Amador ledger., 1907-06-14
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 Impeeunious
Owner Who Had In Days Gone by
Helped Him on In His Career.
st. Louis, long a 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 a 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 its
head up in almost any disreputable
turf company:
When prosperity commenced shining
OH the Gut q 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 a repu-
tation certain owner went out of his
way to give him mount
This was the making of the jockey.
The experience he got on this mans
horses taught him a 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 a fast
track couldn't beat a 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 could
cut with knife. In fact, it was so
bad bugler went to the post with the
horses and with q loud blast announc-
ed when the flag fell. There was not
foot of the track that could be seen
from the grand stand, and the judges
had to leave the stand and go out on
the track to tell which horse had won.
AS Penny was mounting his horse in
the paddock he was greatly excited.
"How much have you betT" he ask
ed the owner.
"Not cent, son." was the reply. 81
haven't got cent to bet with, and, be-
sides, the old horse can't win"
Eyes, he can," said Penny. Hell
win by a block. Here's hundred.
Hurry up and get it down."
The hundred was bet, and the horses
went to the post. In a few moments
there was a loud blast of bugle, and
the race was on. 1t was a half mile
track, you understand, and the start
was about where the mile and a quar-
ter would be on full mile track.
In a few seconds the splash Of
horses feet could be heard from the
grand stand and few shadowy forms
seen passing along the stretch. Then
everything was silent until again came
the faint patter Of horses feet. These
grew louder and louder until finally
they were right in front of the stand.
Then it was seen that one horse was
ten to fifteen lengths in front of the
field. In few moments it was an
nounced that Penny's mount was the
one that was so far IN front, and the
race was given to him.
Penny dismounted and made his way
back to the paddock. He did not have
a speck of mud on his clothes.
1.-The old horse was runner today,
wasn't be, jock?"
Runner nothing" answered Penny.
"Why, he couldn't run fast enough to
beat me-"
How in blazes did he manage to
beat that field, then?" was the query.
He didn't" replied Penny 81 stood
still when the flag fell, and when
heard the field coming after making
the circuit of the track l drew the
whip on the cid dog, and even then 1t
was all he could do to get home In
front"
And that was one way of winning
races at the hilltop track.-St. Louis
Globe-Democrat.