Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-10-19
Headwork Won Big Billings Race
For Mac Crandall in 1911 When
HeYShared Roadwork With Horse

Quite some piece Of time ago, In
fact Just during the days a Greek
named Ulysses was coming his skull
for the idea that gave birth to the
Trojan horse we hear so much about
today, the Greeks decided TO take a
day off from the war business against
Troy and hold 8 chariot race.
Now Ulysses was the Smartest
Greek in the army but, he was not
the WiseSt. There was q difference be-
tween SmartneSS and wisdom, even
then. Ulysses could outslicker the
country competition and even was
good enough to make his wife, Pene-
lope, think he batted around the coun-
try with sirens and nymphs a score OF
years before coming home because he
couldn't help 1t. But, there was an
other gent named NeStor who really
gave deep thought to things and knew
how to read an ace in the hole.
It was Nestor to whom Ulysses went
for sound counsel when he got In a
Jam. And, his consultation with Mes
tor on the day Of the race event re-
suited in a nifty by NeStor which has
survived the ages.
They don't always pay bets on the
favorite and the horse first under the
wire collects" Nestor said in effect.
He didn't think. it is believed gen.
orally, that many centuries later an
other gent named Mac Crandall, now
a Billings barber. would get the
thought wave he had originated and
act on it. But Mac did.
Plan Big Race
Billings citizens, headed by John d.
Losekamp, decided that, as part Of the
1911 Fourth of July celebration, they
would hold a two-day 216 mile horse
race to test the stamina of horses
l., NJ TETxyNfa7fr10 Tho
course was from the Billings city hall
to Lavina and back, twice.
Mac looked at the entries, sized UP
the course and picked little bay
stallion called Muggins, for his part
ner. AS later shown, and admitted by
Crandal. the horse was willing be
cause it knew, from the start, it would
not have to do all the work. Which
gave Muggins an edge in the begin
You see, Crandall figured that all
the other riders would be just that
riders. They would ride all the way
and the horses would have to do the
work So, reasoned Mac, suppose l
give Muggins break and train right
along with him. When he gets tired
I then can get off and walk and,
are wearing themselves out. So, Mac
and the horse went into training, Mac
practicing walking along beside the
horse and Muggins practicing going
strong only when mounted.
Teddy FavOrite
The favorite for this event was
Teddy, a brown stallion from Cody, |
Wyo, that had previously won the
500-mile race from Evanston, Wyo., to |
Denver. Thousands of dollars were |
wagered on the well known and ex-
perienced croSs-country mount, and It |
was a disappointment when the horse !
refused to leave the stable In Lavina |
for the last lap Of the grind.
of the contest was Brownie, owned by |
E. B. Ryan, Billings Stockman, that |
quit Is miles from the finish line. !
The second-place winner Of the first |
days Journey from the city hall to |
LaVina and back was Goldbug, a game |
little Sorrel owned by John Mcleod |
of AbSarokee. This horse was able to |
nose out Daily by a desperate leap
as the two passed under the wire at
the end of the race.
Daily was one Of the few horses
owned by his rider, Raymond Lowe,
q cowpuncher from Custer, who never
led his mount but maintained a con-
sistent pace to grab third money.
Another cowboy in the competition
was Bob Chadwick of Miles City who,
with Club, was several hours behind
the winner Walt Lee entered Ribbons
but she became sick near Painted
Robe, IS miles out, the first day Of
the race, and was back in the stable
before the contest was really under
way.
Morris Ranger, who was riding Oak