New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1907-05-22
A WEIRD RACING TALE
How a Horse That Couldn't Run
Came In a Winner.
PULLED OFF AT GUTENBERG.
The Story of the Way That Jockey
Hugh Penny Repaid an Impecunious
Owner Who Had In Days Gone by
Helped Him on In His Career.

0WHSE w no Tau III lays SOuS Ny /
Helped Him on In His Career.
st. Louis, long center for merry-go-
round tracks, having at various times
fostered the East Side, Madison, Sports
mans park and South Side tracks, has
had many weird racing tale unloaded
upon it. Stories of horses at the night
track being run in on the last lap I'M
der cover Of semidarkness and the like
have been common.
Here's one, however, that comes
from the days of the old Gutenberg
course, which seems able to hold it's
head J up in almost any disreputable
turf company:
When prosperity commenced shining
on the Gut a little rat faced jockey be-
gan to attract the attention Of men
who wanted to- get their horses home
in front. He was quick at the post,
had fair judgment, did not know what
fear was and was willing to take all
sorts Of advantages, whether fair or
not. This was Hugh Penny.
Penny had another virtue that is rare
in jockeys in these days. He was
grateful. When he was making repu-
tation certain owner went out of his
way to give him a mount.
This was the making of the jockey.
The experience he got on this mans
horses taught him whole, lot, and
finally his services were in such de-
mand he was able to pick his own
mounts. Money was flowing into his
| pockets. He wore diamonds, drove fast
trotters and was one of the few visit
ors to the hill able to afford fur over
coats.
In the meantime the man who had
given him his start had fallen into a
ruck and could not win a race. He
owed every one who would trust him,
the feed box was empty, and his sta
BILE consisted of one plug that could
run a bit in the mud, but on fast
/ track couldn't beat ten-year-old
maiden.
This was the state Of affairs when
one night after the races, he approach
ed Penny and asked him to ride his
horse in a six furlong race the next
day. whats the use, Bill?" asked
the diminutive jockey. ''He can't run
fast enough to keep himself warm"
"You're right, Jock, but I've just got
to take a chance. I'm down and out
and it is possible the old horse will be
lucky enough to squeeze into third
money"
The next day came. There was fog
surrounding the course that you coulC
cut with knife. In fact, it was 81
bad a bugler went to the post with the
horses and with loud blast announc
ed when the flag fell. There was no
foot of the track that could be seer
from the grand stand, and the judges
had to leave the stand and go out OF
the track to tell which horse had won
AS Penny was mounting his horse il
the paddock he was greatly excited.
GLOW much have you bet?" he ask
ed the owner.
"Not a cent, son. was the reply. $
haven't got a cent to bet with, and, be
sides, the old horse can't win"
ayes, he can" said Penny. "He'l
| ~
Hurry up and get it down"
The hundred was bet, and the horse
: went to the post. In a few moment
there was loud blast of a bugle, an
the race was on. 1t was a half mil
track, you understand, and the sta1
was about where the mile and qua1
ter would be on a full mile track.
In a few seconds the splash c
horses feet could be heard from tn
grand stand and few shadowy form
I seen passing along the stretch. The
: everything was silent until again cam
: the faint patter Of horses feet. Thes
: grew louder and louder until hnall
I they were right in front of the stan'
D Then it was seen that one horse We
4 ten to fifteen lengths in front of TT
: field. In a few moments it was al
9 nounced that Penny's mount was tt
4 one that was so far in front, and tt
s race was given to him.
Penny dismounted and made his wa
f back to the paddock. He did not hay
/ a speck Of mud on his clothes.
y "The old horse was runner tOda
e wasn't he, jock?'
o Runner nothing" answered Penn
k ssWhy, he couldn't run fast enough
8 beat me-"
''How in blazes did he manage
beat that field, then?' was the query.
|. "He didn't" replied Penny. II stot
# still when the flag fell, and when
e heard the field coming after maki1
# the circuit Of the track I drew Il
y whip on the old dog, and even then
b was all he could do to get home
n 'front.'
d And that was one way of winnil
s. races at the hilltop track.-St. Lou
n Globe-Democrat