Year: 1869

The most exciting horse race that ever
took place in America, and probably in
the world. came of very unexpectedly on
the grounds Of the Illinois State Fair As
sociatiou. ut Decatur, last week. -Four
premiums ot $50. $40, $50. $50 each, had
been offered for the best lady's equestli-
anism, and At tour o'clock twelve ladies'
put in an appearance, all mounted on Ca
parisoncd and mcttled stccds. The eN
hibition commenced by ladies riding to
and fro in front OF the grand stand, dis
playing their skill and management OF
horses before delighted audience num-
bering nearly thirty thousand persons.


As each displayed some peculiar skill,
she received rounds of applause, and THIS
urged and nervcd the others to great cx-
ertion. One young lady, Miss Sallie
Wilkinson, OF Nyantic, Macon County,
Illinois. not content with already having
received more applause than any Other
dismounted and had her saddle removed,
and mounted the bare back OF her black
horse from the ground with the ease OF -
circus rider. The cheers OF the multitude
had already produced its effect npon the
riders. causing I'm abandon and reckless
ness peculiar TO the sex under such cir
cumstances.


While the confusion and excitement
was at its apex, one of the track marShals
with more lungs than discretion, shouted
out at the top Of his voice: $50 clear
around the track. 90. all Of you, go. GO
In an instant every horse was under iu!f
run, the ladies were applying the whip
and the air was filed with hats, ribbons,
laces. and .tixinsn which have no place
on a race track. On they dashed. four
leading the crowd and running As near
meek and neck" as could be.


At the start, the black steed, with the
Maid of Nyanlic on his bare back. was
about one hundred yards in the rear, AS
no such thing as race was contemplated,
but she leaned forward like regular
jockey, gave him the whip. and soon
passed the rear horses, and then the mid
die group, and was in the act OF taking
the lead when her horse stumbled and
fell upon the grass at the edge OF the track
She was up before him, however, and
had hold OF him by the bride, when four
or five men sprang over the guard and
held him while she again mounted from
the ground.


The Nyantic girl again applied the
whip vigorously. and WAS soon nearing
the racers in front. Coming in on the
last quarter,a gray horse had the lead 10y
a length, and now every whip was in full
play every horse, with heightened neck,
straining every nerve for the lead! As the
horses were nearing the grand stand the
history OF the track fails to furnish paral-
lei to the intense feeling aud excitement
heightened and intensified by the irali'
ness and reckessness of these daring lady
riders.


They cut the air with such swiitness
that their long skirts fioated over the
backs of the horses. For some distance
now no change had taken place, each do
ing her level best. except with the Nyan'
tic maid, on the bare back steed. who
quickly took advantage of the clear space
on the pole side, and drapidly passing one
after another, came under the string neck
and neck with the third horse and only u
length from the lead. If Pandemonium
had broken loose it could not have ex
celled the wild huzzas and cheers given
the Nyantic girl by that excited multitude