquered the east. Both
were unbeaten, and in the minds of their
following unbeatable. In the books out
side and at home, Bascom had won on
Suleiman a few hundred dollars more
than he had lost on The Brave They
were to meet in the Searchlight, Loris
Parks richest stake. 1t would be run
upon the very last day of the protracted
summer meeting. So that set it full
three weeks ahead-much too far for any
thought Of final preparation. Still the
trainers Of both cracks kept them goEg
cleverly. Both had raced hard since
spring neither could afford a letup, and
both, it was certain, would be the bet
ter for a space of semi-retirement.
1t was the hope Of seeing them that
had brought at least half the crowd. Be-
fore 'Driese the lad came back it had
swelled to near a hundred. 'Driese
threaded it shrinkingly, edging around
the burly figures which crowded thick
est at Bascom's elbows. AS the lac
moved a whisper ran behind the backs
Of hands: That's Vaux-Andriese Vaua
--BaScomS confidential clerk, yoL
know When mods had answered the
whisper another ran back: wonder 1.
he couldn't give a mighty straight til
for the Searchlight?''
One man, gray and pursy, and apple
checked went so far as to pluck "a
Dresses arm and say, in a carefully un
concerned voice:
Whats the good thing today Vauxt
We always know there's something il
the wind when we see you and your bost
UP with the lark
Bascom turned, frowning heavily al
he caught the words 'Driese, l wan
youl At oncei" he said reaching tC
clutch the lads shoulder, and draw hin
in front of himself next the rail. There
he thrust a cronometer into his hand
with muttered order, only half audi
bic to the rest. Still it suffced TO Sc,
up in them sharp pricking expectance.
Where horse or his preparation was
concerned, they believed supremely in
Bascom. He had been for half an hour
watching the course, and especially the