The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-08
AN ARMY HORSE RACE.
The Mustang That Beat the Thor
oughbred.

The Mustang That Beat the Thor
oughbred.
Crip-of-the-TOngue in New York Press.)
War is not all tragedy. Our boys on
both sides in the civil war found plenty
of time between battles to amuse them
selves with a variety of sports. In Ken
lucky there was some sort Of horse race
every time an army paused to take a
long breath. On one occasion Lieuten-
ant Saunders of the til Kentucky
matched his Blue Grass Thoroughbred
against a why little mustang owned
by Captain Garland. OF the -th Texas
for $500 a side. Saunders was 20 ride
his own horse, but the captain, being a
large man, had to ind a jockey for his
mustang, and in looking among the
troops chose a young private In Saun-
der's own regiment, a Louisville boy
of the name of John Eston Keller.
cousin of the famous author, John EstOn
Cooke, who wrote Surrey of Eagles
Nest" .'AIohun." Hammer and Ra-
pier. etc. Keller weighed about ninety
five pounds, and in joking spirit con-
sented to take the mount.
., - %
( The race was called on the following
: day at 8. o'clock. Saunders was promptly
at the post with his splendid brown
mare, but no rider appeared for the
I Texans mustang. "I got a young chap
to promise to ride last night" said Cap
tain Garland to the judges. but he
hasn't turned up 1 don [ remember his
name, and don't know where to find
him. Keller advanced from the crowd,
saying: I'm the person you are talking
of, I reckon, but l thought the whole
thing was a joke Do you mean that
you really want me to ride that mustang
against Lieutenant Saunders mare?'
"Of course do" returned the captain,
Il mean business. It's a bona fide
match, and if I don't run I pay forfeit.
Get up" ANY tricks?" NO. Perfectly
sensible little horse, and as honest as
you are yourself. Do all you ask Of
him" When the signal was given the
mare led off, with the mustang at her
withers.
1t was a half-nile track somewhere
in the southern part of the state, and
the race being a mile, the horses had
to go around twice. Soldiers thronged
the course. leaving only a narrow lane
for the contestants. Passing the judges
stand on the first lap. the mustang was
lying easily alongside the mare. not
having lost an inch. Captain Garland
shouted to Keller: Go at him with your
whip! He'll stand punishment all the
way home! Let him have iti' Mr.. KEEL
Ter, telling Of the race the other day,
said: ct knew he was a good little horse
with the determination and grit Of
bulldog, so lit into MIN. logged him
every step of the way home. In vain
the mare tried to shake him on. Saun-
ders whipped and spurred, rode with
head, hands, arms and knees Ny
mount gradually crept up. and when he
finished was a short neck in front
reckon I was the most surprised man
in the regiment, and in a few minutes
the saddest, too. BY winning that race
I had broke every man in the command.
The poor boys had bet their three
months pay on the mare. and all their
tobacco, sugar, etc, blankets, pocket
knives and nearly everything else that
a soldier has about him. For while
was mighty unpopular. Captain Car
land wanted to divide his winnings with
me, but I refused to take a cent told
him didn't want his money; that had
beaten my own boys out OF Il But L
was sorry afterward 1 did not take II
and give it back to the boys. A good
many thousand dollars changed hands