The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-29


are focused upon a platform built a
some elevation from the ground ana
supported by posts that are painted
white. A solitary man stands upou
the iioor OF the structure. He strides
back and forth and gesuculates VIC.
lently. Sometimes he seems to appeal
~ supplication. At others his ges.
lures are those Of determined com.
mand His lips are seen to move but
the sounds Of his voice are drowned
IN the din Of the throng.
Below him Is a field Of hieh.gpirlted
sensitive, nervous and fractious thor.
oughbred horses. Mounted on them
are mere wisps OF boys, who jerk en-
ergetically at the bride reins. kick
With their heels and express their
thoughts yehemently into the ears OF
the animals they are riding.
With snap and a strumming sound
IKE the vibration OF a string Of a
double bass. the barrier is suddenly
released by the man on the platform
and a dozen eager colts plant their
hoofs firmly into the soft soil Of the
track, scrambling with the instinct Of
their natures. which education long
and patient has developed 10 reach
a place In front. while the monkeylike
boys on their backs. their sharp faces
pushed forward eagerly into the wind
peer on both sides OF them to discern
an opening where they may get through
and improve their chances 10 finish
FIRST In the race.
Thirty thousand eyes, scanning in
tentiy the turn Of the track follow
closely the running OF the field and
$4,000 voices begin to croak. and
scream, and babble. Some are the
hysterieal notes Of a nervous woman
who has wagered half her weeks pin
money upon the race. Some are the
cultural foars Of the "touts. the stable
followers and the hoarse crlers of
wares and edibles. Some are the
eaekle Of auperheated storekeepers
and possibly their clerks.
Cry for the Favorite.
Through Il all. and above It all Is
the note Of personality, the cry Tor the
popular jockey Of the day. Il Is a
queer phenomenon OF a mighty sport.
i Is the slogan OF the American for
the individual who does things. The
horses are racing The horses are the
motive for the struggle. the backbone
Of a pastime that was inaugurated cen.
turtles ago, but the majority Of the
vast mass congested within iron rail. |
ings are shouting for the jockey.
Afar down the course at the field /
stand one hears Come on. Won
Milleri" The exhortation increases in
volume, and all the field stand appears
@ be shouting, Come on, you Millerlv
Ihe thousands upon the lawn take up
he refrain, the bookmakers and their.
clerks join IN, II a Miller victory means
victory for them. and at last there Is
Nlagaralike thunder Of anpeaI.
Come on, you Millerl7 an anxious
moment or two, then wild screech Of
and the sllllerites~ rush
iway to obtain their gains, II Miller
happens TO have won.
There IS barely a day that Il Is pos.
lble 10 miss lhls queer chain OF Incl.
ent at the race course. for the race
'oers rush with enthusiastic favor TO
he support Of some jockey who. BY
is skill and his knowledge Of men
nd animals, beats his fellow Jockeys
the daily tumult Of track sport
lanes Live Long in Memory.
Time passes and boys grow old and
eayy. The idol Of the present dav
III be only the memory Of the past
ct the names OF the great riders lire
ith racegoers even longer than ihe
ames Of statesmen who we're consa4..
oraneous with them. The senator
ON New York OF a decade ae6 ma.
9 forgotten by another decade. hut
ie name Of Tod Sloan wiz llve fof
century, and maybe longer ma
ding Of Garrison served 10 aHrioa ;
e phraseology Of the English lan. y
iage, for a Garrison anishs Il as.
icable now to more things Than a
'rse race. Walter Mlller. he lead. I
6 rider Of the United slnses At the i