South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-03

mer! one thousand Thank you.
Two thousand. That's right; double
the bids, gentlemen, double the bids.
Five thousand. the crowd ap-
plauded - Ten thousand" the
crowd cheered-"Fifty thousand"
Everybody yelled. including my
friend and myself
This fifty thousand bid was from a
former y. y. state senator. but even
that did not secure the horseshoe,
which finally went 20 a man OF less
prominence outside OF racing circles.
for a subscription OF $4,000.
The point 1 am endeavoring to
make, however. is not so much the
success OF the auction. as the amaz-
ing cOmplacency with which this
crowd of race-goers, nine-tenths OF
them doubtless burning with desire
for the excitement of betting 10 be-
gin, accepted this interruption CT
the sport Of Kings in behalf Of the
Interests of Uncle Sam.
A soldier on clutches Just back
| from France, made an address. and
was listened 10 and cheered as heart
lily, as though there was no thor
oughbred within ten miles prancing
with eagernesS TO be of at top speed
carrying the hopes of this multitude
OF spOrtsmen with him.
OF course the auction Of the shoe
I had not progressed with quite the
speed 1 seem TO have indicated.
! There were interruptions of applause
as when it was announced that the
/ widow of we'll known trainer. and
her daughter subscribed $1,000; and
once idclized jockey-Or so my
| friend told ne he was-came for
ward with handsome subscription.
But no one broke away from the
| dense crowd or showed Impotence
/ for the real sport of the day TO be-
gin. Yet every day during the en-
tire race meeting this sale of bonds
had been pushed at the track, result
| ing in a total subscription at the
| close of the Jamaica meeting of ST.
10000
After the playing of The star
Spangled Banner during which OF
| course this multitude of males I'M
/ covered and stood at attention, the
sound of A bugle was again heard
and the racing presently began.
And what do you suppose he'll
do with his s75. 900 horseshoe ?"
asked my companion; Have it gild-
ed and hang it in his room? or use
it as a paperweight? Must have been
wonderful horse, that Roamer!
How long has he been dead?"
Dead" she repeated in amaze
ment: why Roamer isn't dead!
Look at your program; he's in the
J fourth race"
L suppose I looked as foolish as ]
felt, but that anybody should have
valued the shoe of a living horse 1T
any such sum of money, seemed pre-
posterous So l was really to see this
| wonderful creature! I could hardly
wait until the fourth race.
At last he appeared with his head
enveloped IN a bright red hood
Why? ] don't know; none of the
other three horses he was TO race
| against wore a hood.
The crowd in the grand stand
| clapped vigorously, and the applause
grew into shouts of delight as the
| red-hooded steed took the lead
around the oval race course, Roam.
/ er, Roamer!" they yelled, and
found myself screaming too. But
Just as they neared the finish-line
| right in front of us. a horse whose
| Jockeys cOlors we're red, white and
| blue, dashed past our idol, and won
It's name was Starmaster, and &C.
lcording 10 the program, its moth
| er's name was The Lady in Blue,
la very accurate description of my
mental condition at that moment.
| 1t was explained 10 me later tina
Roamer is seven years old. while
his vanQuisher is in the vigOr o.
hOrse-youth, and also that Roamel
carried twelve more pounds weigh
on his back than the other who haC
TO break the lack record TO bea
him; nevertheless I couldn't hell
wondering if mis- dainty shoe would
have fetched quite as much aftel
1.-THE race. as ii did before.
And just think Of the pathos O
his having been forced to race OF
a Liberty Loan day. against a horsr
whose rider wore the red, white
and blue,