The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-08-15
H0RSENAA's EXPLOIT
Gallopcd a Hundred Miles In
Less Than Ten Hours.
ONLY THREE STOPS WERE MADE

marry X. VinEut Won 81 900 WAGER
at Belmont Park In Half the Time
He Said He Could-Rode SIX Ponie.
\and Barely Escaped Lightning,
Bolt ShnttcrinE Pole as He Passed
To decide wager OF $1,000 made
with Edward L. Norton, broker,
Harry X. Vingut Of the New York
Racket and Tennis club. a horse own
er, rode 100 miles on horseback in 8
hours and 9 minutes at Belmont
park the other afternoon, says the
New York Herald. Under the terms
Of the bet be had twenty-four hours in
which to complete the journey. Vim
gut used six ponies, mostly quarter and
half breeds, and galloped his mounts
all Of the way. The performance of
the young man 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 man giving his best efforts
to win bet. but were witnesses of a
storm which came near turning the
contest into a tragedy.
Vingut was riding past the three
quarter pole. galloping freely on fresh
horse, when bolt of lightning struck
the pole and sha tered 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 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 ofhis hand
to indicate that he was unframed and
then passed around the curve.
Mr.. Norton, who watched after Vim
gut at the conclusion of the feat, de-
clared:
Il lost $1,000, but l am mighty glad
Vingut beat me. 1t was game strug-
gle. / am as tickfed over the result as
though he had paid me the money"
Vingut entered the saddle at 4:42
o'clock in the morning. His timers
were Edward L. Norton. E. A. Thomp-
son and L. E. LarocQue. Others who
witnessed the feat were August Bel
mont, Philip Brown, W. G. Street, f.
Livingston. Jr; E. 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 on one relay. 1t took the
rider 13 hours 80 minutes. from the
time he took his first mount to CON-
plete the hundred miles. He 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 q half course he
said:
I'm glad that last mile is over.
Let's see, it's hundred miles and
half over. have done no riding in six
years. Figure to yourself the mood l
am going to be in when / come out Of
bed tomorrow morning."
Vingut was dfned by Mr.. Morton
and his friends at the Racket and
Tennis club at night He had had a
rub down, plenty Of arnica and witch
hazel and appeared as fresh as any Of
the four men who returned with him
from the park In an 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 a flannel shirt. His head was
barred. A half dozen ponies, some Of
them saddled, were waiting at the
start Vingut selected one. vaulted
into the saddle and waited for the
word The pony felt touch of steel
and bounded away like the wind. He
was full Of run, and Vingut had to
restrain him for circuit or two.
There was more or less monotony In