The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-08-29
H0RSEmAN'S EXPLOIT
Galloped a Hundred Miles In
Less Than Ten Hours.
ONLY THREE STOPS WERE MADE

Harry N. VinHut Won $1,OOO wage
At Belmont lark In half the Time
He Said He C~Ould-Rode Six POnies
and barely Escaped Lightning,
Bolt Shattering Pole as He Passed,
TO decide a wager Of $1,000 made
with Edward l.. Norton, a broker
Harry X. Vingut Of the New York
Racket and Tennis club, a horse own.
er, rode 100 miles on horseback In
hours and 8 minutes at Belmont
park the other afternoon, says the
New York Herald. Under the terms
of the bet he had twenty -four hours in
which to complete the Journey. Vim
gut used six ponies. mostly quarter and
half breeds, and gallored his mounts
all Of the way. The performance of
the young mar Is considered by horse
men as a demonstration Of much en-
durance.
Members Of several New York clubs.
themselves with money wagered on the
feat, were not only treated to the spec
tacle Of a maj giving his best efforts
to win a bet. but were witnesses Of a
storm which came near turning the
contest into a trngedy.
Vingut was riding past the three
quarter pole. g%alloping freely on a fresh
horse, when a bolt Of lightning struck
the pole and shattered 1t. He was only
ten feet away. He clapped his knees
to the sides Of the plunging horse.
caught him before the animal could
start into a run. wiped his hand across
his face as though dazed and then con-
tinued to the point where his anxious
friends were waiting for him. He
swept by them with a wave of his hand
to indicate that he was unframed and
then passed around the curve.
Mr.. Norton. who watched after Vim
gut ut the conclusion Of the feat, de-
clared:
Il lost $1,000. but l am mighty glad
V1ngut beat me. 1t vas q game strug-
gle. ! am as tickled over the result as
though he had paid me the money"
Vingut entered the saddle ut 4:4o
o'clock IN the morning. His timers
were Edward l.. Norton, E. A. Thomp-
son and L. e. L%arocque. Others who
witnessed the feat We're August Bel |
mont, Philip Brown, W. G. Street. L.
Livingston, Jr.; +. La Montague and
Mr.. German, the superintendent Of the
track.
One Of the ponies covered thirty
miles at intervals. Mr.. Vingut rode
continuously for forty-three and one
half miles OF IN relay. 1t took the
rider IL hours 80 minutes from the
time he took his first mount to com |
plete the hundred miles. lie was on
the ground three times. While at
breakfast he took time to shave him
self. When he dropped to the ground
upon completing the sixty-ninth cir |
cult of the mile and a half course he
said:
I'm glad that last mile Is over.
Let's see, it's Il hundred miles and Il
half over l have done no riding in six |
years. Figure to yourself the mood !
am going to be in when l come out Of
bed tomorrow morning."
Vingut was dined by Mr.. Morton
Tennis club at night. He had had u
rub down. plenty Of arnlca and witch
hazel and appeared as fresh as any of
the four men who returned with him
from the park in IN automobile.
There was plenty of light in the sky
when Vingut and the timers stepped
from the clubhouse and went out on
the track. Vingut wore riding breech-
es and Il flannel shirt. His head was
barred. \ half dozen ponies. some Of
them saddled. We're waiting ut the
start. Vingut selected one. vaulted
into the saddle and waited for the
word. The pony felt Il touch OF steel
and bounded away like the wind. He
was full OF run, and Vingut had to
restrain him for Il circuit or two.
There was more or less mOnOtOny In
the first quarter of the century. Vingut
changed his mounts frequently. II he
was tired when he had ridden twenty
five and Il half miles he did not look It.
He said that he was going to eat Il
COW, he felt SO hungry. and the manner
In which he made a steak. chops and
eggs disappear indicated his hearty ap-
petite. He had stopped ut $3.50 o'clock
and when he concluded breakfast de.
cided that he needed Il shave. This
operation he performed quickly and
then stood around to talk to his
friends.
1t was $40 o'clock when Vingut was
again In the saddle. He covered forty
three and one-half miles before he took
another rest. ut 1895 o'clock. when he
had luncheon. and he was hungry
again.
Vingut figured on three hours to
cover the thirty one miles remaining,
and he did it in less than that. He
started on his last ride ut 2:45 O'Clock.
In a heavy storm and over n sloppy
track. His clothing was wet through
when he finished. ut 5:o1 O'clock, CON-
plotting 13 hours and 80 minutes from
the time the start was made, including
the rests. Vingut lost fourteen pounds.